b'current Seed Regulatory Modernizationback when the Seed Synergy projectindustry landscape, the organization is process and the outcome has beenwas going on. That was really an excitinghard at work on another important but offered up for consideration.example of how forward-thinking Canadacomplementary initiativea member-Seed Summit 2022 was initiated byis, Keller says. ship drive designed to help recruit more Seeds Canada in partnership with aAccording to Keller, in any industry, itsorganizations interested in being part slate of producers and industry groupsimportant to ask yourself the tough ques- of creating positive change for the seedCereals Canada, Canola Council oftions: Are we inclusive enough? Are all theindustry, notes Krista Erickson, director Canada, Canadian Canola Growersdifferent actors in the seed value chainof member strategy & solutions for Seeds Association, Canadian Horticulturalrepresented? Hes excited to see SeedsCanada.Council, Western Canadian WheatCanada doing just that and serving as aOur members know Seeds Canada Growers, Soy Canada, Grains Farmersshining example to the world. is in the perfect position to deal with the of Ontario, Western Grain ElevatorCanada is a critical player within ISF,important policy issues that directly affect Association and the Ontario Agri- he notes. ISF has different classes oftheir businesses, she says.Business Association. national seed associations, and Canada isWith the SRM process not expected Its been a long time since we hadone of the highest.to be complete until 2025 at the earliest, a broader discussion of seed develop- Its been a permanent member ofSenft says the 18-month-old organization ment by all of the industry, so I think thisour board of directors for many years. Imhas a lot of work ahead of itbut says event shows the enthusiasm and senseextremely excited that Ellen Sparry hasamalgamating four organizations into one of urgency Seeds Canada has been ablebeen on our board for several years asis only beginning to pay dividends.to help generate in regard to regulatorywell. Bringing four different organizationsTime will continue to show that we reform, Senft adds. together under one umbrella to formmade the right decision to form Seeds Seeds Canada has been a world-leadingCanada. I think a lot of what came out of The World Stage example of how to restructure the seedthe summit will help pave the regulatory Its not just here at home where Seedsvalue chain. It was really an impressivepath that our industry is going to take in Canada is making an impact. An activestep.the years and decades ahead, and thats member of the Seed Association of theAndy LaVigne agrees. As presidentonly one example of the change were Americas (SAA), Seeds Canadas mem- of the American Seed Trade Association,helping to make, he adds.bers include people and companies whohe says Seeds Canada is a huge boonBreeding methods are evolving, and play a vital role in the South Americanto the North American seed sphere as itthose new tools are going to continue to seed landscape and well beyond. gives the Canadian seed sector more of abe a key factor for the North American For many of our members, contracohesive voice.seed world, LaVigne notesand Seeds season production is crucial, as is havingWe collaborate a lot with SeedsCanada has a crucial role to play. good working relationships with ourCanada on cross-border issues. Weve gotA lot of leadership and discovery South American counterparts in order tomany mutual members, and theres a lotcomes out of the U.S. and Canada in that ensure smooth movement of seed acrossof cross-border activity. So, when youveregard. Its important that theres close borders, Sparry says.got one united group to deal with insteadcollaboration between our two govern-Of course, regulatory alignment isof four, whether its on certification orments on developing policy for things vital as well. Being a part of SAA is hugelypolicy/regulation, I think thats much morelike gene editing, but also phytosanitary valuable in facilitating that. effective, LaVigne says. issues, too, he says. Important players on the internationalSure, theres some growing pains,We have to move seed globally for scene are already testifying as to theobviously. The Canadian seed growers areresearch and multiplication and provide importance of Seeds Canada. working with Seeds Canada, but theyregreat varieties and tools for our grower The idea to create a new Canadiannot a formal part of it. That makes it chal- customers. The partnership that we have seed association was a terrific one. Seedslenging as the country moves forward,with Canada is absolutely vital to accom-Canada might be a year-and-a-half old,but I think everyone in Canada is doing aplishing that goal. To have a strong entity but it was really launched many yearsgood job of really pulling things togetherlike Seeds Canada there will continue back, says Michael Keller, secretary-gen- and continuing to develop that structure. to be an important factor as we move eral of the International Seed Federationforward.SW(ISF).Strength in NumbersI remember being in VancouverAs Seeds Canada and its partners pre-for a Canadian Seed Trade Associationpare to help support the best outcomes meeting; this was a number of yearsfor the modernization of Canadas seed SEED ASSOCIATION OF THE AMERICAS 2022SEEDWORLD.COM /23'