Glacier FarmMedia – Canada is in the midst of a “once-in-a-generation” review of its seed industry regulations. But the Seed Regulatory Modernization (SRM) process is also revealing fractures within the country’s seed sector. Animosity appears to be lingering over the Seed Synergy process that led to the formation and launch of Seeds Canada in February […] Read more
Tag Archives Seeds Canada
Seed regulatory review reveals industry split
CSGA and Seeds Canada differences affect government review process, the first in decades
Ex-GFO CEO to manage Seeds Canada
Barry Senft to help build up merged seed-industry group
The four Canadian seed industry organizations now operating as Seeds Canada have named their first organizer-in-chief. Barry Senft, whose resume in Canadian agriculture includes stints as CEO for Grain Farmers of Ontario, executive director for the Canadian International Grains Institute, chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission and second vice-president for Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, becomes […] Read more
Prairie farm slapped with plant breeders’ rights infringement penalties
Farmers need to know who they are buying seed from to avoid potentially significant costs
Infringing on Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) has cost a large southern Alberta farm a record $737,597. “The settlement relates to unauthorized advertisements and sales of PBR-protected barley and wheat varieties,” Alliance Seed, SeCan and an unnamed seed company said in a news release Wednesday. The settlement “includes the royalties, plus legal fees and penalties,” Todd […] Read more
Second Seeds Canada merger vote to proceed sans CSGA
Seed Growers membership had voted against amalgamation deal
A proposal to combine Canada’s seed industry groups into a single organization, to be dubbed Seeds Canada, will be subject to a new vote, this time with one less group on board. The Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA), Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA); Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada (CSAAC) and Canadian Seed Institute announced […] Read more
Lessons from a rejected seed deal
Seed growers found enough to avoid accepting a deal tying them to other seed groups, despite a five-year process
Glacier FarmMedia – Canada’s seed industry is taking a step back to ponder farmers’ stunning rejection of a cross-industry organization merger. “We’re disappointed,” said Lorne Hadley, executive director of the Canadian Plant Technology Agency and a key proponent of the five-organization merger idea. “This was a very, very long process.” Why it matters: Farmer concern […] Read more
Seed industry group amalgamation moves to be voted on later in summer
Seed Canada could be formed by the coming together of five organizations
Glacier FarmMedia – The Canadian seed industry is expected to vote this summer on a proposal to form a new seed organization called Seeds Canada. In a June 19 news release, the Canadian Seed Trade Association announced that five national seed industry associations are taking a step toward amalgamation. Why it matters: If the proposal […] Read more
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