For the first time, SGS Canada made its mark at the North American Seed Fair Powered by Seed World, and according to Holly Gelech, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
“This is our first time involved in the seed fair, and it’s really special for us,” says Gelech. “We work closely with forage clients—alfalfa seed producers, turf grass growers—so sponsoring the Champion Forage Seed Class felt like the perfect way to elevate and celebrate the customers we work with.”
SGS operates the largest North American network of seed laboratories, with locations in Canada and the U.S. At their Alberta labs, analysts hit the ground running each day, testing everything from germination and disease diagnostics to herbicide resistance.
“When a sample arrives, it’s logged immediately, prepped, mixed, planted, and placed into growth chambers,” Gelech explains. “Once testing is complete, our analysts assess results based on Canadian regulatory rules, as well as American and international standards. That’s key, because a lot of seed—like fescue—moves across borders.”
Over Gelech’s 16 years in the industry, she’s seen seed testing evolve dramatically.
“When I first started, we typically tested for germination and maybe one pathogen like fusarium. Now, we’re looking at kernel weight, stress tests, and advanced molecular diagnostics,” she says. “We’re also testing a wider variety of crops. In Manitoba, for example, we’ve seen a shift from barley and wheat to more soybeans. And lately, we’ve even taken on vegetable and herb clients—basil, pumpkins, zinnias—it’s really exciting.”
SGS isn’t slowing down. In response to industry demand, the company recently launched tannin testing for faba beans, as well as additional analytical services to support plant breeders. And according to Gelech, there’s more innovation on the horizon.
