Introducing PERSPECTIVE
Seed growers’ one-stop shop for information on the Alternative Service Delivery of seed crop inspection in 2014.
Since first announcing its intent to step away from direct delivery of pedigreed seed crop inspection, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has been working closely with the seed industry to develop a national framework for Alternative Service Delivery for seed crop inspection. This national framework has now been finalized, and starting in 2014 it will be the responsibility of seed growers to find seed crop inspection providers.
Background Information
Rod Lister, media relations officer with CFIA, says the new framework for ASD of seed crop inspection involves the following:
• Authorized Seed Crop Inspection Services (ASCIS) must have a third-party/arm’s-length relationship to their clients. This reduces the potential for conflict of interest and provides independent quality assurance.
• The country has been divided geographically into nine regions and each ASCIS provider is required to commit to servicing one or more regions. This allows competitive choice for growers and for small, medium and large ASCIS to establish in each region.
• ASCIS are required to ensure each seed crop grower has at least one offer of service for his or her fields. This commitment will be in place during the transition.
“These changes should ensure that the integrity and reputation of Canada’s seed certification system is maintained.” — Rod Lister
“These changes should ensure that the integrity and reputation of Canada’s seed certification system is maintained, that a competitive environment is fostered, and that crop inspection will be provided to all growers through the transition to private industry,” says Lister. “As the ASD transition model is implemented, it will be regularly reviewed and adjusted if necessary. It is expected that the industry will take on more responsibility and leadership, and that market forces will provide for assurances of service delivery to growers.”
Once the framework was finalized earlier this year, interested parties were asked to identify and confirm the number of inspectors they required to be trained in 2013. The response to CFIA’s request for expressions of interest was quite strong.
“Nearly 30 individuals and companies responded to the CFIA request indicating they were interested in being a service provider of the third-party model,” says Dale Adolphe, executive director of the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association. “Most of them were one-region operations, but one was prairie-wide and two were nationwide. I think there had been considerable concern on the part of some companies and seed growers as to whether or not they would be able to get their crops inspected in 2014. Those concerns should be eased by the large number of responses CFIA received.”
“Nearly 30 individuals and companies responded to the CFIA request indicating they were interested in being a service provider of the third-party model.” — Dale Adolphe
Key Points for Growers
Adolphe says the most critical message that must be communicated to seed growers is that this is happening — that beginning in 2014, it will be their responsibility to confirm a service provider that will inspect their crops.
“Making application to CSGA for seed crop inspection has in the past resulted in a CFIA inspection of the fields,” he explains. “In 2014, inspections will not be a result of an application for inspection to CSGA — they will be the result of the seed grower confirming with an inspection service to have the fields inspected.”
One important aspect of the new framework, says Adolphe, is that inspector training in 2013 is only on the crops listed in Section 2 and Sec. 3 of CSGA’s Circular 6. “Those two sections encompass cereals and pulses as well as some special crops and flaxseed,” he says. These crops typically represent about 80 per cent of the fields and acres inspected.
“Other inspections will continue to be performed [by the CFIA in 2014] unless service providers are able to hire some of the more highly-trained inspectors [who] have been working as casual or seasonal inspectors for CFIA in past years,” explains Adolphe. “This is expected to happen and it will be important for the service providers and CFIA seasonal staff to be in contact with each other to finalize those employment arrangements.”
Therefore, seed growers, when making application for inspection to CSGA, will have to designate the inspection service being used for each field to be inspected. “Likely in the first few years of ASD, this will mean using more than one inspection service, because not all inspection services are likely to have the qualified inspectors needed to inspect high-generation seed crops, plots or crops outside of Sec. 2 and Sec. 3,” says Adolphe.
The transition period will require communication between CFIA, seed growers and the new service providers. In the next five issues of Germination, PERSPECTIVES will feature the crucial information seed growers will need to make sure they are prepared to enter this new era of seed crop inspection in Canada.
Are you ready? Cropinspect is!
CropInspect has been formed by AgCall as an Authorized Seed Crop Inspection Service (ASCIS) to provide unbiased crop inspection services to the seed industry while working closely with CSGA and CFIA, our goal is to ensure the reputation of our seed industry is maintained and enhanced.
CropInspect’s Licensed Seed Crop Inspectors (LSCI) will utilize the proven in-field software program and systems of 20/20 Seed Labs to ensure delivery of an effective, efficient and superior crop inspection system to the seed industry across all regions in Canada.
CropInspect advantages include:
Highest Quality Inspectors — CropInspect will maintain the most experienced, qualified inspectors to ensure the highest quality inspection service.
Nationwide Service — CropInspect will be offering the most complete seed crop inspection services for all nine crop regions across Canada.
An Established Project Management Company — Backed by over 20 years of project management experience of AgCall, CropInspect has the added advantage in database management, systems development, contract personnel management and a reputation built on successful partnerships with its customers.
Proven Inspection and Data Collection System — Utilizing the seed crop inspection expertise of 20/20 Seed Labs has allowed for a rapid implementation of a proven inspection system with the added benefit of experienced mentorship.
Fully Insured — All CropInspect LSCI will be fully insured to protect our customers from liability related to the seed field inspection process.
Focused — LSCI from CropInspect will focus solely on the inspection of seed fields and will not be promoting other unrelated products.
Third Party Credibility — CropInspect will provide a dependable third-party crop inspection service that is in the best interests of seed growers and the pedigreed seed industry.
Visit cropinspect.ca for your free information kit.
SGS: Canada-Wide Services
Since 1948, SGS Canada has provided auditing, monitoring, inspection, sampling and laboratory testing for raw materials, bulk, containerized and finished products. SGS has a strong presence in Canada — with 10 locations across the country serving the agriculture sector. SGS Canada Agricultural Services will use its 10 locations to assist customers with sample drop-off and collection services across the country.
Key areas of services:
Service to the Trade — SGS understands the implicit need for traders to be represented at loading and discharge of vessels. SGS Certificates notify weight, number of bags and quality of the goods served as essential documents to trigger payment for the buyer.
Grading On-Site/In-Land Business — The versatility and cost-efficiency of this service allows lenders to use it as a credit enhancer. It helps creating comfort to set up a financing structure.
New! Alternate Service Delivery for Seed Crop Inspection — In 2014, SGS is prepared to provide third-party seed crop inspections as the alternative to official inspection by CFIA inspectors. SGS is licensed by the CFIA as an Authorized Seed Crop Inspection Service (ASCIS) provider. We have a team of qualified, trained, friendly Licensed Seed Crop Inspectors (LSCI) across Canada. They are trained to inspect most crop kinds and the higher pedigreed status crops and plots. SGS provides service guarantees, fast response time and lead times for your crop inspections.
Laboratory Testing — SGS laboratory testing includes nutritional testing, food chemistry, microbiology, pesticide and drug residues, additives and preservatives, etc., in grain, liquids, fibres, fruits, vegetables, etc.
Auditing — SGS also provides auditing services such as ANAC Feed Assure, GMP/HACCP, SQF, BRC, ISO 22000 and other GFSI audit.
For more details please contact Ron Kuriyedath at 1-877-728-1188 ext. 27105 or email us at ca.agri.seedcrop@sgs.com
Farmers Edge: Rooted in Agriculture
With a history that is rooted in rural Manitoba, Farmers Edge began with the vision to use Variable Rate Technology to help growers become more efficient.
What started as a small idea in 2005 has grown into Farmers Edge. The company has more than 100 employees and offers nutrient management planning and agronomic services to producers on over four million acres in Western Canada, the United States, South America, Russia and Australia. The Farmers Edge mission is to make crop production more profitable and sustainable for customers by assisting in the adoption of innovative agricultural practices.
Connecting technology with traditional agronomic practices, Farmers Edge believes in the four Rs of precision agriculture:
• the RIGHT PRODUCT
• at the RIGHT AMOUNT
• in the RIGHT PLACE
• at the RIGHT TIME
And the company has added a fifth R to this equation:
• the RIGHT PEOPLE.
The company is an independent agronomic resource, with experienced CCA accredited agronomists. Using a combination of remote sensing and cutting-edge agronomic expertise, Farmers Edge increases efficiencies and economic benefits for its growers.
Farmers Edge is offering seed inspections in 2014 with inspectors in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, northern Alberta/B.C. and southern Alberta/B.C. Growers can expect its team of highly-trained agronomists and technical experts to provide them with an exceptional customer service experience. Choose the option to save on seed inspections by taking advantage of Farmers Edge’s agronomy expertise.
Visit farmersedge.ca/seed-inspections for more information and to find the company’s Seed Inspection Guide.
Agronomic support from start to finish.
20/20 Seed Labs: Canada’s First Fully Accredited, Independently Owned Seed Testing Laboratory
20/20 Seed Labs Inc. is a fully accredited seed-testing laboratory providing a full spectrum of agricultural and horticultural services for seed growers, seed and crop protection companies and commercial farmers. 20/20 strives to take innovation and client care to the highest level.
20/20 is an independent and privately-owned company, and a world leader in seed vigour testing and specialized research and development work in the screening and commercialization of new agriculture products. The company is also the first and only private, independent authorized hybrid canola crop inspection service agency in Canada.
20/20’s strong management style has led to highly successful collaborations with numerous government agencies and universities. The company maintains an extremely high commitment to customers, and observes strict ethical governance of the quality of its services and the care of its clients.
Since 1989, 20/20 Seed Labs Inc. has been constantly developing new tests and methodology while ensuring the highest quality molecular diagnostics, seed testing and plant pathology services for its clients.
Contact us:
Kevin Zaychuk: kevin@2020seedlabs.ca, (780) 886-4558 cell
Sarah Foster: sarah@2020seedlabs.ca, (780) 915-2677 cell
Toll Free: 1-877-420-2099
www.2020seedlabs.ca
Potential Authorized Seed Crop Inspection Services (ASCIS)
The following table lists the companies and individuals who are in the process of obtaining an ASCIS licence for operation in 2014, and their potential regions of operation.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PDF OF THE TABLE AND REGION LIST
Description of Seed Crop Regions
For the purposes of licensing under the Seeds Act ss 4.2(1), pedigreed seed production fields within Canada are divided into the regions described below.
| Region 1 (R1) – Atlantic Canada | Region 6 (R6) – Manitoba |
| Region 2 (R2) – East Quebec | Region 7 (R7) – Saskatchewan |
| Region 3 (R3) – West Quebec | Region 8 (R8) – Southern Alberta and Southern BC |
| Region 4 (R4) – Ontario East and Northeast | Region 9 (R9) – Nothern Alberta and Northern BC |
| Region 5 (R5) – Ontario Southwest |
