The Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada (CSAAC) has survived almost 80 years of change. Looking at old photos from the early days of CSAAC is like getting into a time machine. They’re grainy, black and white, and offer a look at a time when life was far different than it is today.
CSAAC was formed in 1944 by six seed analysts working in the private sector. The goals at the time were uniformity, education, keeping up with new technologies, and cooperating with regulators. The founding members were all women, a trend that continues today — of CSAAC’s active seed analyst members, the majority are female.
We are known as one of the smaller organizations within the Canadian seed industry, but we are about to get a whole lot bigger as we amalgamate with three of our other partners to form Seeds Canada.
Seed analysts will exist within Seeds Canada as the Seed Testing & Quality Assurance steering committee. The committee:
- Oversees and makes recommendations to the board and staff on issues directly related to seed testing and quality assurance;
- Establishes issue-specific sub-committees as needs arise (e.g., Methods and Procedures for Testing Seed, Research & Referee, etc.);
- Provides guidance on seed testing issues, training development, and workshops;
- Works with other Seeds Canada committees on seed and quality issues where required.
CSAAC has always been driven to modernize and change. That work drive has led to constructive changes within CSAAC over the years, driven both from within and outside the organization.
The Canadian government is depending on us more and more to provide services to the industry as well as train our seed analysts. We added the executive director position in 1995, which has helped CSAAC immensely in continuing to achieve our goals and progress as times change.
We’re ensuring there will be continuity on Day 1 as we change into Seeds Canada. Right now, we’re very focused on implementation planning. First up will be a meeting of the Seeds Canada Testing & Quality Assurance Committee, which will decide the objectives that it wants to focus on in regard to engaging with analyst members of Seeds Canada and gauging what their needs are and how to fulfil those.
After that is when we’ll begin developing specific initiatives, like more training programs. Analysts are required to continue their education and ensure they have the latest knowledge needed to do their jobs, and as part of the new organization, they’ll have access to more opportunities than in the past.
The CSAAC Seal will remain, although it will be the Seeds Canada Seal moving forward. Stay tuned as we unveil the new design and provide important progress reports.
Like any organization, Seeds Canada will be a work in progress as seed analysts find their footing within the new organization and begin helping the future unfold.
As we celebrate nearly eight decades of history as CSAAC, it is with an eye to our new and bright future as professional seed analyst members of Seeds Canada.
