Everyone can agree that innovation is good. Everyone can agree that investment in research is good.
But what enables those two things is the current regulatory system that we have, and if we’re not all on the same page when it comes to that, it’s difficult to prepare for the future.
I’m happy to be on board as the new regulatory affairs manager for Seeds Canada. I come to this role after serving as part of a major producer organization, which helps fund wheat and barley research, including genetics and variety development, in Western Canada.
Although I didn’t grow up on a farm, the knowledge I’ve gained over the years about the importance of variety development and innovation has helped me understand that we can’t move forward without a regulatory system to enable that forward momentum.
We all need to be on the same page in regard to our current system and how well it suits the needs of the modern seed sector. That requires an understanding of risk.
Anyone who works in the regulatory realm knows that our success is based on how well those who design our regulatory system understand the risks and threats that very system is facing and how to plan for those risks.
Take the public variety development system for cereals, for example. That system, operated largely by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, has served farmers very well for many years. But as the world changes and the business landscape changes along with it, we must be mindful of the threats that face the traditional public framework so we can respond quickly in the event that system changes for any reason — including government reallocation of priorities and resources.
Through its Seed Regulatory Modernization (SRM) initiative, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has signalled it is open to substantial change to our regulatory system, including government’s role in the regulation of seed. This opens the door for the seed industry to plan for the future and create a system designed to ensure stability but also be agile and able to turn on a dime when the need arises.
The picture of where our system is today — and what the hurdles and barriers to that system are — must be painted clearly. Seeds Canada, alongside ag and seed sector partners, helped paint this picture recently with Seed Summit 2022, which laid out what industry and producers alike expect from a modern seed system. A few examples include:
- A predictable regulatory environment that attracts investment into Canada – an environment that makes good business sense for investors and allows them to gauge potential outcomes and timelines
- A competitive, lower cost seed certification system, in order to remain competitive globally
- Timely access to varieties for producers and technologies so the ag and seed sectors don’t continue to fall behind global counterparts
- The opportunity for breeders to benefit from innovations in plant breeding, to gain access to useful traits, and to enable the industry to make use of the opportunities.
The above will make or break our ability to innovate, to stay competitive on the global stage, and help seed developers get new tools to producers
As our executive director Barry Senft said on a recent Germination webinar, a strong regulatory environment developed through consultation and a fulsome review to represent the needs of all stakeholders will result in a stronger Canadian seed sector. It will also help build trust and transparency and pave the way for increased consumer confidence in the sector and sustainable advancements. Of course, the term “consumer” doesn’t just describe people at the grocery store, but everyone who buys Canadian seed and the products derived from it.
As regulatory affairs Manager for Seeds Canada, I look forward to seeing the SRM process continue and further define what true innovation needs to look like in Canada. Please feel free to reach out to me at lcomin@seeds-canada.ca to continue the discussion.
