There’s a ton on the agenda this year, including important panel discussions to help guide the future of Canada’s next-generation seed system.
The Canadian Seed Growers’ Association is headed to the edge of Canada for its 2023 annual general meeting.
St. John’s, Nfld., will be the place for an exciting agenda packed with fun activities for the family, informative keynote speakers, and panel discussions that will help guide the future of the Canadian seed sector.
The CSGA meeting takes place July 8-10 at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland. With the theme of “On the Edge of Canada,” the Association looks to engage members and sector partners on everything from seed certification to what technology and skills our sector needs for a next-generation seed system.
“Getting back together for the first time in three years and in such a unique location, we’re making it extra special with fun networking events — golf, whale watching and SeCan’s Sunday evening pub crawl, “Rally in the Alley.” AGM business includes an engaging keynote speaker, panel discussions, and sessions covering key issues like Seed Regulatory Modernization,” Executive Director Doug Miller says.
Things kick off Saturday afternoon with the Pippy Park 18-hole golf game and Whale and Puffin Watching half-day tours.
Sunday’s business agenda features a Seed Regulatory Modernization plenary session to help attendees learn more about what the next-generation seed system could and should look like. After lunch, attendees will hear from Sarah Wilbanks, AOSCA’s CEO and Csaba Gaspar, the OECD Seed Schemes’ Programme Manager. Both will share their unique perspectives on how global seed certification systems are evolving, where they are going, and the importance of technology and international standard harmonization.
The day will finish off with keynote speaker Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, known as “The Food Professor”, who will discuss key industry trends and opportunities on which our seed sector can capitalize.
And while attendees are in Sunday sessions, companions and children will enjoy their full-day tours, which offer a little bit of everything St. John’s and the surrounding areas have to offer.
Monday, July 10, will kick off with a session on plant breeding innovation. Mohsen Yoosefzadeh Najafabadi, plant agriculture professor at the University of Guelph, will talk about how artificial intelligence and machine learning are used in plant breeding. Holly Gelech, Business Development Manager of SGS Canada, Crop Science, discusses how computer vision can be used in seed testing.
The business agenda will conclude with a panel discussion with next-generation growers to discover what they want and need from Canada’s future seed system.
Ending the event is the Awards Gala Luncheon. CSGA celebrates the excellence, dedication, and service of former board members Martin Provencher and Dave McKellar with the Robertson Associate Awards and forage seed sector stalwart Heather McBey and former CSGA executive director Glyn Chancey with the Honorary Life Award.
For complete info and to register, visit seedgrowers.ca/2023-agm/
