Janek Bartel
Laboratory Manager, SGS Canada Crop Science
Sherwood Park, Alta.
Janek Bartel has established himself as a forward-thinking seed analyst, known for embracing new technologies and challenging conventional approaches in the industry. His curiosity and drive for innovation have led him to explore areas that push the boundaries of seed testing, especially through advancements in multispectral imaging.
This adaptability and vision are central to Bartel’s approach. He believes that as cutting-edge technologies from industries like medicine and life sciences become more affordable, they will revolutionize seed testing.
“Their technologies are becoming more accessible, and that means we might soon be able to use them in seed testing,” he explains.
He points to the use of MRI scans for seeds, a technology still in its research phase but with exciting potential.
“Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll be able to detect damage in seeds without even touching them,” Bartel says.
But that’s the future, and he’s focused on the here and now. He’s led, developed, or participated in a number of impactful projects, including lecturing at the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) germination workshop in Bucharest, Romania, last September. He also led ISTA’s special project on seedling images, similar to the seed health image collection, that in turn was led by team member Nicole Calliou.
Besides being active on the ISTA Germination Technical Committee, he has also been involved with Seeds Canada’s Seed Testing Quality Assurance Committee since day one.
It’s pure curiosity that drives him.
“I enjoy diving in and figuring things out, no matter what it is. Take image analysis, for example. I read about it, heard about it, and thought, ‘This could work.’ As soon as I had the chance to try the equipment, I was all in. It didn’t take long before I was working directly with the manufacturer to build new classifiers, add new features, and really push it forward,” he says.
Most recently, he played a crucial role in making a bid to bring the ISTA AGM to Canada in 2026, proving this seed testing star is rising in the international community. The bid was developed between 3 out of the 4 ISTA accredited labs in Canada.
“Now that ISTA is coming to Canada, it opens up whole new possibilities for those who attend. Since travel costs are basically eliminated, you can potentially send a lot more people from your lab. It’s a great opportunity to send our analysts to really high-value trainings without breaking the bank, and to showcase what Canada has to offer.”
Editor’s Note: This article is part of a series on Innovators in seed testing. Use the buttons below to view our other innovators.
