After three years as president, Ellen Sparry of C&M Seeds has passed the torch to Brent Collins, head of seeds and traits for BASF Canada.
His appointment comes at a pivotal time, with numerous opportunities and challenges on the horizon.
“There’s a lot going on, and I think it would be remiss of me not to comment on Ellen Sparry and all of the things she has done in her capacity as chair, both in Seeds Canada and with one of the legacy organizations, CSTA. Ellen certainly paved the way, and so I feel that I’m in good hands now moving into the chair position,” he said during a Seed World Canada podcast interview this week during the Seeds Canada annual conference in Edmonton, Alta.
Acknowledging the significant contributions of his predecessor, Collins emphasized the importance of continuity and building upon established foundations.
“I have big shoes to fill,” he noted, referring to Sparry’s long tenure and extensive knowledge. “As president, you kind of have to pick up where Ellen left off. Any organization, especially a young one like Seeds Canada, faces many challenges. The key is to look at these challenges as opportunities or areas of focus.”
Collins is determined to drive the organization forward, focusing on two main areas: revisiting the strategic plan and enhancing member value. “We’re going to immediately be picking up a review of our strategic plan,” he explained. “This is something we did about three years ago when Seeds Canada was formed. Most organizations revisit their strategic plan, and our intentions are to do that this fall. It’s exciting to see if our compass is still pointed in the right direction.”
He also stressed the importance of providing value to members. “From day one, we’ve made a commitment that our members must feel there’s value in being part of Seeds Canada. We’ll make sure we are providing direction, leadership, and what our members are looking for.”
When asked about what it takes for members to see value in the organization, Collins highlighted engagement and being heard. “There are many important topics for our seed industry in the next few years, and we need to ensure members feel they are contributing, being consulted, and active in charting the path for Seeds Canada.”
Reflecting on the past three years, Collins identified four key areas where Seeds Canada has made significant progress: Seed Regulatory Modernization (SRM), intellectual property, government relations, and communications. “With SRM, we’ve had dozens of members engaged, advocating for the seed sector. It’s not done yet, but we remain committed. On intellectual property, the Variety Use Agreement (VUA) is crucial for breeders’ protection and long-term innovation for Canadian farmers.”
Government relations have also been a priority. “We implemented a government relations strategy this year and hosted our first lobby days on Parliament Hill last fall. We’ll do the same in 2024,” Collins said. “Communications have been strong, guiding our messaging and supporting our members. Our first Seed School initiative and our annual and semi-annual meetings have been significant achievements.”
Looking ahead, Collins is aware of the areas needing improvement, particularly gaining alignment among members. “It’s always tricky in the business world to get alignment on topics. We’ll continue to focus on getting members’ input to put forward solutions that benefit the seed industry.”
Structural Changes Have Strengthened Seeds Canada, Senft says
Seeds Canada has spent the last year fortifying its organization, ensuring it remains well-equipped to tackle key policy issues while delivering exceptional member and client services. That’s according to CEO Barry Senft, who delivered his update to members yesterday during the Seeds Canada annual conference in Edmonton, Alta.
This strategic move comes on the heels of a significant organizational restructuring shortly after last year’s conference, designed to optimize resource allocation and control costs, he said.
Continuous improvement of IT infrastructure, web applications, and security processes is a top priority. This year’s key update to the member portal has increased internal efficiencies and provided essential tools and resources, including a new continuing education module for tracking professional credits. These enhancements aim to improve member engagement and streamline administration in the Member Services area.
“We recognized the need to modernize our infrastructure to better serve our members and clients,” said Senft. “The new member portal is a significant step in that direction, providing vital resources and improving overall efficiency.”
Seeds Canada maintained strong engagement with its members through various events, including the annual conference, the semi-annual meeting, and the inaugural Seed School. The 2023 annual conference in St. John’s, Nfld., was a standout event, attracting over 200 delegates. The virtual semi-annual meeting also saw significant participation, reflecting the organization’s adaptability and commitment to its members.
Partnering with Cereals Canada, Seeds Canada delivered its first Seed School in February, which was attended by 23 participants. The course featured in-class sessions and site visits, receiving high satisfaction from attendees who recommended it to their industry colleagues.
“Our goal is to provide valuable educational opportunities that support professional growth in the industry,” Senft explained. “The feedback from our first Seed School has been overwhelmingly positive, and we plan to build on this success.”
Following extensive consultation with users, retailers, and distributors, Seeds Canada made significant improvements to the Variety Use Agreement platform. The most noticeable change was streamlining the process for signing VUA agreements, resulting in increased platform usage and direct support for plant breeding through fees generated from producer declarations of farm-saved seed use.
“These changes not only improve functionality but also contribute to bringing new and improved varieties to the market,” he added.
In the realm of government relations and advocacy, Seeds Canada implemented a strategy that has already shown success, according to Senft. Highlights include the first parliamentary reception hosted by Senator Rob Black, which saw strong attendance from government representatives and industry professionals. Additionally, a two-day lobbying event facilitated meetings with key figures, including the federal ag minister and the president of CFIA.
Two New Faces Join the Seeds Canada Board
Seeds Canada announced today that two new faces have joined the board — Mark Metcalfe and Curt Baldwin. Metcalfe serves as president of Nexeed while Curt Baldwin is director operations and product strategy for Canberra Seeds. The full slate of board members are:
- Brent Collins, BASF Canada
- Sarah Foster, 20/20 Seed Labs
- Jeff Loessin, Corteva
- Ellen Sparry, C&M Seeds
- Michelle Wall, Syngenta
- Annie Bergeron, Semican
- Bryan Gerard, JoMar Seeds
- Chantal Lecavalier, Sollio Agriculture
- Chris Churko, FP Genetics
- Curt Baldwin, CANTERRA SEEDS
- Eric McLean, JS Henry & Son Ltd
- Jeff Reid, SeCan
- Mark Metcalfe, Nexeed Inc
- Monica Klaas, Alberta Seed Processors Association
- Nick Sekulic, Prestville Farms
