b'THE $30 BILLION QUESTION:CAN NORTH AMERICA HOLD ITS EDGE?Billions in productivity gains, cross-border seed flows and the stability of food prices all hinge on a sector now squeezed by Canadas stagnating innovation curve and global trade turbulence.By Marc ZienkiewiczCANADAS FARM ECONOMY is approachingto function at all as an industry whenity and roughly $2.4 billion to Canadas a decisive moment. It can reignite inno- you look at how many times seed crossesGDP, supporting close to 17,000 jobs. vation and productivity, or settle into aborders and the highly fragmented policyEven when looking only at modern seed slower, less competitive future.environment globally, he says. Tariffssaleslargely traited varieties that Thats the message delivered byare now adding an additional layer ofreflect the newest innovationsthe Craig Klemmer of Farm Credit Canadaexpense. direct impact remains striking, with (FCC) and Sam Crowell of the AmericanIn their telling, the seed sector isaround $2.7 billion in output and more Seed Trade Association (ASTA), whothe quiet backbone of North Americanthan 7,000 jobs tied directly to seedspeaking from opposite sides of theagriculture: sprawling, globally interde- production and sales. borderdescribe a North Americanpendent, and essential. It is also underThese figures do not account for the seed sector that remains central to foodpressure on fronts that range fromcascading effects through crop produc-security and agricultural trade but is nowresearch spending to geopolitical tradetion, livestock feeding, processing, confronting two simultaneous pressures:tools that can change overnight. transportation and export sales.slowing productivity in Canada and anHe offers an even broader lens. The increasingly volatile global trade environ- A Quiet Economic Workhorse single largest economic event in Canada ment. Much of Klemmers argument centreseach year, he said, is seedingwhen The world needs more of Canada,on economics. Modern plant breedingfarmers put seed into the ground each says Klemmer, manager of thought lead- and seed technologies, he says, contributespring. We dont celebrate that, he says. ership for FCC. But our productivitymore than $5 billion in economic activ- But its the biggest driver of jobs, value story needs a rewritefast.Crowell, who serves as senior director of international programs and policy for ASTA, puts the U.S. situation more bluntly. Its staggering that we manage New language around transshipment remains undefined, posing risks for seed lots that move internationally for perfectly legitimate breeding and testing purposes.20 SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA JANUARY 2026'