b'BARRY SENFT ON FIVE YEARS OF CHANGE, CHALLENGE AND MOMENTUM AT SEEDS CANADAAs he prepares to pass the torch, Senft reflects on guiding a newly unified organization through pandemic constraints, regulatory upheaval and shifting farmer expectationsand why Canada must act now to stay competitive in global seed innovation.By Marc ZienkiewiczAS BARRY SENFT prepares to stepworld knows by the time they reach down as CEO of Seeds Canada at thethe end of the fieldthat changes the end of January, he reflects on nearlydynamic of trust, accountability, and five transformative years leading thetransparency.organization through unification, regulatory upheaval, and a rapidlyQ:Youve talked often about evolving seed landscape. In thisthe need to attract more conversation, Senft offers insights onseed developers to Canada. Whats what he learned, what still needs torequired to make that happen?change, and why he believes CanadaA: Plant breeding is risky and stands at a critical crossroads forexpensive. If a country makes it attracting seed innovation. unnecessarily difficult or slow, developers will go elsewhere. Thats why something Q: Barry Senft steps down as CEOlike the Variety Use Agreement (VUA) is Barry, you took on the job during a massive transitionof Seeds Canada at the end ofso important to bring into the industry.bringing four organizationsJanuary. It helps ensure developers can recoup together to form Seeds Canada.their investments, enabling continued What were the biggest challenges? breeding work that benefits farmers. A:as a farmer and grain producer gave me ainvestments, enabling continued Bringing the four organizations together through the COVIDstrong appreciation for how foundationalbreeding work that benefits farmers. environment and with that creatingseed is. I think I helped reinforce thatWithout mechanisms like VUA, we risk a new culture for the organization.everything we dowhether its memberlosing innovation to jurisdictions that Some employees I didnt meet in personservices or client servicesultimatelymove faster and provide better incentives.for a year and a half. Were a people- serves the farmer customer. That focus is focused organization; we dont sell aessential. Q:Do you think the industry will bag of seedwe provide services andeventually get a faster, more support. Building a new culture in thatQ: adaptive regulatory system?What do farmers and seed environment was incredibly challenging.sector members still needA: I believe sobecause not At the same time, we were thrust into amost from policymakers? changing carries bigger significant Canadian Food InspectionA:consequences. Its not unique to seed; I One of the biggest things is faster Agency regulatory reviewSeedintroduction of new varieties. As asaw it when I worked with the Canadian Regulatory Modernization. We barelyfarmer myself, working with my son andGrain Commission in the late 1990s. We had our legs under us. But our staff putbrother, I see firsthand how importantidentified changes that only came into in tremendous effort, and I think we didthat is. The SRM process did delivereffect a decade later. But todays world remarkably well given the circumstances. some positiveslike incorporation bymoves faster. Competitors move faster. reference and the proposed seed sector Q: advisory committeebut overall, theQ:You came into seed fromWhat are your plans come the the grain world. What didregulatory system is far too complex.end of January?you bring to the sector, and whatMany of the protections in place wereA: Id like to stay connected to the change are you most proud ofdesigned 30-40 years ago. Farmingindustry in some capacity along helping usher in? has changed, technology has changed,with my involvement in the farm and a A:communication has changed. Regulatorsfew other interests. Whatever comes next For me its always been about the Seeds Canada members andhavent always kept up. If a varietywill be at a much slower pace than the clients, and the farmers. My backgrounddisappoints a farmer today, the wholelast few years, thats for sure. 32 SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA JANUARY 2026'