JULY 2026  SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA   37
FOR YEARS,  Canada has offered interna­
tional seed companies something highly 
valuable: stability.
Strong research institutions, a trusted 
regulatory system and access to one of 
the world’s most important agricultural 
regions have made Canada an attractive 
market. Yet stability alone is no longer 
enough in a world where companies must 
decide quickly where to invest their next 
dollar in plant breeding, biotechnology 
and seed innovation.
At the 2026 International Seed 
Federation (ISF) World Seed Congress 
in Lisbon, Portugal, Seed World General 
Manager Madeleine Baerg sat down with 
Greg MacDonald, agriculture counsel­
lor at Canada’s Mission to the European 
Union, and Dan Wright, CEO of Seeds 
Canada, to explore a question with 
global significance: Why Canada, and 
why now?
The conversation comes at a pivotal 
moment for the Canadian seed sector.
Both government and industry are 
signaling a stronger commitment to 
regulatory modernization, improved 
sector alignment and faster pathways for 
innovation. The goal is straightforward: 
make it easier for companies to move 
technologies from development to com­
mercial success.
Why Canada is Attracting Global Seed 
Investment
For international investors, that shift 
could change how Canada is viewed.
Rather than serving as a standalone 
market, Canada offers strategic access 
to the broader North American seed 
economy, one of the largest and most 
influential agricultural markets in the 
world. Companies that establish a foot­
hold in Canada can position themselves 
to serve growers across the continent 
while benefiting from Canada’s scientific 
expertise and export-oriented agriculture.
The discussion also addresses the 
hard questions investors are asking. Are 
regulatory pathways truly becoming 
more efficient, or is the rhetoric moving 
faster than reality? Are Canadian farmers 
prepared to adopt innovation at scale? 
How should companies interpret recent 
changes in research funding and infra­
structure? And is the current momentum 
durable enough to withstand shifting 
political priorities?
MacDonald brings an international 
perspective from Brussels, where he 
works at the intersection of agriculture, 
trade and diplomacy. Wright offers the 
industry viewpoint, outlining what has 
changed and what still needs to happen 
for Canada to become a preferred desti­
CANADA MAKES ITS CASE TO 
GLOBAL SEED INVESTORS
At the ISF World Seed Congress, industry and government leaders explain why seed innovation in 
Canada is making the country a faster, more competitive destination. By Aimee Nielson, Seed World U.S. Editor
To watch the full 
discussion, scan the 
QR code! 
nation for innovation deployment.
Together, they present a candid 
assessment of Canada’s strengths, chal­
lenges and opportunities.
For global seed companies evaluat­
ing where to invest next, the message 
is increasingly clear: Canada wants to 
compete, and it is working to create an 
environment where innovation can move 
faster and deliver greater value.
With Canada preparing to host the 
World Seed Congress in 2027, the coun­
try is using this moment to demonstrate 
that it is ready to play an even larger role 
in shaping the future of global agricul­
ture. 

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