b'CFIA CUTS WILL NOT DISRUPT SEED REGULATORY MODERNIZATIONSeed Regulatory Modernization (SRM) is moving forward as plannedmandate of food safety, animal and plant health, science, and enabling despite recent budget reductions at the Canadian Food Inspectioninternational trade, CFIA says in the statement.Agency (CFIA), according to a statement from CFIA provided to SeedAccording to CFIA, budget reductions are being implemented through World Canada. targeted changes to program delivery, operational efficiencies, and The CFIA, like other federal departments, has identified savings as part ofreinvestments in front-line capacity, rather than broad reductions to the Government of Canadas Comprehensive Expenditure Review. Whilecore services.the cuts have raised questions across the agriculture sector, CFIA saidCFIA will remain focused on key priorities, including protecting food it has prioritized protecting front-line inspection capacity, emergencysafety, managing animal and plant health risks, using sound science readiness, and its core mandate. and evidence, prioritizing actions based on risk and impact, maintaining From the outset, the agency set out to protect front-line inspectionstrong emergency readiness, and supporting businesses by enabling capacity and emergency readiness and remain focused on our coretrade through clear and predictable regulation.However, CFIA did not confirm whether the budget reductions will affect employees working within the seed regulatory section, leaving some uncertainty for stakeholders monitoring the modernization process.Despite questions around staffing impacts, CFIA still expects to publish the proposed updated Seeds Regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part I in 2026. The proposed regulations will be subject to a public comment period, allowing stakeholders across the seed sector to provide feedback. It released its SRM What We Heard report last month.Once comments are received and analyzed, the finalized updated Seeds Regulations would be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, along CFIA has not confirmed whether the budget reductions will affectwith a defined implementation date.employees in its seed regulatory section. Photo: Raysonhotheyre more likely to adopt a new vari- Developing a new cereal variety canBut he also believes producers are pre-ety, she says. If that diversity of datatake a decade or more from cross to com- pared to shoulder greater responsibility.shrinks, adoption slows. mercialization. Replacing lost capacity isWeigum echoes that sentiment, sug-Still, Weigum does not see the cur- not a short-term fix. gesting that reduced reliance on direct rent moment solely as a contraction. What is emerging instead is discus- federal management could yield a more The way forward is not necessarilysion of hybrid models, structures thatagile system.the way back, she says. If we only tryblend public funding, producer oversightIf we can access government funding to restore the old structure, were alwaysand industry partnerships. but operate with more industry direction, vulnerable to the next federal budgetSaskatchewans Variety Performancethat could be stronger long term, she review. Group offers one example. The organiza- says.Instead, she envisions a Prairie-wide,tion pools funding from industry and producer-led network that could main- government to generate data that feedsA System in Transitiontain key research functions, potentiallyinto the provincial seed guide. What is clear is that Prairie seed grow-supported by stable funding streams andIts a broad partnership, Barkerers are not approaching this moment government partnerships but governedsays. And it works. passively. Boards are coordinating across closer to industry. provincial lines. Crop commissions It would have to be collaborative,Food Security and Strategic Autonomy are assessing funding scenarios. Policy she says. It cant just be one site. Beneath the operational discussions lies aproposals are circulating. The tone has broader policy conversation. shifted from alarm to structural reflec-Beyond Public vs. Private Canada has, in recent years, empha- tion.Some observers have suggested thesized food security, export competitive- We can have a soft landing, Barker private sector could fill any gap left by aness and agricultural resilience amidsays. If we work together and keep the smaller federal footprint. Seed growersgeopolitical instability and climatecritical pieces functioning.caution against oversimplification. volatility. For Ellis, the increased communica-Private companies have an impor- Ellis sees tension. tion may be a silver lining.tant role, Barker says. But they operateIf were heading into a world withWere talking more than we ever within the same biological timelines asmore volatility, he says, then investinghave, he says. And thats where real everyone else. in food production capacity is critical. solutions begin. 12 SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA MARCH 2026'