b'Bright yellow canola blooms beneath Chiles snow-capped volcanoesa striking reminder of the countrys critical role in global seed supply chains.or February to check crop pro- The breeder can be there for the gress and then return in Marchmain part of the flowering or silking, for harvest and shipping.Schweigert explains, but he or she Of course, visiting is stilldoesnt have to stay to see the end of the important, but I visit less nowcycle in person. This really works well for because we have a great team,many firms.Schweigert says.Nicols Sahli, CEO of CIS Agro, also ANPROS executive direc- points out that virtual meetings (with the tor Mario Schindler also saysability to share a screen) also make day-skill building was acceleratedto-day operations much easier.in Chile during and after theBut we still need personal contact pandemic. Across the industry, ourwith customers, he says. I think some local teams developed quickly, growingpeople thought during the pandemic their expertise not just with the plantsthat we wouldnt need that, but time has but with various types of technology,shown thats not true. Like other sectors, he says.the seed business is very much based on Many of Gro Alliances clients stillrelationships, so the personal contact will incorporate virtual visits.always be important.14 SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA NOVEMBER 2025'