SEPTEMBER 2026  SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA   23
need to collaborate and engage with the 
younger generations. They prefer digital 
tools, faster answers and want to see clear 
economic benefits of the certification 
system. 
Task 6: Breaking Down Silos
Seed World Canada: Where is the 
biggest opportunity to work together as 
an industry?
SB: Communication. Every strong 
foundation is built on communication. 
Across the entire seed value chain, we 
need to have stronger collaboration, 
more open discussion, and bring all 
people to the table. There is a disconnect 
between breeders, seed growers, com­
mercial farmers, the processors and the 
end users. I would like to see everyone in 
the same room more often, talking about 
the seed industry and where we need to 
move together. This includes bringing in 
the next generation. The challenges we 
face today are too great for any of us to 
solve alone. 
President Shannon Bieman. 
Photo: Ema Suvajac
Task 7: Speaking with One Voice
Seed World Canada: Is the sector 
having conversations today that 
weren’t happening five years ago?
SB: Absolutely there are. I think if 
we rewind the clock back to 2014, 
it started when the Canadian Food 
Inspection Agency moved from 
completing pedigreed seed crop 
inspections to an alternative service 
delivery model, with licensed private 
inspectors conducting the inspections 
and the CFIA continuing to retain the 
regulatory oversight. Seed Regulatory 
Modernization opened the door 
further to a wider audience and larger 
group of participants across the entire 
seed value chain. 
When we began that journey, it 
put people in the same room who had 
never really worked together previ­
ously including primary producers, 
seed growers, seed companies, breeders, 
regulators, commodity groups, grain 
organizations, academics, government, 
and others. 

View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.