Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 6022 seed business members from coast to coast engaged in seed production, processing and marketing. Since its inception, it has essentially allowed all stakeholders in the sector to benefit from the latest new varieties. SeCan lays claim to hundreds of varieties of cereals, oilseeds, grasses and legumes, and has provided plant breeders with millions in royalties in return. The organization celebrated its 40th anniver- sary in July in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Canadian Seed Growers Association (CSGA), an appropriate set- ting for SeCan members and staff to come together to acknowledge past accomplish- ments, but more importantly, to get ready to face current and future challenges. It was fitting that a major discussion topic at this year’s CSGA annual meeting was the Seed Synergy Project, a joint initiative between the sector’s six major organiza- tions — CSGA, the Canadian Seed Trade Association, the Canadian Seed Institute, the Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada, the Canadian Plant Technology Agency and CropLife Canada — that will attempt to have the Canadian seed industry speak with one voice. “I think it’s in our DNA to seek partners and to collaborate, and because our mem- bership is made up of people engaged in their communities, it’s in our blood to problem-solve and advocate for our own interests and the ag industry in general,” says Quentin Martin, past chair of SeCan’s board of directors. SeCan was formed as a public/private part- nership with 238 members. It now boasts 700. Its board has shrunk as the organiza- tion has streamlined itself, but according to general manager Jeff Reid, SeCan has always needed to evolve to meet the demands of both a dynamic seed industry and a membership base with changing needs. He says SeCan is well placed to succeed in the future, with initiatives such as Seed SeCan’s founding fathers were saluted during the annual meeting held in July. SeCan marked its 40th anniversary in July in Clear Lake, Man., holding its annual meeting in conjunction with the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association. Photo: Jennifer Workman. “From the perspective of government, they’re paying a lot of attention right now to seed and to how it can be a model for how other industries can work effectively together.” — Jeff Reid