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 6052 Exploring ideas and views on all aspects of the seed industry. CANADIAN NOMINATED TO PROTECT WORLD PLANT HEALTH Canada’s leadership in international plant protection was recognized with the election of Marie-Claude Forest, an expert on international phytosani- tary standards at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, to the Bureau of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM). The CPM is the governing body of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The seven-member bureau provides guidance to the CPM on the strategic direction, financial and operational management of its activities. “Ms. Forest’s nomination strength- ens Canada’s contributions to the IPPC and reflects the leadership role that Canada continues to play on key issues,” says Darlene Blair, Canada’s chief plant health officer and the national representative at the IPPC. Through the cooperation of its member nations, the IPPC supports the protection of the world’s plant resources from plant pests, and facilitates the safe international trade of $1.1 trillion worth of plants and plant products. OFFICIALS WORK TO KEEP CHINESE MARKETS OPEN TO CANOLA China’s Premier Li Keqiang and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canadian canola can continue to be exported to China under the current regulatory regime while officials work to finalize a long-term solution to blackleg concerns. “This is a significant step toward resolution of this long-standing issue,” says Patti Miller, president of the Canola Council of Canada. This is a turning point that enables government officials to conclude their discussions. The Canola Council has been supporting technical discussions on the ground in Beijing. “Canadian and Chinese officials have worked diligently on finding a science-based approach to blackleg risk that will be practical and effective,” Miller says. “We encourage both governments to rapidly conclude a science-based agreement that will provide long-term stability.” In 2009, canola exports to China were stopped as a result of concerns over transmission of blackleg to the Chinese rapeseed crop. Exports resumed to designated ports in China with an agreement to conduct joint research to better understand the disease and how risk of transmission could be mitigated. During the past six years, the Canadian canola industry has invested millions of dollars in blackleg research. As a result, research has shown that reducing the incidence of blackleg in Canada will benefit both countries. Canola seed exports to China have been the single most valuable export from Canada to China during the past five years. In 2015, Canada exported 3.8 million tonnes of canola seed to China, worth $2 billion. GOVERNMENTS FOCUS ON NEW AG POLICY FRAMEWORK Federal, provincial and territorial governments work to develop the next agricultural policy framework, set to launch April 1, 2018. The existing framework is set to expire in March 2018. Past frameworks focused on building a competitive, profitable, innovate and environmentally sustain- able sector, and the new one intends to further enhance policy and regulatory coherence and set clear objectives in support of agriculture. Collaboration between the governments has been key in providing consistent policy and pro- gram direction but with regional flexibility to meet the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. Through the process, Agriculture and Agri- Food Canada consults stakeholders throughout the value chain. AAFC released an outline, Calgary Statement — Towards the Next Policy Framework, July 22 and is seeking feedback. The outline on AAFC’s website. One of the identified priority areas is science, research and innovation. The framework will “focus on accelerating science, research and inno- vation to support the sector …” While there is no language specific to the seed industry, it does talk about the role of science, research and innovation in helping to address production challenges, envi- ronmental pressures and market risks.