JULY 2017 GERMINATION.CA 37 DESIGNED TO ORBIT Mars as the first interplanetary weather satellite, the Mars Orbiter was lost in space in 1999 because the NASA team used metric units while a con- tractor used imperial. Sometimes when you’re working across multiple countries and cultures, it might feel like things get lost in space. This could be due to a number of reasons, such as the change in time zones, varying languages, terminology and difference in units measured. There’s also the chal- lenge of dealing with multiple currencies. If your business management software does not have the flexibility to calculate between different units, particu- larly for seed count units, and even between currencies, then this will cause an overhead for your staff in manu- ally making sure that the quantities and values are correct and that costly mistakes are avoided. While these mistakes are innocent, they can be costly and frustrate parties in both locations. For example, a U.S. company contracts the production of 60 pounds of raw tomato seed from India. You need to tell the producer that you are actually looking for 27.216 kilograms. If the FOR THE AGRICULTURE sector to be successful and competi- tive on an international level, we have to work together for our mutual benefit. Partnerships between private com- panies and seed growers/farmers are crucial, now more than ever. This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s good to have a refresher as to why these relationships are impor- tant. They should be top-of-mind for any seed company that wants to be at the top of its game. Almost two years ago, we partnered with the Alberta Wheat Commission and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada on a “P4” public/private/producer partnership model to support Canadian Prairie Spring Red wheat vari- ety development. We’re still early in this process, but the willingness of all parties to work together on this project is very encour- aging. It shows how public and private breeding efforts can work in unison in the wake of the passage of Bill C-18 and the implementation of UPOV 91 back in 2015. There are other models in the market as well, like our partnership with France’s farmer-owned cooperative, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM SPACE EXPLORATION? Mike Dorris Sales and Operations Manager, Cultura Seed Solutions @mikedorris1 • mike.dorris@culturatech.com • culturatech.com CEREAL SEED PARTNER TO SUCCEED Brent Derkatch Canterra Seeds Director, Operations & Business Development @CANTERRABD • b.derkatch@canterra.com • canterra.com producer misreads the 60 pounds for 60 kilograms, you could end up receiving twice the seed needed, and that would be an expensive mistake when dealing with a high-value, low-volume product. Software applications that have the flexibility to calculate these conversions to units and currency can prevent many mistakes. You may be surprised that there’s a great deal of software on the market that doesn’t perform this way. The ability to deal with multiple currencies and assign the exchange rates to each transaction is not just a con- venient function; it lessens user error and gives both par- ties involved increased confidence. Then there’s the challenge of providing documenta- tion in multiple languages. If your invoices aren’t getting paid, is it because of a language barrier? It might be. The opportunity to have multiple languages on documenta- tion, such as invoices, can make the difference in getting your invoices paid on time, if at all. If you’re working across multiple countries, the same should be expected of your software. Don’t let things get lost in space due to simple errors or a misunderstanding. Limagrain, called Limagrain Cereals Research Canada (LCRC). LCRC will develop new varieties of cereals, with a specific focus on wheat. The benefits of these close relationships are many. First, seed companies get the benefit of seeing how varieties perform up-close. Seed growers typically increase seed for up to three years before certified seed is sold commercially, and during this time, we work with them to get a better understanding of product perfor- mance under “real” conditions. This allows us to set reasonable expectations on product performance with commercial customers. Second, you gain valuable resources. If you think about every seed grower or farmer as a well-respected industry equal, you will quickly find that you have a lot in common and a partner in business for years to come. Relationships in any business are important, but there’s something about working in agriculture, and with seed growers and farmers in particular, that is particularly special.