50 GERMINATION.CA JULY 2017 Did you know? The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has added Seed Regulations modernization to its official Forward Regulatory Plan: 2017-2019. LIKE THE OLD Pete Seeger song goes, to everything there is a season. As you read this, our seed crop production season is moving into its final phases and another cycle of engagement on seed policy issues has already begun. With a new Strategic Plan to guide us, we are entering a critical phase in discussions on the future of the CSGA and the Canadian seed indus- try. Our annual meeting in Halifax, N.S., held the second week of July, marks the first major discus- sion of both our new strategic plan implementation priorities and the next phase of the Seed Synergy Collaboration Project that you have read much about these past months. Both CSGA’s Strategic Plan and the Seed Synergy Collaboration Project were developed in parallel, informed each other in their initial stages of development and continue to do so as we move forward. Our Strategic Plan is ambitious both in terms of moving traditional CSGA priorities forward and in terms of the impetus for constructive and collaborative change that it brings to the Seed Synergy Collaboration Project. The CSGA board’s decision to proceed with a complete review and potential renewal or “moderniza- tion” of Circular 6 is an obvious case in point, as is the commitment to strengthening seed grower education and professional recognition opportu- nities going forward. In both online and face-to-face consultations over the course of the last 12 months, seed growers big and small and from both the East and West were extremely supportive of both these objectives, as they saw THEFUTUREISNOW Glyn Chancey, Executive Director CSGA / JULY IS THE START OF A SEASON OF ENGAGEMENT FOR OUR INDUSTRY / SEEDGROWERS.CA them as essential to their ability to work quickly, efficiently and effectively to capitalize on opportunities in today’s and tomorrow’s business environment. This enthusiasm is evident by our joint member ses- sion on July 12 with members of the Canadian Seed Trade Association, CropLife Canada, Canadian Seed Institute, the Commercial Seeds Analysts Association of Canada and the Canadian Plant Technology Agency. This session repre- sents the first opportunity for our collective members to go beyond guiding principles and discuss concrete options for building a next-generation seed system for our country. Arguably, this can be considered the official kickoff to a new season of engagement, analysis and formulation of recommendations that, if successful, will result in a shared industry-government consensus on what “Canadian Seed 2.0” might look like and agreement on first steps towards making it a reality. How different that vision will be from what we are now remains to be seen. However, there is no question that the discussion has begun in earnest. The best indication of this is the recent decision by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to add Seed Regulations modernization to its offi- cial Forward Regulatory Plan: 2017-2019. This bodes well for the prospects of a strong govern- ment-industry partnership going forward in support of a modern, innovative, competitive and profitable seed sector. You can count on the CSGA and its other seed indus- try partners to continue playing a leadership role on your behalf. “WITHANEWSTRATEGICPLANTOGUIDEUS,WE AREENTERINGACRITICALPHASEINDISCUSSIONS ONTHEFUTUREOFTHECSGAANDTHECANADIAN SEEDINDUSTRY.”