10 GERMINATION.CA JANUARY 2018 “SometimeswealsoforgetthatINNOVATIONENCOMPASSES OTHER THINGS THAN JUST THE MOLECULE, formulation being an example. What does a grower really need? What is user-friendly for them? How can we make the final product easier to use for them? A product is [really just] a formulation of an active ingredient in certain packaging.” —Julia Harnal, marketing manager crop protection, BASF Canada From the Seed Synergy Collaboration Project to advocating for seed treatment use around the globe, industry leaders offer insight on their work. GIANT HIGHLIGHTS “IHOPEPEOPLEHAVETHECOURAGETO LETGOOFSYSTEMSTHATAREREADY FORREFORM,BECAUSEALLOFAGIS UNDER SO MUCH PRESSURE RIGHT NOW. ...ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS I GETTODOISWORKINTERNATIONALLY QUITEABIT,TOBRINGTHATPASSION FOR HOW AGRICULTURE OPERATES AND HOW WE GROW THINGS MORE EFFECTIVELY INTO A WHOLE RANGE OFVENUES.” —RobynneAnderson,presidentofEmergingAg Inc.andmemberoftheCanadianAgricultural HallofFame “A HUGE AMOUNT OF PROGRESS has been made since the [Seed Synergy] group first got together in 2015. We have to provide the government with one common voice when it comes to seedsregulationsandpolicy,andSeed Synergy is a great vehicle for that.” —Dave Carey, executive director, Canadian Seed Trade Association “It’s clear one of the issues we have, even in South America, is seed treatment. It’s great to see there’s full agreement on the need to work together to support seed treatment, which protects our genetics.” —Michael Keller, secretary-general, International Seed Federation “The last time there was a budget cut we were made aware after the fact. [The federal government said], ‘You guys figure out how to check your own fields and we’re out of it.’ We have to be in that game right from the start and position ourselves to be able to manage some of these costs as they come.” —Kevin Runnalls, president, Canadian Seed Growers’ Association