JANUARY 2018 GERMINATION.CA 5 Robynne Anderson, President, Emerging Ag Inc. Recently inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame, Anderson works internationally, including speaking at the United Nations on agriculture and food issues, and representing the International Agri-Food Network at the UN. She founded Germination and its publisher, Issues Ink, before going on to start consulting firm Emerging Ag. Dave Carey, Executive Director, Canadian Seed Trade Association Carey was appointed executive director in 2017 after serving as government affairs and policy director. Prior to his career with CSTA, he worked as a legislative assistant for Members of Parliament. He is an experienced government relations leader, with an in-depth understanding of government and regulatory affairs, policy development and international trade priorities. Michael Keller, Secretary-General, International Seed Federation Keller was appointed secretary-general of ISF in June 2014. A German national, he lived and worked in Paris for 18 years before relocating to Switzerland to join ISF in Nyon. Having graduated from the University of Manheim where he completed a master’s degree in European Law, Keller pursued post-graduate studies in political science. Between 2008 and 2014 he held the post of director of regulatory and public affairs at DuPont Pioneer in France. Julia Harnal, Marketing Manager Crop Protection, BASF Canada Harnal joined BASF in 2001 and has held a number of positions in Germany and France, including portfolio lead for seed treatments and insecticides, as well as director of marketing for crop protection. Most recently, she was the global content lead for the Sales Excellence Program for Agricultural Solutions. Born and raised in Germany, Harnal received a master’s degree in agricultural sciences from Christian-Albrechts University. Kevin Runnalls, President, Canadian Seed Growers’ Association Runnalls is president of Wabi Valley Elevators in New Liskeard, Ont. and runs the farm started by his great-grandfather in 1902. He has been involved with CSGA for two decades, first serving on the board of the Ontario Seed Growers’ Association beginning in 1997. He has sat on the national CSGA board for nearly a decade and is a former board member of Grain Farmers of Ontario. A seed grower himself for the past three decades, his five sons all farm with him and represent the fifth generation operating the family farm. AbouttheGiants: rently comprising infographics, presenta- tions and a complete discussion guide on how to talk about the topic. “It’s important we position the topic in the right way,” he says. “We must find con- sistent regulations for countries through- out the world. It’s about communication and content, that we get it right and that national associations can discuss these matters with government the same way in all countries.” That awareness of the language we use as an industry is something becoming more prevalent as stakeholders attempt to avoid the mistakes of the past, when the industry wasn’t quick enough to counter negative sentiment and misinformation about new agricultural technologies like GM. As more and more people leave rural areas for urban ones, it’s a crucial time for this. “Agriculture has always come at things with the idea that we’re doing the right thing, that we’re stewarding land and growing crops for people, and we’re taken aback when we go out into the world and see these concerted attacks on every aspect of the business. If it’s livestock, beef is evil. With seed, genetic engineer- ing is evil. We see only attacks, with no path forward,” notes Manitoba’s Robynne Anderson, president of Emerging Ag, a consulting firm to the agriculture sector. She also founded Germination maga- zine and its publishing company Issues Ink, and was inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame late last year. She notes that the Canadian seed industry is at a crucial moment, when the decisions it will make and the mindset