10 GERMINATION.CA JANUARY 2019 Nyborg says each of the five seed organizations in Canada is being asked to shift from thinking about its members to thinking more broadly about the entire sector. “As an industry, we have to at this point realize it’s not about the organiza- tions, it’s about the memberships and those memberships collectively,” he says. “I think we are aligned. There are some small nuances to be figured out, but I think we are all interested in increasing the vision of what this new seed industry will look like, and I think we’re doing this all for the benefit of Canadian agriculture.” The challenge for Nyborg as CSGA president, he says, will be to remember that he’s not leading just a board, but lead- ing thousands of members from one coast to the next, from small family farms to large multinationals. He says the feedback CSGA has been receiving has been consistent: overall, members are looking for concrete direc- tion and action. “Much of our thinking is based on the assumption that we need to be ready for 2020; that’s the indication that we’re getting from government. They want to make changes then.” CSGA must continue to get members’ feedback, in Nyborg’s view, and their ideas “of where they want to see this industry go.” He says the organization welcomes “all the engagement we can get, especially now.” Kelly Chambers, executive director for Alberta Seed Growers, agrees wholeheart- edly. “We’ve got lots of change going on right now and making sure that we’re bring- ing the voice from Alberta growers through to the national office is important,” she says. “There’s over 50 per cent, or over 75 per cent, of the member voice coming from Western Canada, membership-wise.” She also observes that as Canada’s seed industry grows to meet the challenges ahead, engagement with the public is critical. The seed industry must tell its story to everyone in society, she says — adding that this is fortunately easier to do now than anytime in the past. “There are more resources now than ever to really capture what it is you want to say,” Chambers explains. “[We need to be] making sure that our directors, our membership are engaged with social media, that we are put- ting out information, but quality information, and not overdoing that connection.” “CHANGEISSCARY BUTIT’SANECESSITY, ANDITHINKTHAT’S SOMETHINGWENEED TOFOCUSONMOVING FORWARD.” –TomGreaves