b'GIANT VIEWSHOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD? HISTORY SHOWS US THE WAYI APPRECIATED THE the recent Germination article LessonsNumerous changes were afoot in in Leadership in the November 2019 print edition. I thinkthe Canadian and global seed industry. some background and history would be helpful for yourToday, the CSTA plays a hugely readers in painting a bigger picture of the importance ofimportant role in modern agriculture, the Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA). having grown from a mainly com- The CSTA was originally a trade organization moremodity-based organization to becom-in tune with members needs to meet occasionally, geting a science-focused policy leader.to know each other and reduce the frequent competitive animosities which seemed to arise from time-to-time.The industry was more or less divided geographically; Martin Pick eastern Canadians needed to buy the seed produced by is co-founder ofwestern Canadian seed production firms. WHAT THE FUTURE OF THE Pickseed andAs well, in the early days our seed industry was an honorary lifelargely a forage seed producer with a dash of turfgrassSEED INDUSTRY LOOKS LIKE member of theadded. Cereals were grower-produced with few compa-Canadian Seednies working in that fieldcorn and soy were relegatedIN CANADA IS UNCLEAR."Trade Association to southwestern Ontario with little need for a national seed trade organization.The CSTA operation was simple: organize annual and semi-annual meetings and collect modest dues.The arrival of SeCan was a turning point. At this juncture the administration and organization had been in the hands of a secretary-like figure. This job had been farmed out to the Ontario Plant Food Council, first in theBill Leask deserves a vote of hands of Don Rutherford, then Bill Kilmer. It was decidedthanks for his professional leadership, we should have an exclusive secretary manager and Alonnot only from seed trade members Johnson of Winnipeg, a retired partner from BrettYoung,but all of Canadian agriculture, took this job. especially for helping establish Plant Then Agriculture Canada became more involved,Breeders Rights in Canada.advertising March as Good Seed Month. Their ads wentWhat the future of the seed indus-on to say that Certified seed was available from memberstry looks like in Canada is unclear. of the Canadian Seed Growers Association and SeCan.Consolidations and lack of funding No mention of the CSTA was yet made. for public breeding pose two big Members Byron Beehler of Stewart Seeds, Donchallenges. As the population urban-Littlejohns of Hyland Seeds, Paul King of King Grain andizes, there is less reward for public myself met to discuss this issue and concluded that, need- sector research. Will large consoli-ing the support of the CSTA at large, the CSTA office haddated seed companies be willing to to move from Winnipeg to Ottawa and develop liaisonlicense out their technologies to those and connections with appropriate government officials. seed companies closer to the ground?James Cooper, then research director at Pickseed, hap- More change is forthcoming and pened to be in Ottawa and recommended we talk to Billits a foggy picture, but if the exist-Leask. At that time Bill held a PhD in plant science andence of todays CSTA is any indica-was employed by the seed division of Maple Leaf Mills.tion, we are more than capable of Bill Joined the CSTA in 1983 and served admirably untilbuilding strong organizations to help 2013.guide us into the future. 56GERMINATION.CA JANUARY 2020'