56 GERMINATION.CA JULY 2018 Who said what? #WORLDSEED18 FOCUSES ON THE POWER OF GENETICS “Innovations in plant breeding are enabling us to develop plants that meet the needs of a changing world,” said past-president of the InternationalSeedFederation(ISF)Jean-ChristopheGouacheatthe opening ceremony of the International Seed Federation World Seed Congress 2018 in Brisbane, Australia. “This is down to the ‘power of genetics,’” he said. “Unlocking the potential of genetic resources to produce more with less is the fan- tastic mission of the seed industry over the coming decades.” Duringthethree-dayeventheldJune3-6,morethan1,200delegates from64countriesdiscussedtheopportunitiesandchallengesfacing the seed industry. Highlights of the Congress program included a roundtable on the future face of the seed sector and a panel discus- sion on the international standard on phytosanitary measures. “Inpreviousdecades,itwasenoughtousegeneticpowertoboostthe efficiency of agriculture. Increasingly, we need to anticipate the role and the impact of our products to ensure that farming systems are moreresilientandmoresustainablethaneverbefore,”saidGouache. James McGrath, assistant minister to the Australian prime minister, told delegates: “The responsibility for delivering higher yields and more nutritious food rests on the innovation that the seed indus- try brings to world food production. Your organizations support the entire food chain globally and are driving innovation in food and fodder production.” READER IS SKEPTICAL OF CANNABIS 'OPPORTUNITIES' Re: Creating the Cannabis of the Future, March Germination This article says cannabis represents a “major opportunity for the seed sector.” I am skeptical. I have trouble foreseeing this due to all the players looking for a piece of the pie. The black market will continue to eat into commercial production. This stuff is easy to grow indoors and out, and the amateurs will be active. I see this as another tax grab by all levels of government; the feds will get a slice of the taxes and provinces even more — not unlike provincial liquor boards. The people currently selling this stuff illegally will be replaced by government selling it legally and grabbing even more money. I just can't imagine future use and sales supporting all this hype. Martin Pick BAYER ENCOURAGES STRUGGLING FARMERS TO GET HELP Bayer has partnered with the Do More Agriculture Foundation, a not-for-profit organization focused on raising awareness and promoting mental wellbeing for farmers in Canada. As part of the partnership, Bayer’s Crop Science division has contributed $20,000 to the foundationtosupportitsmissionofprovidingsupportand resources to farmers seeking mental health assistance. “We believe that through this partnership we can help increase awareness of mental health issues and break the stigma that currently exists in the agriculture industry,” said Al Driver, Bayer Crop Science Canada’s president and CEO. “We see first-hand the challenges that farmers face and encourage them to access these resources to manage their wellbeing.” The Do More Ag Foundation is a champion for the mental well-being of Canadian producers and is focused on changingthecultureofagriculturetoonewhereproduc- ers are encouraged, supported and empowered to take care of themselves.