b'SEED HEALTH AND TESTINGWhy Smart Businesses Start with the Right Questionsand the Right LabALEX PLAYDON Molecular Team Supervisor, 20/20 Seed LabsAlex@2020seedlabs.ca2020seedlabs.ca@2020SeedlabsTWELVE YEARS AGO,seed testing was simple: germination tests,But its not just about the fancy tech. Its about agility. One disease screens, and the occasional phone call about off-types.year, the priority is cereal disease. The next, its canola purity or Today? My inbox looks more like a triage centre for the futurepotatoes. Our job is to stay aheadtesting for whats coming, of agriculture. not just whats already here.Breeders want varietal purity verification on their latestRegulations havent always kept pace, but thats the case blends. Maltsters are asking if their barley shipments hit 95%everywhere. We dont set the ruleswe innovate within them. purity. Farmers are chasing answers to disease outbreaks weWhether its conventional plate testing or molecular diag-didnt even know existed five years ago. And everyone wants tonostics, we match the tool to the problem. The real skill is in know if their seed is clean, compliant, and ready for an increas- knowing which approach will give our clients the clearest, most ingly complex marketplace. useful answers.The questions are sharper. The stakes are higher. And theAnd while I cant predict what seed testing will look like in tests were running today wouldnt have even been part of thefive years, I know this: the inbox wont be empty. Itll be full conversation a decade ago. of new challenges, new pathogens, and new demands from a Weve moved far beyond the basics. One of the biggestsector thats evolving faster than ever.shifts? The rise of digital PCR. Its not new to the world, but itsSeed labs arent just test providers anymore. Were trace-newly essential to how were defining seed quality. Weve devel- ability partners. Quality guardians. Silent collaborators in every oped in-house marker databases that let us determine not justsuccessful sale, shipment, and season.what variety youve got, but how much of it is refuge. That kindAnd if youre not already asking your lab the hard ques-of data is non-negotiable when youre working with midge- tionsabout purity, disease, emerging risksyou should be. tolerant wheat blends or trying to get your barley accepted by aBecause if the seeds not right, nothing downstream will be.premium maltster.CONTRA-SEASON PRODUCTIONLong After the Price is ForgottenNICOLS SAHLI CEO, CIS Agronsahli@cischile.clcischile.cl CIS AgroWHAT IS MORE IMPORTANTwhen selecting a product or serviceothers followed their lead, and we pulled market share fromlow price or high quality? It can be tempting to cut cornerssome of the main seed companies. Our reputation grew, and in hopes of a better bottom line, especially in times of economicwhen a major player was looking for a new licensor to sell their uncertainty. But does that cutting corners save anything in thegenetics, we were selected as their exclusive distributor in our long term? market. In just eight years we became the seed corn leader in There is a story shared in my family that speaks to this.the market and multiplied our sales by 14 times.Years ago, while shopping in England, my father hesitated atWhen we commit to choosing quality, we enable ourselves the price of a well-made pair of shoes. The salesman lookedto deliver it consistently and confidently. You cannot fail. We at him and said, The quality remains long after the price iscan rely on the strength of our tools and inputs, which clears forgotten. Simple, but powerful. the way to think bigger. A benefit of prioritizing quality is that Im not sure if he even bought those shoes, but weve all seentop-tier collaborators lean into partnerships with those who examples of how choosing quality over the lowest cost pays off.share their high standards. The result? Increased potential for A well-maintained, high-quality piece of equipment will costgrowth and innovation.less per hour used than a poorly built option with a lower priceA consistent commitment to quality sends a clear signal: tag. Investing a bit more in hiring a staff member with excep- you take pride in your work, you respect your customers, and tional skills and experience can elevate your organization. youre here for the long haul. Word of mouth driven by reputa-In agriculture, decisions around quality have a lasting effect.tion travels faster than any marketing campaign. When quality Many years ago, we were selling corn seeds for the domesticbecomes part of your identity, it turns into a competitive advan-market and focused on increasing quality. We selected only thetage no one can undercut.highest-performing seeds to move forward and discarded anyIn the end, people dont remember the invoice. They seed that could technically be sold, but didnt meet our stand- remember what worked. What held up. What delivered.ards. It wasnt the cheapest route, but it drew attention.As the shoe salesman said, long after the price is forgotten, The Top 10 corn farmers started buying from us, manyquality remains.18 SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA JULY 2025'