Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 6042 GERMINATION.CA MARCH 2017 Mike Peterson, alfalfa trait lead at Forage Genetics International, sees genetic engineering as an important tool that allows alfalfa breeders to make improvements not possible through conventional breeding. “The HarvXtra (low lignin, high digestibility) GE trait delivers improved levels of fiber digestibility simply not possible through conventional selection”, Peterson states. “In the next 10 years, the alfalfa research community will have to deliver performance improvements greater than what we’ve achieved in the last 50 years, and the contin- ued integration of GE traits into new alfalfa varieties will be a major contributor to achieving that goal.” Cornish says that while genetic engineering is going to continue to play a role, other new breeding techniques will grow in importance. “It is expensive to get traits into varieties using current genetic engineering tech- niques,” he says. “New breeding technologies, including Cisgenesis, and gene editing technologies like CRISPR will help scientists to find better ways to get technology into crops. In addition, marker assisted breeding will allow breeders to seek out specific, important traits like salt and drought tolerance. This technology will be avail- able to the forage seed sector, and if they show value to the grower, the rumen and the environment, the invest- ment will be there.” Cornish says there will still be demand for forages from conventional breeding. For example, in 2015 Alforex made Hi-Gest low-lignin alfalfa varieties available to growers. “These varieties are products of selective con- ventional breeding,” he says. Cornish identifies another benefit of technology, spe- cifically for Canada. “The advancement of biotechnology and the strong trading relationship between Canada and the United States is creating a growing opportunity for Canadian growers,” he says. “We are seeing a growing market in the United States for certified non-GE alfalfa seed grown in southern Alberta. I think it will continue to grow.” International Trade — International trade is going to be more important for the Canadian forage seed sector in the future. According to Shmon, the United States will continue to be a very important market, but other markets will grow in importance. “China will continue to grow as a market for Canadian forages and forage seed, as will other Asian countries and those in Eastern Europe, particularly countries that require forage seed to contain no products of biotechnol- ogy,” he says. “Non-detect markets around the world will be impor- tant for Canadian seed exports.” Cornish adds: “The Ukraine and Russia are also very good prospects for forage seed exports and, because of growing water issues, countries in the Middle East will need imported forages, increasing opportunities for seed.” Change is Constant Industry participants mostly agree that the forage and turf seed sector has a strong future in Canada. It will continue to face challenges and, like the rest of agriculture, will go through its ups and downs. But the opportunities for the sector are strong. It seems the only constant in this sector is change itself. “I don’t see our sector in decline,” says Dyck. “I see it continuing to change and adapt to domestic and interna- tional requirements.” Those comments are echoed by Ewacha. “The forage and turf seed sectors will continue to change,” he says. “But I believe it is a steady industry and will continue to be that way well into the future. Change will continue as ‘evolution, not revolution.’”