b'COLOUR SORTERSTwice the Price? Yeah, but its Four Times the MachineBRIAN TAMMINGA Manager, County of Lethbridge Seed Cleaning Co-op@colseedcleaningcolsdcln@gmail.comAWHILE BACK,I received a letter from the company that manufac- The new machine is incredibly efficient. Farmers get moretured our old colour sorter, informing me that parts for it wereclean seed back, which directly impacts their bottom line. For becoming obsolete and would no longer be available. That letterthose growing pedigreed seed, this efficiency can mean more was the spark for change. We needed to upgrade. My search forproduct to selland more money in their pockets.an equipment provider began. Thats when we found Nexeed. Just the other day, a new customer had a mustard sample The results are already remarkable. The new Cimbria colourwith canola contamination and was hopeful we could clean itsorter can do things that were unimaginable with our oldup. If successful, we could transform a sample-grade crop into system. It might have been twice the price of the old one, butsomething much more valuable. The potential for this machine its four times the machine. to handle inseparable crops like this is enormous.One of my customers recently brought me a problematicIve worked with wheat samples contaminated with barley. hemp sample. Ill admit, I was still fi guring out how to fi ne- The new sorter removed nearly all the barley, allowing thetune it, so I reached out to the Nexeed technician who hadwheat to grade as No. 1a critical factor for many of our helped install it. He was able to log in remotely from Nexeed incustomers. Being able to consistently meet these high standards Headingley, Man., and guide the machine through the process.is what sets us apart.Watching him work was incredible; the machine produced aWord travels fast in our industry, and Ive already had cus-sample that was 99% pure. The machine handled it with preci- tomers telling me they heard about our capabilities at the coff ee sion. shop or from neighbours. Having the ability to deliver excep-Knowing that an expert can assist me in real-time, notional results builds trust and enhances our reputation. From matter where they are, gives me confi dence to tackle even thehandling inseparable crops to enabling remote support, its clear most difficult jobs. that upgrading was the right move for us.SEED HEALTH AND TESTINGHow Inclusion Translates into Real-World Impact in Seed TestingMOSES PALMER Senior Seed Analyst, 20/20 Seed LabsMoses@2020seedlabs.ca2020seedlabs.ca@2020Seedlabs DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIONhave become buzzwords that elicitseed arrived at our lab, we encountered samples unfamiliar to diff erent reactions. At 20/20 Seed Labs, when we talk aboutmany on our team. Some seeds werent indigenous to Canada, diversity, we mean bringing together people with diff erentraising questions about their classifi cation. backgrounds and lived experiences. Gender, education, andThis could have caused signifi cant delays in moving the seed ethnicity are part of the conversation, but at its core, diversity isthrough regulatory channels. However, thanks to our diverse about diff erent perspectives. teamincluding individuals from tropical countriesseveral We make a conscious eff ort to ensure our team refl ects amembers immediately recognized the seeds and identifi ed them broad range of backgrounds. As a science-driven organization,correctly. Their knowledge ensured smooth movement of seed its easy to fall into the trap of hiring people who fi t a narrowthrough the system, saving time and preventing costly delays.moldthose who are deeply technical, introverted, andBuilding a diverse team isnt without challenges. One is focused solely on the science. But we recognize that this limitsthat candidates from diverse backgrounds may not always opportunities for others who have a passion for agriculture buthave direct experience in the Canadian seed industry. While dont necessarily fi t that.they may have the right skills and education, they often need Instead, we prioritize interest and potential: Who isadditional training to bridge the gap. Thats where we, as a genuinely excited about what we do? Who can bring a freshcompany, must step up to provide training and support.perspective to our work? Thats the foundation of our hiringBeyond hiring, creating an inclusive workplace is critical. philosophy. Weve implemented policies that support a culture of respect, The impact of diversity extends beyond internal operationsincluding a diversity and inclusion policy that sets clear expec-it directly benefi ts our clients. A standout example involves atations. These structures ensure that every team member feels major international seed company based in South Sudan. Theyvalued and empowered to contribute. When people feel like won a contract with the United Nations that required movingthey belong, they bring their best ideas to the table, ultimately seed across multiple countries, including Canada. When theirbenefi ting the entire industry.18 SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA MARCH 2025'