b'PARTNER CONTENTSeed Testing You Can Rely On:How Accreditation Ensures Accuracy and ConsistencyMeeting international standards means our clients can make better decisions, faster.I f you are not familiar, any laboratorythree years for the applicable accreditation to performing seed quality testing in Canada mustremain compliant. When an audit is scheduled, have the proper accreditation to operate andthe accreditation body requests parts of our satisfy the Canadian Seed Regulations. One ofquality manual in advance to confirm our system the key requirements for these accreditations isis in line with the applicable standard. During having at least one analyst that is accredited bythe audit itself, the auditors follow a checklist to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) forensure every aspect of the accreditation stand-each test conducted, ensuring that the work isard is met.held to the highest standards. At both of our labsOur philosophy is that an audit should feel we do not sell anything other than quality, andlike any other day in the lab. If you are scram-for us having a mature, robust quality system isbling to prepare for an audit, it suggests that non-negotiable for the accreditations that weyour quality system is not functioning year-hold.round. Audits offer a glimpse into our quality Our seed laboratories are fully accredited tosystem, which is about maintaining a high quality By Janek Bartel, Lab Manager,operate in Canada under the regulations of theof testing and results delivery every single day. SGS Canada Crop ScienceCFIA and regularly audited by Seeds Canada.The value we gain from audits is the feed-Sherwood Park Our largest facility, located in Sherwood Park,back from the findings. For example one of these Alta., offers a wide range of services, includ- findings helped us improve the trending of our ing seed certification testing like Germination,monitoring data for analysts. Now we can detect Purity and True Loose Smut under CFIA. Theissues or discrepancies earlier, which ensures Lab also offers International Seed Testingconsistency across the team, and ultimately Association Blue and Orange Certificates for aimproves the reliability of our results.wide range of tests. And to round off the testsClients may not always notice or understand needed for export the lab is accredited underthe importance of our accreditations, but they the Recognition of Export Grain Analysis bycertainly benefit from them. It is similar to getting Authorized Laboratories (REGAL) program. Ourbloodwork doneyou may not think about the CFIA accredited lab in Grande Prairie, Alta.,labs accreditation, but you trust that the results specializes in forages, and native seed species,are accurate and reliable. That is the peace of adhering to Association of Official Seed Analystmind we provide. Accreditations ensure our (AOSA) and ISTA seed testing standards.processes meet rigorous international standards, By Michelle Krawetz, LabBeyond meeting these requirements, we arewhich translates into accurate testing, faster Manager, SGS Canada Cropcommitted to reducing our environmental foot- turnaround times, and better decision-making Science Grande Prairie print, which is also an integral part of our opera- for our clients.tions. Sustainability mattersnot just to us, butAt the end of the day, we are not just here to our clients. In order to do so we have achievedto pass audits. We are here to maintain trust, LEAF (Laboratory Efficiency Assessmentdeliver reliable and accurate results, and con-Framework) in 2023 in our Sherwood Park lab.stantly improve. That is what sets SGS Canada While our labs are on slightly different auditapart, and it is why we are so committed to the schedules, each of our labs faces audits everyprocess.MARCH 2025SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA 23'