b'CAN CSGA AND SEEDS CANADA FIND COMMON GROUND?According to the CFIAs new What we Heard report, both Seeds Canada and the Canadian Seed Growers Association have limited industry support for their standards setting/advisory body proposals. Where to go from here? Marc ZienkiewiczTHE IDEA OF FORMING an advisory body forIf were both aiming for the same outcome the seed sector to set standards and make shaping standards and making recommen-recommendations to the Canadian Fooddations to governmentthen maybe were Inspection Agency (CFIA)a central ideacloser than we think, Miller says.being discussed as part of the Seed RegulatoryAccording to Miller, CSGA has already Modernization (SRM) processis up inreached out to Seeds Canada with a formal the air after the CFIA released its latest SRMletter proposing to bridge that gap, and has What we Heard report on Oct. 2. indicatedCSGA is open to exploring a joint According to the reportwhich revealsrecommendation to government. the results of the CFIAs winter SRM surveyWeve seen all the details on the evolution sent out earlier this yearrespondents over- of the ISSB idea, and it sounds very similar whelmingly felt that an advisory body shouldto what were looking for, he says. At the not be involved in standards setting. That putsend of the day, we dont care what its called up a roadblock for Seeds Canada as it looks for whether its an advisory committee or support for its Independent Standards Settingsomething elseas long as it works. Whats Body (ISSB) idea. important is showing leadership and collabora- Barry Senft is Seeds Canada CEO.The overall concept of an advisory bodytion to get this over the line.designed to make recommendations to theSeeds Canada CEO Barry Senft offered a CFIA on how to improve the seed regulatoryslightly more cautious perspective. While Senft systemalso embodied by the Canadianacknowledges the open lines of communication Seed Growers Association (CSGA) idea forbetween the organizations, hes uncertain about a Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Committee how close their concepts are.received less than 60% support from surveyThe ISSB was envisioned by Seeds Canada respondents as well. to play a crucial role in setting standards, but That begs the question of where the twoin light of the survey results as reported in the organizations go from here, and how to forgeWhat we Heard report, the idea may not have ahead with the idea for an advisory body. enough support to move ahead.But there may be light at the end of theStill, it may not have matteredCFIA tunnel. Both the CSGA and Seeds Canada areSeed Section National Manager Wendy Jahn expressing a willingness to engage in dialoguesaid in July that implenting the ISSB idea about two competing governance models. might have required changing the Seeds Act, In an interview, CSGA Executive Directorsomething that could take up to a decade.Doug Miller said its time for CSGA and Seeds Canada to sit down and iron out their differ- Sticking Points Doug Miller is the executive director of the Canadian Seed ences when it comes to the advisory committeeBoth the ISSB and Multi-StakeholderGrowers Association.concept.Advisory Committee proposals evolved over 8 SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA NOVEMBER 2024'