b'PARTNER CONTENTCracking the Case: A Day in the Life of a Seed Detective From plant families to environmental clues, a seed analyst at Seed Check tells us about piecing together natures puzzles. By: Lisa Greenan, Senior Seed Analyst at Seed Check Technologies Inc. W orking as a seed analyst feels a lot like being a detective.Solving Client Seed Mysteries At Seed Check, I spend my days piecing together naturesOne of my most recent rewarding projects was for Waterton Lakes puzzles, and its one of the main reasons I love what I do. National Park. We analyzed soil samples from boot scraping In our lab, we examine seeds for purity, vigor, germination, andstations to see if seeds were spreading via hikers. By identify-health. When something seems off, we dig deeper using a varietying species based on their seeds, we were able to help the park of clues: prevent invasive species transfer. It was incredibly rewarding toUnderstanding Plant Families: Each plant family has its ownsee our work make a real difference in preserving such a beautiful quirks. Since seeds can look quite similar across different families,environment.figuring out which family a seed belongs to is our first step. SomeOf course, seed classification isnt always straightforward. With seeds come in pods, others in nut-like shells. Once we have a lead,so many species in each genus, sometimes its better to give a we dive into a more detailed investigation. well-informed but cautious answer than to risk being wrong. SeedClient Context: The background of where a seed was grownanalysis is as much about trust and responsibility as it is about the and who grew it can be incredibly revealing. Ive built relationshipsseeds themselves.with certain farms over the years, and knowing their locations helpsAt Seed Check, our smaller size lets us give each client a me connect the dots when unusual findings pop up. personal touch. We take the time to walk them through their resultsHistorical Information: Sometimes, the past holds the key toand offer practical advice on managing contaminants. We believe solving seed mysteries. For instance, knowledge about hedgerowsthis attention to detail sets us apart from larger companies. We may planted for erosion control in a specific area helped us identify cara- be small, but our commitment to solving seed mysteries keeps our gana seeds in crop samples. clients coming back. Reference Collection & Resources: After 23 years of seedEvery day, I feel like a seed detective, and after all these years, analysis, Ive encountered almost every contaminant under the sun.the thrill of the hunt hasnt worn off.But there are always new challenges. When I face a tricky case, IGot a case that needs cracking? Send me an email at lisa@turn to our extensive reference collection or online databases likeseedcheck.ca.ISMA or the USDAs for side-by-side comparisons.NOVEMBER 2024 SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA 35'