SEPTEMBER 2017 GERMINATION.CA 61 TheHeadlines unattainable through other mutagen- esis approaches. BASF, which has a broad and diverse herbicide portfolio, will provide its extensive knowledge in herbicide application and formu- lation, as well as precision testing capabilities. The company will also work closely with Kaiima on discov- ery validation. DOW TO DIVEST A PORTION OF ITS CORN HYBRID SEED BUSINESS IN BRAZIL The Dow Chemical Company has entered into a definitive agreement with CITIC Agri Fund to divest a select portion of Dow AgroSciences' corn seed business in Brazil for a purchase price of $1.1 billion. The scope of the divestiture includes seed processing plants and seed research centers, a copy of Dow AgroSciences’ Brazilian corn germplasm bank, the Morgan seed brand and a license for the use of the Dow Sementes brand for a certain period of time. The assets being divested generated rev- enues in 2016 of approximately $287 million. The divestiture is intended to satisfy Dow’s commitments to Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) in connection with its conditional regulatory clearance of the proposed merger with DuPont.  PEOPLE DAVE CAREY CHOSEN AS CSTA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dave Carey has been selected as the new executive director for the Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA). Carey assumed his official duties on July 7. Carey, the outgoing director of government affairs and policy, joined CSTA in 2012 and has worked in roles of increasing man- agement responsibility. More recently, he acted as the lead staff member following the departure of Crosby Devitt, the former executive director. Prior to Carey’s career with CSTA, he worked as a legislative assistant for Members of Parliament from Calgary, Alberta and Oakville, Ont. He is an experienced government relations leader, with an in-depth understanding of government and regulatory affairs, policy development and international trade priorities. KIM MCCONNELL JOINS ORDER OF CANADA AdFarm founder and former CEO Kim McConnell has been appointed a member of the Order of Canada for “leadership in promoting Canada’s agricultural industry and for his extensive engagement in causes supporting youth, entrepreneurship and rural communities,” accord- ing to documentation. McConnell tells Germination: “Never in my wildest dreams would I have anticipated this, because agriculture usually doesn’t get awards like this, and because there are many more within our indus- try that have done and continue to make a bigger contri- bution than me. Nonetheless, I am honoured to receive this award.” POLICY CSGA TO PETITION FEDS OVER FACILITY LICENSING At its annual meeting in Halifax, N.S., in July, the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association resolved to peti- tion the federal government to require the licensing of all grain cleaning facilities (both mobile and stationary) and ensure all plants are operated by trained and licensed operators. The resolution is intended to help protect spe- cific genetic traits such as the SM1 gene in midge tolerant wheat varieties. AG MINISTERS ENDORSE CANPAH STRATEGY Federal-provincial-territorial ministers of agriculture have endorsed the Plant and Animal Health Strategy for Canada. “Over the last year, governments, industry, academia and others who play a role in plant and animal health came together to chart a path to collaboratively safeguard Canada’s plant and animal resources through development of this Strategy,” said the Plant and Animal Health Strategy Team in a news release. “It is now time to set implementation of the Strategy in motion, and we look forward to continuing to work to achieve the results iden- tified in the Strategy. A key first step will be establishing implementation coordinating councils to lead implemen- tation, as outlined in the Strategy, focused on plant and animal health, respectively.” For more information, visit www.inspection.gc.ca/CanPAH. PRODUCT CANTERRA SEEDS ADDS BIG-YIELDER TO CANOLA PORTFOLIO Canterra Seeds launched its newest canola hybrid, avail- able for sale this fall. CS2300 is a big-yielding, Genuity Roundup Ready hybrid, that features excellent standabil- ity, according to the company. “The new CS2300 is the big-yield winner that growers are looking for,” said Shaan Tsai, oilseed and pulse product development manager. “Over the past two seasons we have consistently seen CS2300 stretch our expectations for yield at test sites