SEPTEMBER 2018 GERMINATION.CA 63 Association (CSTA) in Montreal, Quebec, CSTA welcomed not only its new president, but also new board members. Todd Hyra of SeCan will be the 67th President of CSTA. Hyra is known by many as a very dedicated member of CSTA and also a passionate agvo- cate. He has been attending CSTA meetings since 1994, has served on the board of directors since 2011 and was elected to the executive in 2016. CSTA also welcomed new board members: Erin Armstrong, Canterra Seeds; Denise Schmidt, Cibus; and returning board member Doug Alderman, PRIDE Seeds. POLICY CANADIAN PLANT HEALTH COUNCIL INITIATIVE TO BE ADVANCED During the 2018 annual meeting of federal, provincial and territo- rial (FPT) ministers of agriculture in Vancouver, the ministers acknowl- edged that the sector is changing rapidly and a need exists to address regulatory challenges, including the importance of collaboration with other regulatory bodies outside of agriculture, and of federal, provincial and terri- torial alignment. They highlighted that Canada has world- renowned federal, provincial and territorial regulatory systems in place to ensure public safety and are exploring opportunities to enhance its capacity to drive innovation and increase resilience. Ministers committed to increase FPT collaboration to address the regulatory burden within their respective provincial and territorial authorities. In the short term, significant initiatives will be advanced: establishing a Canadian Plant Health Council under the Plant and Animal Health. RESEARCH PLANT BREEDING TECHNOLOGY COULD MAKE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES MORE EXCITING TO EAT Forget vegetables with dull colours and fuzzy skin or fruits that lack flavour — the produce aisle of the future could offer plant products that are designed for crea- tive cooks and fussy eaters. In a review article published July 19 in the journal Trends in Plant Science, two food researchers describe how new breeding technologies have the potential to enhance the shape, size, colour, and health benefits of produce, as well as to inform conven- tional breeding programs. In their review, the authors describe how these breeding technologies allow scientists to edit existing genes which control many of a plant’s key consumer traits. HOW MUCH SEED CAN A SEED CHECK SEED TECH CHECK? Seed testing experts in purity, germination, vigour and seed health. 1-866-980-8324 OFFICE@SEEDCHECK.NET SEEDCHECK.NET LIKE US ON YOUR SEED LAB