b'A look at seed industry developments around the globe.Australias national varietySTATUS AUSTRALIA Australian oat varietal clas- Hyra, SeCans western busi-frameworks and SeedsGrains Australia has ledsification system which hadness manager.Canada sends a warning. the development of the firstbeen administered by theFurthermore, Kazakhstans national variety classificationGrain Industry Association ofability to offer flax grain at frameworks for lentils andWestern Australia. lower prices poses a direct oats to help meet the needsGrains Australia is respon- threat to Canadian flax pro-of Australian growers andsible for vital industry servicesducers. By targeting specific domestic and internationaland functions that improvevarieties like CDC Rowland, customers. the industrys competitive- foreign entities aim to gain a The aim is to add value toness and profitability. In addi- competitive edge in their agri-Australias lentil and oat indus- tion to classification, thesecultural markets, potentially tries through enabling dif- services and functions includecausing harm to Canadian ferentiation of varieties basedtrade and market access andfarmers and the industry as a on quality characteristicsmarket insights and marketwhole.desired by customers, Grainseducation. To address these concerns, Australia Classification generalit is essential for everyone manager Megan Sheehy said. involved in the agricultural Its about providing goal- STATUS CANADA supply chain to remain vigilant.posts for plant breeders toSeeds Canada emailed theirSeed retailers, farmers, ensure that varieties producedmembers to let them knowand industry stakeholders will meet market demandsthat foreign organizations aremust be alert to any suspi-and opportunities, she said. inappropriately approach- cious inquiries or requests Grains Australia, whiching seed growers and retail- for proprietary crop varie-is an initiative of the Grainsers in Western Canada toties. Its imperative to ensure Research and Developmentsecure Canadian genetics.that proper permissions are Corporation (GRDC), hasSeeds Canada has receivedobtained before authorizing developed the frameworksreports that organizationsdistribution to foreign mar-with support and guid- from Kazakhstan are currentlykets, Hyra says.ance from its Pulse and Oattargeting CDC Rowland flaxIts not the first time Seeds Councils, and in collaborationretailers to secure seed forCanada or its legacy organi-with industry. export; Seeds Canada expectszations have raised the alarm While Australian varietalthese attempts to secure seedabout foreign entities attempt-classification systems are wellwill extend to other varietiesing to illegally access Canadian established for wheat andand crop kinds, the email said.genetics. In the spring of 2020, barley varieties, varietal classi- CDC Rowland, a SeCanunnamed seed buyers from fication frameworks have notvariety, is attractive toKazakhstan were attempting previously existed for pulseKazakhstan as that countryto access made-in-Canada crops. is a major flax producer andvarieties of wheat, barley, The new lentil frameworkgrowers there are no doubtpulse crops and soybeans will guide the establish- looking for the latest geneticswithout going through the ment of varietal classificationthat offer superior yields andproper channels. SWframeworks for additionaldisease resistance.pulse crops. Despite its relatively It is currently for red lentilsrecent introduction to the only, which comprise the vastmarket, CDC Rowland has majority of lentils producedquickly gained attention for and traded by Australia, withits superior traits, offering a the remainder being greensubstantial yield increase and lentils. The new national oatother desirable characteristics variety classification frame- compared to older varieties work builds on a Westernlike CDC Glas, says Todd 34/ SEEDWORLD.COMLATAM'