b'IntroducingSEEDS CANADAHeres the basics of Canadas new national seed organization.AFTER YEARS OFhard work to get to this point, the seed industrys new national organi-zationSeeds Canadahas become a reality and will launch on Feb. 2, 2021.Seeds Canada will be born out of an amalga-mation of the Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA), Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA), Canadian Seed Institute (CSI) and Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada (CSAAC).In August, Canadian Seed Growers Association members voted not to join Seeds Canada, so the new design of Seeds Canada is somewhat different than the previous incarnation.Seeds Canadas membership will include national and provincial seed associations, as well as seed farms from across the country. Seed growers play an integral role in the seed system, and Seeds Canada needs their involvement to succeed, reads a news release issued by the Seeds Canada amalgamating partners.While there may be one less amalgamating partner, the vision for Seeds Canada to become the voice of the seed sector, including seed growers, analysts, and the seed trade, remains the same, the partners say.The new Seeds Canada design, which was ratified by all four amalgamating partners in December, reflects the new context and incorpo-rates member feedback from the summer.GRAPHIC COURTESY SEEDS CANADAKEY POINTS:4 INSTEAD of 5 NEW COMMITTEE STRUCTURE COMMITMENT TO GROWERS REMAINSThe biggest change is moving from five amalgamatingThere are three types of committees: Operating Committees,Even though the national seed grower association is no partners to four. Seed certification services, which are offeredwhich oversee governance and finances; Steeringlonger an amalgamating partner, the goal is still to have by the Canadian Seed Growers Association (CSGA), are noCommittees, which are strategic committees that meetSeeds Canadas voluntary membership include national and longer included. Board members will be selected based on aregularly to review member and client services and provideprovincial seed associations, as well as seed growers from matrix to ensure diverse representation and a balanced set ofadvice on operations; and Policy & Issues Committees, whichacross the country. There will be an inaugural 15-member competencies. This gives Seeds Canada a more strategic andare the direct route for members to bring specific issuesboard of directors with the future option to adjust the board flexible governance structure, according to the partners. forward to Seeds Canada staff and the board. size to between 11 and 15 members.18/ SEEDWORLD.COMFEBRUARY 2021'