b'two countries, two seed industriesUnifying the Canadian Seed SectorHow is Canada going about building a single National Seed Organization?Some experts provide key insights.Marc ZienkiewiczCANADAS SEED INDUSTRYis currently attempting to come together as one. The project is called the SeedAs Western Business Manager for SeCan, Synergy Collaboration Project and involves five of the countrysTodd Hyra develops new business seed associationsthe Canadian Plant Technology Agency,opportunities for SeCan members and Canadian Seed Growers Association, Canadian Seed Institute,industry partners. He is also a past-president Canadian Seed Trade Association, and the Commercial Seedof the Canadian Seed Trade Association.Analysts Association of Canada. A sixth organization, CropLife Canada, is a Seed Synergy member via a memorandum of understanding and while it wont be officially part of the newDave Hansen joined Canterra Seeds as CEO organization, has thrown its support behind the project to unitein October of 2009 and was shortly thereafter the countrys seed community. appointed president. He is an industry veteran with experience working in Canada and Seed World (SW): Todd, theres been a lot of talk aboutinternationally. In 2018 he was selected as one Seed Synergy these past few years. Can you give us aof Germinations Top 20 Influencers in the Canadian seed industry.quick snapshot of what is happening here?Todd Hyra (TH): Its important to think of Seed Synergy as a process rather than a thing. One of its major goals is a new national seed organization that will amalgamate five of the sixFood Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency at current players in the industrythe Canadian Seed Growerseach step to ensure they are on the same page. They have given Association, Canadian Seed Trade Association, Canadian Seedus the thumbs-up to keep moving forward and encourage us to Institute, Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada andcontinue to flesh out the new organization.Canadian Plant Technology Agency. The goal is a better, more efficient system to serve the entire industrywhether you areSeed World (SW): Some argue things are fine the way large or small, a grower, processor, developer and ultimately ourthey are with the current makeup of our industry. How farm customers and end users. We need to build something todo you respond to that?position us for the future. David Hansen (DH): We can say things are going fine, but we need to think about the future and what it holds for us as an SW: Why do this now? industry. Bringing one single voice to the table to deal with TH: Theres a regulatory opportunity that allows us to changemany of the issues facing our industry, were much better under how we do things. When we look at the government regulatoryone umbrella than on an individual basis. We are working in review happening in 2021, we want to ensure we have a systema global economy and we need to ensure as an industry we in place to adapt to what government wants to do. In terms ofremain competitive and attractive as it relates to investment.what government can provide to industry, were not going to be provided with any more. As we look at those resources andSW: Whats the oversight committees guiding how we govern ourselves, its crucial to use those resourcesphilosophy when it comes to designing the new effectively and be proactive in filling those gaps so we can beorganization?proactive and not reactive. DH: Ultimately, when we create a new organization, we look at what the net benefits are for members. If you think about SW: Whats has governments response been so far? improving member services, weve considered issues around TH: From the beginning, we described this as industry-led andregulatory matters, intellectual property protection, advocacy, government-enabled. We check in with Agriculture and Agri- support functions, communications and trainingall those 84/ SEEDWORLD.COMINTERNATIONAL EDITION 2020'