b"United States. The label Chicano is sometimes usedstrategy and a plan that actually leads to economic interchangeably with Mexican American, although thetransformation, employment and wellbeing. It will terms do have different meanings. He has volunteeredfocus on the role of research and innovation as a cata-with MANRRS in the past to create new opportunitieslyst to create commercial impact for new employment, for people of Mexican and Native American identity. business growth, and increased wellbeing for people When it came time to pick a career, I knew Iengaged in this sector.wanted to pursue agriculture. My parents had to leaveA 2017 Indigenous Works survey found that 85% of the family farm back home in Mexico so I could comecorporate Canada is disengaged with the Indigenous to the U.S. and get an education. But I didnt want tocommunity in Canada, with no credible plans to work work in the fields the way my parents had to do aswith Indigenous people, businesses and communities, migrant farm workers, he says.leaving indigenous companies with lack of connections I said to them, Im not going to be a doctor orand entry points to the non-Indigenous businesses and a lawyer, but I promise, my lifes going be a little bitorganizations in this sector. better. Thats why my Chicano identity kind of justTheres a huge gap. We think this sectoral strategy goes hand in hand with my career as a plant breeder.will create a gateway for more companies to come into His lived experience has given him a unique per- the space, and for current companies to expand their spective on plant breeding and what breeders need towork and their markets, says Kelly Lendsay, founder do to engender public trust in their work. and chief engagement officer of Luminary. I shouldnt be in this industry. I think Im here inOne of the primary partners in the Luminary initia-spite of, and particularly because of, the fact I put ative is the presenting sponsor, Nutrien.chip on my shoulder because I didnt feel I had a com- They see the opportunity for Indigenous innova-munity in my early days when I was just starting out. Ittion in ag. We are uncovering some new food sources, takes a lot of intentionality to get over that. for example. Theres the wapato out of the Katzie First Nation in British Columbia, which is a basically potato Identity Issues tuber. This wapato was part of the commercial food Leon says identity plays an important role in agri- trade 700 years ago, and with some further research culture, more than people often think. It influencesand innovation, could come back as a new food source peoples food choices and how they view new tech- for the community in that region, and maybe the whole nologies being presented to them. country and the world. Food sovereignty and food People don't care how much you know until theysecurity is a global issue. Indigenous people want to be know how much you care. Thats one of the one of thepart of the solution.biggest lessons that I try to carry with me day to day.Leon notes that modern agriculture owes its suc-If you make the most ground-breaking discovery as acess first and foremost to indigenous people and not researcher, thats great, but until it affects real people inmodern breeding techniques. He says plant breeders the real world in a way they see as beneficial, it doesnthave to be ready to welcome those backgrounds and really matter, Leon says.adapt with them.Furthermore, forging ahead with technologies thatThings are changing very dramatically. In the past, the public doesnt trust can often do even more harmthe narrative that parents told younger generations is to that sense of trust. that you dont want to be in agriculture because you With the reinvigorating of the industry with moredont want to break your back out in the field. People diversity, well be able to get ahead of our messaginglike me have seized an opportunity to see the breadth of so that we can make sure that the agricultural productsjobs that there are in the seed industry, and thats going and innovations that need to happen do happen, andto appeal to a larger, more diverse audience, he adds.that they get used by consumers. Ultimately, thats theThe more we can support those groups and really only sustainable option. shake things up, the more sustainable our discipline is But diverse groups arent waiting for the ag industrygoing to be. In any plant breeding program, you want to woo them with promises of transparency. Initiativesto continue making yield gains and you have to do that like Luminary are taking matters into their own handsby injecting genetic diversity into your program. Plant by exploring business opportunities and inviting thebreeders by their nature wants diversity. We just need larger ag sector to join them. to that with people now.SWLuminary is a project of the Canadian organization Indigenous Works, which for over 20 years has worked with companies and organizations to strengthen theirWHERE performance and results in Indigenous employment,ON THE WEBworkplace engagement and inclusion. The Luminary agriculture innovation strategy is a six-year initiativeWatch our episode of Seed Speaks that deals with the issue of diversity and public trust. to design and implement an Indigenous innovationView it at ow.ly/JUrw30s18cg50/ SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY 2022"