b'BACK to theDRAWING BOARDCanadian Seed Growers Association members have voted no to a proposal to form a single national seed organization for the countrybut Seeds Canada may still become a reality.Marc Zienkiewicz CANADAS EFFORT TOunitetion represents 3,500 seed growers and its seed industry under one bannermonitors and certifies seed for agricul-called Seeds Canada hit a snag in August,tural field crops in Canada.but the project to form a national seedThis result is disappointing, and the organization is likely still proceeding. boards of each participating organization Canadian Seed Growers Associationwill now consider how to move forward, (CSGA) members voted against amal- read a statement issued by the Seed gamating with the industrys other dedi- Synergy partners shortly after the vote cated seed associations to form Seedswas announced.Canada, which has been five years in theOver the past five years, these groups making and was designed to unite thehave worked together on a vision to countrys five seed industry associations.create the next generation seed system They were known as the Seed Synergyin Canada. Without a unanimous deci-partners as they worked to design thesion, the boards of each organization will Seeds Canada structure. reconvene to determine the next steps. The Seed Synergy partners are theAn update on those next steps was Canadian Plant Technology Agencyexpected by the middle of September, (CPTA); the Commercial Seed Analystsprior to press time.Association of Canada (CSAAC); theThe amalgamation agreement does CSGA; the Canadian Seed Institute (CSI);Ellen Sparry is president of the CSTA andprovide for one or more of the organiza-and the Canadian Seed Trade Associationmanager of Ontarios C&M Seeds. tions to hold a second vote provided that (CSTA). they have the agreement of the other The CSGA voting results werethe lone organization to have votedamalgamating organizations. If a second announced in late August during theirno, despite its national board officiallyvote is agreed to by the amalgamating virtual special general meeting of mem- endorsing the proposed amalgamation. organizations, it must be completed by bers. Over half of the 751 votes castIn terms of membership numbers, theDec. 15, 2020.were against the proposed amalgama- CSGA is the largest of the partner asso- Ellen Sparry, slated to sit on the pro-tion. Two-thirds of the votes cast wereciations and is designated in the federalposed inaugural board of Seeds Canada, required to be yes votes for CSGA toSeeds Act and Regulations as the officialsays while its disappointing that the approve the amalgamation. pedigreeing agency for seed crops inCSGA has voted against the amalgama-Out of the five groups, CSGA isCanada, except for potatoes. The associa- tion, she believes the will still exists among 32/ SEEDWORLD.COMOCTOBER 2020'