b'The Seed Sectors Warning Lights Are FlashingLETS NOT SUGAR-COAT IT:were living in uncer- Thats why AOSCA is investing in inspector train-tain times. ing and rolling out new digital tools to support greater The world feels polarized. Trust in institutions isalignment across agencies. These efforts are about stretched thin. And in agriculture, where consistency,strengthening confidence in the system, no matter rules-based trade and collaboration matter most, thewhere you are.warning lights are flashing. Thats exactly why coming together matters, especially in the seed sector. Keeping UpOur industry is built on relationships and predict- We talk a lot about innovation, but are we moving fast ability. It depends on shared standards, cross-borderenough to keep pace? AOSCAs recent work develop-trade and collaboration across the value chain.ing standards for hybrid wheat showed whats pos-BY DOUG MILLER,Whether youre developing a new variety in one coun- sible when we move at the speed of innovation and President, AOSCA try or shipping seed to another, were all part of therespond to industry needs. That kind of agility needs same system. In a time when so much feels unsettled,to become standard operating procedure. Heres the that system needs organizations like AOSCA that cantruth: if we lag behind, innovation will find another unify our efforts and keep us moving forward. path. Seed certification needs to be a gateway to For those who might not know me yet, Imopportunity, not a bottleneck.Canadian. I lead the Canadian Seed Growers Association, and Ive spent my career working acrossSuccessionthe regulatory, technical, and policy sides of seed andTheres a wave of retirements across our sector, and seed certification. Ive seen just how important harmo- with them, decades of experience are walking out the nization between countries is, and how easily thingsdoor. We cant wait for the next generation to fill the can break down when we lose focus, clarity, or trust. gap. We have to actively recruit, train, and empower My connection to AOSCA goes back more than athem. Thats what AOSCA Academy is all about: decade. Stepping into the role of President is a com- not just mentorship, but a deliberate investment in mitment to help strengthen and modernize the founda- AOSCAs future. Seeing our first round of graduates tion weve built at AOSCA and ensure its ready forand fresh faces at our last meeting. was a strong start, what comes next. and a sign that the next generation is ready to step up.AOSCA offers more than a century of collabora-tion, a trusted network of certifying agencies acrossFinal Thoughtsthe U.S., Canada and internationally, and deep techni- Ive had mentors on the AOSCA board, good people cal expertise rooted in service. At its core is a sharedlike Billy Skaggs, Ken Bertsch, and Andy Altishin, who commitment to quality seed, consistent standards andshowed me what real leadership looks like: steady, systems that producers and markets can rely on. humble, and clear-eyed. They reminded me that lead-But to move forward, we need to be honest aboutership is about service to a system bigger than any whats holding us back: one person, agency, or country.Thats the kind of leadership I hope to offer now. Consistency Whats at stake is bigger than certification. Seed is AOSCA cant just be a label. Right now, seed com- the starting point for food security, climate resilience, panies operating across jurisdictions face too muchtrade, and stability. What we do, and how we work uncertainty. While we have a shared set of standards,together, matters more than ever.the way certification programs are delivered can stillWhether youre a seed inspector in Kansas, a vary from agency to agency. That creates friction.breeder in Saskatoon, or a developer in Iowa, lean in. If youre a company trying to bring new genetics toGet involved. Dont just advocate for your patch of market across multiple regions, you need consistency.land. Advocate for the system that connects us all. Our AOSCA system needs to deliver it. Well all be better off for it. SW48/ SEEDWORLD.COMSEPTEMBER 2025'