This isn\u2019t just policy. It\u2019s the future of your farm. Speak up now, or someone else will decide for you.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve all been waiting a long time for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Seed Regulatory Modernization (SRM) recommendations, and now that they\u2019re out, it\u2019s time to cut through the noise. At CSGA, we\u2019ve decided to use a red light, yellow light, green light system to make sense of it all. Simple. Straightforward. No fluff.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the bottom line: a lot of what\u2019s being proposed makes sense. Around 40 recommendations get a green light from us<\/a> \u2014 let\u2019s move on them. These include the establishment of an external seed advisory committee with balanced representation from across the value chain (an idea we jointly support with Seeds Canada), implementation of a digital-end-to-end certification system, and proposals that align with CSGA becoming the main administrator of Canada\u2019s seed certification system. <\/p>\n But there are spots where we need to pump the brakes and think harder (yellow lights), and a few ideas we just can\u2019t support as written (red lights).<\/p>\n Yellow Light: Crop Types Leaving Variety Registration<\/p>\n Let me give you a clear example of a yellow light: a proposal to incorporate by reference the list of crop types subject to variety registration.<\/p>\n This is problematic. There\u2019s already talk about taking soybeans out of variety registration, for example. At first glance, it sounds fine \u2014 after all, hybrid corn isn\u2019t in variety registration, and that works, right?<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the catch. Hybrid corn in Canada comes with a rule: all corn seed sold must be pedigreed seed. That safeguard doesn\u2019t exist for soybeans. Pull soybeans out of registration and you strip away protections that keep the marketplace transparent and sustainable.<\/p>\n For Ontario and Manitoba growers, that could mean less clarity, less stability, and tougher times for smaller Canadian players. It\u2019s easy to say, \u201cWell, it works for corn, so it\u2019ll work for soybeans,\u201d but the situations aren\u2019t the same. That\u2019s why this one sits firmly in the yellow column<\/a>. <\/p>\n Red Lights: The Data We Don\u2019t Have and Third-Party Inspections<\/p>\n Let\u2019s start with a red light that should concern everyone: we don\u2019t have solid data on certified seed volumes. Right now, nobody\u2019s tracking how much seed is actually tagged and certified in Canada. Not sales, not acres \u2014 just the raw output.<\/p>\n Other countries and certification systems use this as a basic health check. We don\u2019t. That\u2019s a problem. A proposal to amend the definition of the Pedigreed Seed Declaration to remove reference to a specific CFIA form risks making that gap even worse.<\/p>\n Our solution? Imagine a national, anonymized database showing certified seed volumes. Companies could benchmark production, forecast demand, and avoid oversupplying markets. Policymakers could finally see the true size and impact of our sector. Right now, everyone is spending money collecting their own intelligence in silos. Why not build one solid, shared foundation?<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t just plugging a regulatory gap \u2014 it\u2019s a chance to create something that makes the entire seed system smarter and more sustainable. A national dataset of certified seed volumes would be a strategic tool for our sector.<\/p>\n The other big red light is a proposal to expand the policy on alternative seed crop inspection services to enable additional companies and seed growers to inspect their own pedigreed seed crops where appropriate and oversight exists.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s be honest: crop inspection is not just walking a field. It\u2019s specialized work that takes training and consistency. Handing it off to outside providers \u2014 or worse, asking growers to do it themselves \u2014 risks driving up costs, reducing oversight, and eroding trust in the whole system.<\/p>\n Growers don\u2019t want the extra burden, and frankly, I don\u2019t blame them. A seed system built on credibility can\u2019t afford shortcuts. Read more about our SRM Red Lights<\/a>.<\/p>\n Keeping What Works<\/p>\n Of course, any time change is on the table, people worry about losing the parts of the system that already work. And that\u2019s fair.<\/p>\n Just this morning, a company told me they were worried about tag administration. Right now, if they need seed tags, they just call their printer and get them quickly. They don\u2019t want that to change. Neither do we.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what the CFIA is proposing: instead of the CFIA handling all the tag requests and licence reviews themselves, one trusted third party would take on that role. That means the third party would be the ones issuing seed tags to those without tag printing licenses and reviewing licence applications. The CFIA would still oversee the system, but the day-to-day work would be streamlined. Think about how efficient that seed company orders tags. Now think about how much red tape the CFIA needs to cut through to order tags? This is all about being more efficient and CSGA is up to the task.<\/p>\n In short: growers would still get their tags fast and reliably, but the process will be more efficient overall. That\u2019s why we support the idea.<\/p>\n A Rare Chance to Get This Right<\/p>\n Even with these concerns, I want to stress something: this process is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We can build a modern, sector-led, government-enabled system that actually delivers better service.<\/p>\n But we can\u2019t just rubber-stamp every idea that comes across the table. Nor can we block change out of fear. The red-yellow-green framework forces us to slow down where needed, say no when it matters, and push forward where there\u2019s real alignment.<\/p>\n Farmers know the value of timing. Plant too soon, and you risk frost. Plant too late, and you miss yield. This moment is no different. We\u2019ve got to get the timing \u2014 and the decisions \u2014 right.<\/p>\n Because at the end of the day, this isn\u2019t just about regulation. It\u2019s about building a system that growers, companies, and policymakers can trust for the long haul. That means protecting what works, fixing what doesn\u2019t, and making sure Canadian seed has a clear, sustainable path forward.<\/p>\n Your Voice Counts<\/p>\n Here\u2019s where you come in. The CFIA is accepting feedback until Oct. 3, 2025. I\u2019m asking you to:<\/p>\n Support the CFIA\u2019s overall direction.<\/p>\n Urge the CFIA to designate CSGA as the main administrator of certification.<\/p>\n Advocate for mandatory reporting of certified seed quantities.<\/p>\n Encourage the CFIA to legislate only where necessary. To make it easy, we\u2019ve created a letter writing campaign. In just a couple of clicks, you can send a message directly to decision-makers. You can keep the letter as-is or add your own thoughts \u2014 it\u2019s your voice that matters.<\/p>\n LISTEN IN!<\/p>\n We also have three podcast episodes you can listen to on the go if you\u2019re in the middle of harvest, detailing our Green Light<\/a>, Yellow Light<\/a> and Red Light<\/a> positions.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve reached a crossroads. The choices made in the coming weeks will define how fast, fair, and future-ready Canada\u2019s seed system will be. We can\u2019t afford to sit back. I encourage you to read our analysis, make your voice heard, and help build the system we all know Canada is capable of.<\/p>\n This is our moment\u2014let\u2019s make sure we get it right.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This isn\u2019t just policy. It\u2019s the future of your farm. 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