The Centre for Systems Integration (CSI) is leading the charge to make ISO registration work for the benefit of agriculture. CSI and its associates have recently helped 10 of their existing Registered Seed Establishment clients achieve ISO 9001: 2000 registration. These clients, ranging from medium to large-sized businesses, successfully completed ISO audits conducted by a CSI assessor on behalf of a large international ISO registrar.

“We’re very excited to help our clients meet the international ISO standards and build their global business,” says Jim McCullagh, Executive Director of CSI. “The success of this process clearly demonstrates how easily CSI’s seed accreditation programs can be integrated with ISO registration.”

As the agri-food sector becomes subject to more quality standards, CSI is committed to keeping abreast of market demands and providing clients with a one-stop shop for quality management systems. Recognizing CSI’s expertise in developing quality systems, McCullagh was recently invited to sit on the Canadian working group for developing a guidance document for grain producers implementing ISO 9001. This new ISO working group focusing on agriculture follows the recent publication of new ISO standard, 22000, which applies from primary producers to food manufacturers to retail outlets.  ISO 22000 will allow all the organizations in the food chain to implement a quality management system with a food safety focus.

CSI has also recently achieved official ISO Guide 65 accreditation, strengthening its ability to manage ISO auditors.

The Centre for Systems Integration is a division of the Canadian Seed Institute. Created in response to the many certification needs of its seed clients, the Centre for Systems Integration is focused on providing integration of various certification systems and a linkage into value chains; expertise in the agriculture and food sector; and timely, efficient, and approachable service.