345 seed industry professionals met recently at the Canadian Seed Trade Association’s (CSTA) 81st annual meeting held recently in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The opening session provided an oversight on the Seed Sector Assessment initiative and the key findings of its report released in May 2004. The assessment is an industry-wide effort to modernize and streamline existing seed regulations and improve upon the seed industry’s shortcomings.  During a session themed “2010: A Seed Odyssey”, delegates brainstormed on regulatory and enforcement issues and sought strategies to reward and enhance agricultural innovations into the future.   Committee meetings throughout the three day meeting discussed numerous important issues including protection of intellectual property, GMO regulations, international trade barriers, variety registration and revisions to grade tables and Canada’s Weed Seeds Order.

The 2004-2005 CSTA Board members include the following:

President – Neil Arbuckle, Agricore United
1st Vice President – John Cowan, Hyland Seeds - Thompsons
2nd Vice President – Bruce Howison, Advanta Seeds
Past President – Tim Tregunno, Halifax Seed Co. Inc.
American Seed Trade Association Representative – Bryan Gerard, JGL Inc.
Bob Dippel, Speare Seeds
Rob Hannam, Monsanto Canada Inc.
Kerby Lowen, Prairie Seeds Ltd.
Kenneth Miller, Miller Seeds
Dorothy Murrell, Svalof Weibull Ltd.
Bob Pryce, Syngenta Seeds Canada, Inc.
Jeff Reid, C&M Seeds Ltd.
Dave Sippell, Canterra Seeds
Wayne Unger, Brett Young Seeds Ltd.
Raymond Walker, Moore Seed Processors Inc.
Tim Welbanks, Pioneer Hi-Bred Ltd.

The association’s semi-annual meeting is planned for November 16-19, 2004 in Ottawa ON.

Headquartered in the nation’s capital, the CSTA represents the interests of 170 corporate members engaged in all aspects of seed research, production and marketing, both domestically and internationally.