b'CSGAA First Look at CSGA 2.0A new business plan will be unveiled to members in 2021 as the Canadian Seed Growers Association moves forward after saying no to Seeds Canada.AFTER IT VOTED no on a proposal back in August which would have saw it merge with the seed industrys otherThe CSGA 2.0 Working Groupsassociations to form a single national group called Seeds Canada, the Canadian Seed Growers Association (CSGA) will have a newFour CSGA task teams have been established in target operating model ready to present to its members as earlythree core theme areas to guide the CSGA as it as next year asit moves forward as a standalone entity. develops a vision for the future.The Alberta Seed Growers (ASG) hosted the 2020 seed growerTheme 1 Seed Policy/Seed Regulatory interprovincial meeting virtually. The annual event provides anModernization (Scott Horner, chair)opportunity for seed grower branches to exchange informationTASK: Develop an environmental scan of trends and and the 2020 meeting, held in November, was open to alldevelopments in agriculture and agri-food (including members.technology), regulatory policy and public-private According to CSGA Past-President Jonathan Nyborg, the CSGApartnerships in Canada and other countries; review national board views the results of the August no vote as a voteand appraise CSGAs Strategic Plan and the Seed of confidence in CSGA as an organization. Nyborg said membersSynergy White Paper; and develop an analysis clearly want to see CSGA continue as its own organization. framework of the current seed regulatory system Seeds Canada is set to become a reality on Feb. 1, 2021, withwith recommendations for change.the amalgamation of the Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA), Canadian Seed Institute (CSI), Canadian PlantTheme 2A CSGA 2.0 ModernizationTechnology Agency (CPTA), and the Commercial Seed Analysts(Glenn Logan, chair) Association of Canada (CSAAC).TASK: Recommend how CSGA 2.0 can improve its We envision this as a chance for CSGA to continue tovalue proposition to members, the seed industry, and modernize and renew itself. The national board has two urgentCanadian agriculture and agri-food sectorstoday and in the future. Seed certification modernization, prioritiesmodernizing and renewing itself but then alsotechnology, seed grower accreditations, service working with the CFIA and the industry on Seed Regulatoryofferings, and required changes to policy, Modernization which is now beginning to ramp up prettyregulations, and standards will be reviewed.heavily, Nyborg explains.Nyborg says as it moves ahead, the CSGA will build upon theTheme 2B CSGA 2.0 ModernizationAdvocacy work it did as part of the original Seeds Canada amalgamation(Andre Lussier, chair)proposal. TASK: Recommend advocacy priorities and strategy Its not work thats been lostits work that we can buildwhile respecting CSGAs delegated regulatory on and continue to grow from with the strong support that wasauthority. Define what CSGA advocates for, to whom shown by an unprecedented number of seed growers in August.and how the branches will support a robust advocacy Having 751 members take an active part in the organization wasmandate.certainly a positive coming out of it, Nyborg adds, referencingTheme 3 CSGA 2.0 Target Operating Model the number of CSGA members who voted on the amalgamation(Jonathan Nyborg, chair)proposal. TASK: Develop a comprehensive CSGA 2.0 The 751 votes represented 22 per cent of the total eligibleBusiness Plan, including outlines for governance, voting base, as the voter list comprised of approximately 3,350service, membership, and branch models, along names, according to CSGA data. with any required changes to bylaws, policies, and Speaking at the interprovincial meeting were two membersprocedures.of the inaugural Seeds Canada board, FP Genetics CEO Chris 36seed.ab.ca'