Seed sector delivers on productivity and environmental sustainability
Ottawa: Monday, May 11, 2015 – A new stewardship plan, the Guide to Treated Seed Stewardship, has been launched by two leading seed sector organizations and provides a one-stop resource for those involved with handling, storage, transportation and use of treated seed.
As part of the seed sector’s commitment to health, safety and the environment, the Canadian Seed Trade Association and the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association partnered to create the Guide to Treated Seed Stewardship: Best Practises for the Safe Handling, Storage, Transportation, Use, and Disposal of Treated Seed. The Guide will help those who work with treated seed to create and implement their own stewardship plans, comply with provincial and territorial regulations, and maintain operationally and environmentally sound operations.
The Guide was developed by a working group of seed industry professionals to specifically recommend best management practices for insecticide and fungicide-treated seed. It is designed to complement the CropLife Canada-developed Agrichemical Warehousing Standards Association (AWSA) Accredited Seed Treatment Operations Standards, which provide uniform health and safety practises for the storage and handling of seed treatment products in Canada. The Guide may also be helpful for those making operational decisions on the stewardship of seed enhanced with biological, inoculants, fertilizers or functional seed coatings such as polymers.
“Our organizations have always recognized the contribution that seed treatments make to agriculture, and we have a history of supporting seed treatment stewardship,” said Dale Adolphe, Executive Director of the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association. “In 2000, CSGA and CSTA worked together to develop the first set of Guidelines for seed treatments and treated seed and updated them in 2005. The release of this new Guide to Treated Seed Stewardship is another step forward in our industry’s stewardship initiatives. It expands on the previous storage and handling guidelines to also encompass transportation, use and disposition. We encourage seed growers and commercial producers to familiarize themselves and adopt these important stewardship practices.”
“Every seed planted needs to grow,” said Dave Baute, President of the Canadian Seed Trade Association. “Treated seed provides targeted solutions that contribute to increased productivity and sustainable farm incomes. The seed sector is working hard to ensure seed technologies are used in an environmentally friendly way. We strongly advise those who handle, transport and use treated seed to implement the best management practises found in the Guide to Treated Seed Stewardship across their operations.”
The Guide to Treated Seed Stewardship: Best Practices for the Safe Handling, Storage, Transportation, Use and Disposal of Treated Seed is available at www.seedgrowers.ca and www.cdnseed.org.
The Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA) is a non-profit organization representing the interests of Canadian seed growers. CSGA provides leadership as the only organization to monitor and certify pedigreed seed for all agricultural crops in Canada except potatoes. Learn more at www.seedgrowers.ca.
The Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) is the national voice of 130 seed company members engaged in all aspects of seed research, production, and marketing and trade, both domestically and internationally. Visit us at www.cdnseed.org. Follow us on Twitter: @SeedInnovation
For information or to arrange an Interview, please contact:
Teresa Neuman
Manager, Stakeholder Relations
Canadian Seed Trade Association
2039 Robertson Road, Suite 505
Ottawa, ON K2H 8R2
Tel: (613) 829-9527, Cell: (613) 297-6638,
tneuman@cdnseed.org
Caroline Lafontaine
Member Services Manager
Canadian Seed Growers’ Association
240 Catherine Street, Suite 202
Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2G8
Tel: (613) 236-0497 Ext. 225
clafontaine@seedgrowers.ca
