December 2025

Holiday Message from Our President

As the year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on all that has been accomplished and the vital role our seed growers play—not just in the seed sector, but in feeding families across Canada and beyond. From the crops that sustain us to the seeds that make them possible, our members, the farmers they serve, and all our seed stakeholders are at the heart of every holiday feast, every shared meal, and every table where friends and family gather. It’s this connection—from seed to table—that reminds me how meaningful the work of our Association truly is.

This year has been full of momentum and milestones. Our AGM in Victoria was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate achievements and exchange ideas, and we’re already looking forward to next summer’s AGM in Whitehorse. Branch meetings are about to start across the country, and I look forward to seeing many of you in person as we continue to strengthen our community.

We’ve also celebrated external recognition for our governance efforts, receiving the Organizational Governance Award from Governance Professionals of Canada. This honour reflects the dedication of our Board, staff, and members to transparency, accountability, and modernization. On the policy side, we are nearing a successful conclusion of the Seed Regulatory Modernization process, supported by strong member engagement and constructive dialogue with the CFIA and other partners, an important step in keeping Canada’s seed system innovative, agile, and responsive to the needs of the sector.

Amid all these accomplishments, the heart of our work remains constant: providing reliable, high-quality seed crop certification season after season. Our steady and dedicated team continues to deliver the trusted services that our sector relies on day in and day out, ensuring that Canadian farmers have access to the seeds they need to grow strong, healthy crops.

As we enter the holiday season, I encourage you to take time to enjoy the simple joys of the season—shared meals, laughter, and time with loved ones.

From all of us at CSGA, thank you for your commitment, collaboration, and hard work throughout the year. Your efforts ensure that Canadian seed growers remain the foundation of a resilient, sustainable, and forward-looking agriculture system.

Here’s wishing you a joyful holiday season and a happy, healthy, and successful 2026.

Warm regards,
Glenn Logan
President

Celebrating Canada’s Seed System: Industry and Government Reception 2025

On November 25, CSGA and its regional branches hosted a special Parliament Hill Reception that brought together growers, industry partners, government officials, and decision-makers to connect, share ideas, and celebrate Canada’s seed certification system.

The evening highlighted the vital role of Certified seed in Canadian agriculture.

CSGA was pleased to welcome MP Sophie Chatel, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Senator Mary Robinson of Prince Edward Island. Both emphasized that nine out of ten bites of food start with seed and highlighted the critical role seed plays in Canada’s food security and economic strength. They also outlined government measures that will have a concrete impact on supporting and strengthening Canadian agriculture. Attendees engaged in thoughtful discussions about how CSGA and seed certification underpin the quality, reliability, and traceability of seed that Canadian farmers depend on, helping strengthen Canada’s food system and support a resilient, productive agricultural sector.

“Events like this remind us that seed is the foundation of everything we grow, eat, and share,” said CSGA Executive Director, Doug Miller. “It’s the passion and expertise of our growers, combined with a trusted certification system, that make Canadian agriculture strong.”

We’re proud to support a Strong Foundation and a Bright Future for Canadian agriculture, and we extend our sincere thanks to everyone who came out to make this such an impactful event. 

CSGA in Action: Advancing Seed Certification at Home and Abroad

The second half of the year has been a period of intense engagement and momentum for CSGA. Across Canada and internationally, the Association has championed seed certification, strengthened partnerships, and ensured your voice remains central in the policy, regulatory, and industry discussions shaping the future of seed certification and Canadian agriculture.

International Leadership

CSGA continued its leadership on the world stage through active participation in the OECD Seed Schemes Annual Meeting in Hyderabad, India, and the AOSCA Annual Meeting in Kansas. At AOSCA, Executive Director Doug Miller and Standards Manager Gail Harris represented Canada, reinforcing alignment with global seed certification standards and Canada’s reputation for technical excellence. Doug was elected President of AOSCA, and Gail continues to chair the AOSCA Standards Committee, underscoring the strong influence Canada maintains internationally.

Stakeholder and Government Engagement

Over the past several months, CSGA has significantly expanded its government and stakeholder outreach to advance key priorities, including Seed Regulatory Modernization (SRM) and the future of public plant breeding.

We met with the offices of both the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Health to discuss CSGA’s SRM positions, with a follow-up meeting with the Minister of Agriculture scheduled for early December. We also submitted a pre-budget proposal to the House Finance Committee and Finance Canada and participated in a roundtable hosted by Secretary of State Wayne Long. In addition, CSGA submitted a Red Tape Reduction proposal to Treasury Board, AAFC, and the CFIA.

Throughout the CFIA’s summer SRM consultation, we engaged with more than 25 organizations across the sector, reinforcing the importance of a modern, efficient, and responsive seed system.

We continued to meet with parliamentarians, including Agriculture Critic MP John Barlow, Agriculture Committee Chair MP Michael Coteau, Committee Member MP Marianne Dandurand, Senator Todd Lewis, and Senator Colin Deacon. Most recently, CSGA participated in an agriculture reception at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, providing an opportunity to connect with our AOSCA counterparts and strengthen Canada–U.S. relationships.

Across all this work, the Association remains dedicated to supporting Canadian seed growers and reinforcing the foundation of Canada’s seed system.

Circular 6 Notice of Change: Hemp Updates and Removal of Form 50 Requirement

As Canada’s national seed crop certification authority, CSGA’s core mandate includes establishing and maintaining seed crop certification standards that meet the evolving needs of the sector. This work follows a defined standards development framework and is guided by the Standards Development, Maintenance and Oversight Policy, ensuring a transparent and consistent approach to creating and updating standards.

Hemp Certification Updates

CSGA recently completed a review of certification requirements for industrial hemp. This review led to updates to hemp isolation requirements for the 2026 production season, as detailed in the Notice of Changes for 2026.

Form 50 Requirement Removed

CSGA recently established an ad hoc working group to review certification requirements for Select seed. While the broader review continues, the Board of Directors has approved an immediate improvement: plot producers are no longer required to submit a Report on Plot Production (Form 50) for each variety produced in Select and Foundation plots before a crop certificate is issued.

The requirement to submit a seed sample to the CFIA for variety verification remains unchanged. If you have questions about these changes, please contact Gail Harris, Standards Manager.

Circular 6: Housekeeping Revisions

CSGA is planning several housekeeping revisions to the Canadian Regulations and Procedures for Pedigreed Seed Crop Production (Circular 6). These revisions aim to clarify language, improve consistency, and ensure the ongoing accuracy of the standard.

In accordance with CSGA’s Housekeeping Revision Policy, this Notice of Housekeeping Revisions is being provided and posted on CSGA’s website for a 45-day comment period.  The comment period is now open, and feedback is welcome. Comments may be submitted directly to Gail Harris, Standards Manager.

2025 Acreage Report: Canada’s Seed Growers Kept Busy In 2025!

Across Canada, over 1.26 million acres of seed crops were inspected under CSGA certification in 2025 — an increase of more than 80,000 acres compared with last year. This growth reflects the resilience and dedication of our growers, ensuring high-quality, identity-assured seed is available to farmers and strengthening the Canadian seed system.

Each acre certified represents seeds that will grow into crops supporting Canada’s economy and communities. The work of our growers and stakeholders lays the foundation for a strong, agile, and resilient seed system that underpins the entire Canadian agri-food sector.

CSGA Wins Major Governance Award

The Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA) is proud to share that it has received the 2025 Organizational Governance Award from Governance Professionals of Canada, a national recognition of excellence in leadership, innovation, and transparent governance.

This award reflects the significant governance renewal undertaken over the past two years. The initiative modernized board policies, clarified roles and responsibilities, strengthened the Association’s framework of accountability and service excellence, and included a successful national consultation and by-law amendment that broadened membership to the full seed certification community.

CSGA extends its appreciation to its Governance Committee—Glenn Logan, Andrew Ayre, Carl Bolton, and Roy Klym, Caroline Lafontaine—for their leadership and dedication in advancing this work. Their efforts have positioned the Association for continued success.

This recognition is shared with CSGA members and partners, whose engagement and support have been instrumental in building a modern, resilient governance foundation for Canada’s seed certification system.

We invite you to read the full announcement here.

CSGA Holiday Closure

Image created by Accurate Design

As another busy year comes to a close, the CSGA team will be taking a break to recharge and prepare for the year ahead. The office will close for the holidays at the end of the day on Tuesday, December 23, and will reopen on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 8 a.m. ET.

During this time, email and phone messages will be monitored periodically, and urgent inquiries will be addressed as soon as possible once staff return.

We hope this season brings you time to rest, reconnect, and celebrate with the people who matter most. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to working with you in 2026.