September 2025

Stand with CSGA on SRM – Send Your Letter Today

The CFIA’s Seed Regulatory Modernization (SRM) Policy Paper outlines 52 proposals that will reshape Canada’s seed system for decades. Some of these proposals are wins worth celebrating—but others put the integrity and future of seed certification at risk.

This is a pivotal moment, and your voice is critical. Every letter sent to the decision makers shows government that Canada’s seed growers, farmers, and stakeholders stand united. Without your support, the future of seed certification could be decided without you at the table.

What’s Worth Celebrating

CSGA supports 40 of the 52 proposals that align with its vision for a future-ready, efficient seed system:

• Naming CSGA as the main administrator of seed certification
• Rolling out a digital, end-to-end certification platform
• Establishing a seed sector advisory committee

Where Change Is Still Needed

Not every proposal gets a green light. Several need adjustments to protect system integrity, streamline processes, and maintain credibility. That’s why CSGA has prepared a detailed analysis with practical alternatives for CFIA to consider—so we can modernize without compromise.

Make Your Voice Heard

This is more than a consultation—it’s our chance to shape a modern, trusted, and efficient seed system—one that’s transparent, digitally enabled, and responsive to the needs of growers, industry, and the public. But we can’t do it alone. We need you to raise your voice and stand with us.

We’ve made it simple for you – with just three clicks, you can send a prepared letter directly to government decision-makers. You can also add your own comments to make your message personal.

Podcasts for Busy Days

Pressed for time? Stay up to speed with CSGA’s podcast breakdowns of the SRM proposals. Quick, clear, and categorized into Green, Yellow, and Red Lights so you know where we stand.

• Green Light podcast summary
• Yellow Light podcast summary
• Red Light podcast summary

Don’t wait—the consultation closes October 3, 2025.

CSGA Submits Recommendations on Regulatory Modernization and Red Tape Reduction

CSGA has submitted recommendations to the Treasury Board and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on how regulatory modernization can strengthen Canada’s seed system while reducing costs and red tape.

With over 120 years as a trusted co-regulator, CSGA emphasized that modernizing seed certification is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen Canada’s seed system while reducing costs and red tape.

CSGA’s Key Recommendations:

• Make CSGA the main administrator of seed certification. Shifting certification administrative functions from the CFIA to CSGA would simplify processes, reduce duplication, and create a more agile, user-friendly system for seed growers, seed companies and farmers – all while ensuring CFIA maintains strong regulatory oversight.
• Implement a digital end-to-end certification system. A “Digital Single Window” would cut approval times, reduce administrative burden, and enhance Canada’s reputation as a global leader in seed production.
• Establish a Seed Sector Advisory Committee. A collaborative forum would ensure voices from across the seed and grain value chains play a role in shaping the future of Canada’s seed system. This structure aligns well with federal priorities for inclusive governance.

Benefits to Canada

CSGA’s recommendations align with the federal government’s 2025 directive to reduce operations and deliver more value for Canadians. Through CFIA’s SRM process, CSGA is proposing to become the main administrator of Canada’s seed certification system. By building on CSGA’s existing legislative mandate, Canada can modernize a critical public good, improve efficiency without compromising oversight, and free up government resources while reinforcing public confidence in the seed system. Similar models are already proven in other mature seed systems globally, where they have proven effective in maintaining trust, efficiency, and market access. The SRM process and the recommendations in CSGA’s submission offer a rare opportunity to achieve transformational change in regulatory oversight and service delivery, while reducing reliance on government resources.

CSGA Launches AI Soybean Appraisal Pilot: Exploring Innovation to Support Timely, Accurate Appraisals

At our July AGM, we were pleased to share news of an exciting pilot project: CSGA is testing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to support the appraisal of soybean crop inspection reports.

Each year, CSGA appraises over 5,000 soybean crop inspection reports within a tight, one-month window. These appraisals are time-sensitive and critical to ensuring timely certification decisions. This fall, CSGA is testing an AI tool, developed using CSGA’s own soybean standards and anonymized historical report data.

All soybean appraisal decisions in 2025 will continue to be made by CSGA staff. The pilot is running in the background and will be tested in parallel with our regular process. It will give CSGA the opportunity to compare the AI model’s output against staff decisions to evaluate its performance.

Early results are promising. The tool can appraise many routine reports and even suggest corrective actions for certain issues, such as isolation distances. That said, there will always be complex situations where human expertise remains essential. This pilot is helping CSGA better understand where AI might add value in our certification system.

This initiative reflects CSGA’s ongoing commitment to innovation, efficiency and service excellence in the seed certification system. The pilot is also helping the Association build knowledge and experience with tools that could support service delivery as part of a modernized system under Seed Regulatory Modernization (SRM). As a reminder, CSGA is also now Ag Data Transparent certified — a standard that confirms we meet the highest standards for data use, privacy, and transparency. This certification helps ensure that member’s information is protected as CSGA explores new technologies, such as this AI project.

Have Your Say: Hemp Isolation Requirements

CSGA is inviting feedback on proposed updates to the isolation requirements for industrial hemp seed crops producing Foundation, Registered, and Certified seed.

The proposed revisions focus on simplifying and streamlining the minimum isolation distances between inspected hemp seed crops and other hemp crops—while maintaining the integrity of Canada’s seed certification system.

For a brief description of the proposed revisions, and the revised requirements with tracked changes, see Appendix A. To simply see a draft of the revised isolation requirements with tracked changes, see Appendix B.

Your input will help ensure CSGA standards remain science-based, internationally harmonized, and responsive to stakeholder needs.

Submit Your Feedback by November 3, 2025

To participate, email your comments to Mike Scheffel and Gail Harris with “Hemp Isolation Consultation” in the subject line. Thank you for your participation.

Proposed Circular 6 Update: Removing the Form 50 Requirement

In fall 2024, CSGA’s Regulatory Services Committee (RSC) recommended that CSGA establish an ad hoc working group to review certification requirements for Select seed. A Select Seed Working Group met three times in February and March and, while its full review is ongoing, it identified one proposal that is considered housekeeping in nature.

With the support of the RSC and the Board of Directors, CSGA is proposing to remove the requirement to complete and submit a Report of Plot Production (Form 50) for each variety produced in Select and Foundation plots prior to issuing a crop certificate.

• 2025 production season: Only the mandatory fields (marked with an asterisk on the form) must be completed.
• 2026 production season: The requirement to submit Form 50 will be removed entirely.

In keeping with CSGA’s Housekeeping Revision Policy, CSGA is providing this notice of change and also posting the proposed change on our website for a 45-day comment period. The RSC will be informed of any feedback received at its meeting in mid-November and provide a recommendation to the Board for its next meeting.

For questions about this proposal, please contact Gail Harris.

#Harvest25 is Underway! Check Your Certification Status

Before harvesting, double-check your crop certification status in SeedCert to confirm that your fields have been inspected and that there are no outstanding in-field issues that need to be addressed.

Remember: Harvesting a crop before it is inspected means the crop is not eligible for seed certification, and only CSGA can confirm that your crop meets certification requirements. If CSGA has requested an isolation correction, please be sure that the reinspection has been completed and accepted by CSGA before harvesting your crop.

After your crop has been inspected, CSGA will receive and review your crop inspection report as quickly as possible. If your crop meets the requirements of Circular 6, you will receive an email notification that your crop certificate is ready. If there are issues with your field, you will receive an email informing you that your crop does not meet requirements and, in some cases, indicating the action needed to complete certification of your seed crop. Please consult the “Crop History” tab in SeedCert for the latest information, or call the office if you are unsure of the status of your field.

Seed Guide Listings

Getting your seed listed in CSGA’s National Pedigreed Seed Locator and provincial seed guides is a powerful marketing tool. These resources are go-to references for buyers seeking specific varieties.

To ensure your seed is featured, you must explicitly consent to CSGA for inclusion in these guides. Without your consent by the deadlines, your production won’t appear in the Seed Guides. Growers provide consent through the Membership Application form, whereas crop certificate assignees provide consent through the Third Party Information and Consent form. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your seed’s visibility and attract buyers.

• Alberta and British Columbia: September 19
• Manitoba: September 30
• Saskatchewan: October 31
• Ontario: November 15

Log in to SeedCert and consult the “Seed Guide Listing Review” form on the Forms tab to preview your crop listing data. To change your consent for your contact information, visit the “My Account” tab. For questions on your varieties or all other questions, please contact us via email or call 613-236-0497, ext. 8803.