Canadian Pedigreed Seed

Program

The ‘How’ and ‘Why’ of the

Canadian Pedigreed Seed

Production Process

Outline

• Why pedigree seed?

• Who pedigrees seed production in Canada?

• How to become a pedigreed seed producer?

• How does the Canadian Seed pedigree program

differ from that of other countries?

• Why the Canadian pedigreed seed system is

effective?

• Alternative Service Delivery

What is pedigreed seed?

Pedigreed seed is:

• Of a known variety

• Produced under strict certification standards

• Pure (varietal and mechanical)

• Free of noxious weeds

• Known germination

Pedigree Generations

Open-pollinated types:

BREEDER

▼

FOUNDATION

▼

CERTIFIED

Pedigree Generations

Self-pollinated types:

BREEDER

▼

SELECT

▼

FOUNDATION

▼

REGISTERED

▼

CERTIFIED

Why pedigree seed?

Breeding

• Pedigree system symbiotic with

research

• Introduces new varieties with new

specialty traits

Why pedigree seed?

Risk Management

• Providers of pedigreed seed support their

products (agronomic support)

• Required segregation and limited

generations preserve varietal purity

• Traceability programs

Why pedigree seed?

Marketing

• Premium $

• Value chain confidence in varietal purity

• Access to new high value markets

Why pedigree seed?

• Higher profits

• Lower risk

= $$$$$$

CERTIFIED BLUE TAG

= Assured Quality

Who pedigrees seed crops in

Canada?

Canadian Seed Growers Association

Seed Certification

• Certification authority from Seeds Act and Regulations

• Authority to regulate processors from the Canada Agricultural Products Act

• Official, third-party verification is vital to credibility

CFIA is the national authority. Seed must:

• recognized variety

• multiplied according to strict process standards:

– varietal purity standards established by the CSGA

– physical purity, germination and disease standards prescribed by federal Seeds Regulations

Production of Pedigreed Seed

• Pedigree of parent seed is verified

• Crop must comply with the CSGA requirements via field inspection

• Pedigreed seed is derived from a crop that has been issued a crop certificate by the CSGA providing all standards have been met.

Field Inspection

Verify:

– Previous land use restrictions

– Minimum isolation distances

– Crop purity

CSGA

• Member-run organization

• Members include: growers/producers,

researchers (non-voting)

• Represent 3,500 grower/producers

• Responsible for Canadian seed crop

certification program

CSGA

• Certifies ALL Canadian pedigreed agricultural seed crops (except potatoes)

• Government oversight at arms length (CFIA) except most pedigreed seed crops have been inspected by CFIA inspectors (changing!)

Canadian Food Inspection

Agency (CFIA)

• Accredits laboratories, analysts and graders

• Licenses operators and samplers

• Registers approved conditioners, bulk storage

facilities and authorized importers,

• Administers and enforces the Seeds Act and

Regulations

• Audits CSI

The Canadian Seed Institute

(CSI) • The CSI is accredited by the CFIA as a

Conformity Verification Body for:

– assessments

– recommendations for accreditation/licensing

– recommendations for annual renewals

CSGA – more than certification?

Objectives:

• Ensure varietal purity of seed crops by maintaining the pedigree

• Encourage development and introduction of superior varieties

• Develop programs which expand the use of pedigreed seed (domestic and export)

Objectives: (cont’d)

• Contribute to the establishment and maintenance of high quality standards for seed crops.

• Co-operate with other seed-related agencies (locally and abroad).

• Coordinate the seed quality management efforts of seed growers, plant breeders and commercial crop producers.

CSGA – more?

How to become a Pedigreed

Seed Producer? 1. Review CSGA’s Circular 6 to determine the

appropriate production field (based on land

use requirements for the particular crop kind)

2. Acquire Foundation or Registered seed

3. After planting, submit application to CSGA with

fees.

4. Roguing seed production field.

How Does a Farmer become a

Pedigreed Seed Producer?

5. Field crop inspection (presently by CFIA)

6. CSGA review of inspection report normally

resulting in issuance of CSGA Crop Certificate.

7. Harvest of seed crop / storage / sampling /

germination testing.

8. Conditioning / sampling / packaging of Seed

How Does a Farmer become a

Pedigreed Seed Producer? 9. Grading of conditioned seed by CSI Approved

Grader.

10.Purchase of CFIA Pedigreed seed tag ( Blue for Certified Class ).

11.Printing of Pedigreed Seed Tag

Pedigree Seed Tag

• Crop Kind

• Variety

• Grade #

• Crop Certificate #

• Lot # (including Approved Conditioner (RSE) # )

USA

• USDA recognizes AOSCA (Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies) member agencies to provide OECD (Org for Econ Co-op and Dev) certification.

• Seed certification provided by state member agencies of the AOSCA, often Crop Improvement Associations

Global Seed Certification

Global Seed Certification UK

• Seed certification is primarily administered by government representatives (DEFRA, DARD, SEERAD)

• European Commission Directives (all seed certified prior to marketing)

• Most sampling, testing, etc. contracted out

China

• Government regulates seed and plant

genetic materials

• National and State/Provincial Laws

• Seed Law of 2000 = all seed production

registered and certified

Global Seed Certification

India

• Seed Bill of 2004 – all seed must be

registered

• Certification is voluntary

Global Seed Certification

• Long established certification system built on field experience

• Uniform national system of certification

• Producer/Member-directed program revised regularly to adopt new technology and reflect new production practices

Why Canadian Pedigreed Seed

System is Effective?

ALTERNATIVE SERVICE

DELIVERY (ASD) • Why?

– $?

– Mandate?

• How?

– Training and certification of private firms

• When?

– 2014

Three delivery models are

available : 1st, 2nd, 3rd party • CFIA maintains responsibility for licensing

or authorizing the inspection provider and

retains the responsibility for assuring

training, licensing or certification and on-

going monitoring of the service providers’

inspectors.

• CSGA requirements for seed crop

certification would remain

Pros and cons

• Pros and cons generally relate to:

– Effectiveness

• degree of independence, perceived conflict of

interest, business risk

– Efficiency

• cost

• See hand-out and CSGA/CFIA websites