Germination Strategy Session

Glen Hawkins, seed production manager and pulse breeder for DL Seeds and chair of the Prairie Recommending Committee for Pulses and Special Crops, sits down with Marc Zienkiewicz to chat about what's new in pulses and what role new breeding techniques could play in the future of the crop. Interview conducted at the recent Prairie […] The post Genomics Tools in Pulse Breeding? Glen Hawkins Says it's Complicated appeared first on Germination.

Dana Maxwell, CEO of Manitoba's Ag-Quest and chair of the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale (PRCWRT), sits down with Marc Zienkiewicz in Banff, Alta. Feb. 28, to talk about this year's Prairie Grain Development Committee (PGDC) meeting and what leadership lessons she's learned leading the family business. In wheat, rye and triticale, […] The post Dana Maxwell on the Importance of Informed Decision Making appeared first on Germination.

Tom Steve, general manager for Alberta Wheat and Barley, sits down with Marc Zienkiewicz in Banff, Alta. on Feb. 28, 2023 to chat about why the Prairie Grain Development Committee (PGDC) is such an important organization and how he learned the ins and outs of the annual meeting over his decade of participation. Interview conducted […] The post How Tom Steve Learned to Navigate PGDC appeared first on Germination.

By identifying the specific characteristics that affect end-use quality in different food systems, Marta Izydorczyk's research program at the Canadian Grain Commission's Milling and Malting Grain Research Laboratory can help breeders develop varieties that are optimized for those systems. This could lead to more efficient and effective use of crops and greater value for producers, […] The post Why Hulless Barley is a Big Deal in the Food World appeared first on Germination.

Tom Greaves, president of Pitura Seeds and the Manitoba Seed Growers Association (MSGA), sat down with Marc Zienkiewicz at the recent MSGA annual meeting to discuss what he learned over the past year as president and what's in store for the next year of his two-year presidency. “There's a lot of different files we worked […] The post In 2023, Tom Greaves is Going to Keep on Learning appeared first on Germination.

Seeds Canada is about to head to Ottawa for its first in-person semi-annual meeting. An exciting agenda is planned, including a big reveal: three Seed Regulatory Modernization (SRM) task teams have finished their work, and will talk about their findings and some potential areas for change that could come out of the SRM process. Listen […] The post 3 SRM Task Teams Have Finished Their Work. They're About to Reveal Their Findings appeared first on Germination.

  It's that time of year again — time for the Corteva Agricultural Sciences Symposium at the University of Guelph. This year's symposium takes place Nov. 16 at the University of Guelph, and is being held both virtually and in person. The theme this year is Agriculture to People: Agronomy, Sustainability, and Global Impact. Speakers […] The post Register Now for the 2022 Corteva Ag Sciences Symposium appeared first on Germination.

The Do More Agriculture Foundation (Do More Ag) recently released its new Mental Health Support Stickers, designed to promote mental health on farms and at businesses where support and resources are needed, according to a release. The stickers will contain a QR code that can scan the user's current location and offers the crisis line […] The post Do More Ag Features New Sticker Collection appeared first on Germination.

Andrew Horgan, National Association of Plant Breeders 2022 Borlaug Scholar and Texas A&M grad student, sits down to chat about working with fruit and how an experience with a failed coffee startup taught him some valuable lessons in business. Interview conducted Aug. 9 at the NAPB annual meeting in Ames, Iowa. The post Why Andy Horgan Wears his Failed Startup Like a Badge of Honor appeared first on Germination.

Sarah Jones is a PhD student in Plant Breeding in the Soynomics group at Iowa State University and a 2022 National Association of Plant Breeders Borlaug Scholar. Studying with Dr. Danny Singh, she researches phenotyping strategies to improve drought tolerance in soybean. She sits down with Marc Zienkiewicz at the NAPB annual meeting in Ames, […] The post How a College Football Rivalry Inspired a Plant Breeder appeared first on Germination.

Barry Senft sits down with Marc Zienkiewicz for the pair's first in-person chat. They discuss Seed Regulatory Modernization and Seeds Canada's proposal to create an independent standards setting body (ISSB) for the seed sector. Interview conducted at last week's Seeds Canada annual meeting in Winnipeg. The post Barry Senft isn't a Fan of Making Small Tweaks appeared first on Germination.

Lauren Comin sits down with Marc Zienkiewicz to talk about why she recently took on the role of regulatory affairs manager for Seeds Canada and how getting her PhD in bioresource and food engineering ultimately led her into the seed sector. Interview conducted on July 14, 2022 at the Seeds Canada annual meeting in Winnipeg, […] The post Why Lauren Comin is Glad she Learned About Supercritical Carbon Dioxide appeared first on Germination.

Marc Zienkiewicz sits down with Martin Harry, general manager of Ontario's CanGro Genetics, to chat about the business of testing non-GM soybean varieties. Seed is multiplied in Canada and CanGro sends stock seed to its partners who then grow it and sell the seed to European growers under a royalty agreement. Harry and CanGro's Ukrainian seed […] The post How Martin Harry and his Staff were Impacted by the Russian Invasion of Ukraine appeared first on Germination.

Marc Zienkiewicz sits down with DL Seeds General Manager Chris Anderson to talk about his family history in seed and how his career has taken him from major life science firms to the protein sphere to creating value at the farm gate. Interview recorded today at the Seeds Canada annual meeting in Winnipeg, Man. The post Chris Anderson is All About Creating Value at the Farm Gate appeared first on Germination.

Registration closes for the Canadian Seed Growers' Association (CSGA) annual meeting taking place virtually July 6. The meeting takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will be Doug Miller's first AGM as executive director, he noted in an interview this week. “It's going to be a really great opportunity to talk about the […] The post Register by July 3 for CSGA's Upcoming AGM appeared first on Germination.

Registration ends soon for the first in-person Seeds Canada annual meeting, and this year's event is shaping up to be a significant one. Taking place in Winnipeg July 11-14, the event will bring together a who's who of the Canadian seed industry for several days of important policy discussions and networking. “It's really the first […] The post Register Now for the Seeds Canada Annual Meeting While There's Still Time appeared first on Germination.

In this week's podcast, we sit down with Seeds Canada President Ellen Sparry and Executive Director Barry Senft to talk about the Seed Regulatory Modernization Stakeholder Summit that Seeds Canada is initiating. Seeds Canada says it has identified a need for additional input concerning stakeholder requirements for a future seed system and is initiating what […] The post Why we Need a Summit on Seed Regulatory Modernization appeared first on Germination.

On this week's podcast we interview Deus Mugabe, chair of the organizing committee of this year's 2021 Corteva Agricultural Sciences Symposium, about this year's event which takes place Nov. 19 and will highlight scientific innovations to improve current farming systems. Sponsored by Corteva Agriscience and hosted by the University of Guelph, the Corteva Agricultural Sciences […] The post Why You Should Sign up for the 2021 Corteva Agricultural Sciences Symposium appeared first on Germination.

We sit down with Manitoba-based AAFC researcher Tom Fetch to talk about how a team of 19 researchers earned the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative (BGRI) 2021 Gene Stewardship Award for their long-standing innovations and strategies to combat wheat rust in Canada and around the world. The BGRI Gene Stewardship Award is the premier recognition for […] The post Canada's Wheat Rust Research Breakthroughs Get Recognized appeared first on Germination.

Manitoba's Pitura Seeds is has announced that it is partnering with Agro.Club Canada. Pitura Seeds is the first retailer to join Agro.Club's Canadian online ecosystem, which combines a digital storefront for farmers to order products and services. In this week's podcast, Pitura Seeds President Tom Greaves says the move creates a new benefit for the […] The post Selling Seed Online: Tom Greaves on the Future of Agri-Retail appeared first on Germination.

New technologies in breeding have the potential to help bring new innovations to market quicker than ever before. In this webinar, you will learn: Why new breeding techniques are important for a vibrant retail sphere; What new breeding techniques are helping create new varieties faster; How a modern regulatory environment is crucial to enabling new […] The post Making New Products, Faster: Watch our New Webinar appeared first on Germination.

New technologies in breeding have the potential to help bring new innovations to market quicker than ever before. In this webinar, you will learn: Why new breeding techniques are important for a vibrant retail sphere; What new breeding techniques are helping create new varieties faster; How a modern regulatory environment is crucial to enabling new […] The post Making New Products, Faster: Watch our New Webinar appeared first on Germination.

Mark Earl Sorrells, professor in school of Integrative Plant Science Plant Breeding and Genetics Section at Cornell University, sits down to chat about planning this year's National Association of Plant Breeders (NAPB) virtual meeting. The meeting is being hosted by Cornell and takes place Aug. 15-19, 2021. To register visit https://napb2021.com/. The post NAPB 2021: Mark Sorrells on the Challenges of Planning a Virtual Meeting appeared first on Germination.

Dave Bubeck, president of the National Association of Plant Breeders (NAPB) and research director for Corteva Agriscience, sits down to discuss the 2021 virtual meeting of the NAPB and how to sign up. The event takes place Aug. 15-19, 2021. For info visit napb2021.com. The first plenary meeting on the schedule is the Meeting Kick Off […] The post Dave Bubeck on Why You Should Definitely Sign Up for NAPB 2021 appeared first on Germination.

At this week's Seeds Canada annual general meeting, garden and vegetable seed importers were made aware of some coming changes in the realm of tomato and pepper seed. Patricia McAllister, national manager of the Horticulture and Grains Section at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said a phytosanitary certificate will be needed on tomato and pepper […] The post Do You Import Tomato and Pepper Seed? You'll Soon Need a Phytosanitary Certificate appeared first on Germination.

Corteva Canada President Bryce Eger sits down to chat about the company's inaugural Sustainability Report. In it, the company details a commitment to set science-based targets for its greenhouse gas emission reductions. The report also highlights the company's 2030 goals. He also talks about seed regulatory modernization and Corteva's work with North American processors to […] The post Bryce Eger Talks the Road to Sustainability appeared first on Germination.

Seeds Canada will hold its first annual general meeting from July 9-16. This event is an opportunity to connect with colleagues in the sector, engage in the latest industry issues, and get to know the Seeds Canada staff, board and members. We sit down with Executive Director Barry Senft, President Ellen Sparry and Professional Development […] The post Seeds Canada is About to Hold its First Annual Meeting appeared first on Germination.

Seed World Group host Alex Martin spoke with John Wyffels of Wyffels Hybrids, Mark Waschek of Ag 1 Source, Deepashri Khare of Syngenta and Sarah Foster of 20/20 Seed Labs about how to keep employees for the long haul. The post Seed Speaks Episode 2: Employee Retention appeared first on Germination.

Today we hosted our Retail Roundtable webinar Midge Tolerant Wheat: A SWOT Analysis. We learned quite a few things from our webinar! With insights from researchers Santosh Kumar (AAFC wheat breeder) and Tyler Wist (AAFC field crop entomology research scientist), we gained some useful insights into opportunities surrounding breeding and challenges posed by insect threats. […] The post Midge Tolerant Wheat: A SWOT Analysis appeared first on Germination.

Today we hosted our Retail Roundtable webinar Midge Tolerant Wheat: A SWOT Analysis. We learned quite a few things from our webinar! With insights from researchers Santosh Kumar (AAFC wheat breeder) and Tyler Wist (AAFC field crop entomology research scientist), we gained some useful insights into opportunities surrounding breeding and challenges posed by insect threats. […] The post Midge Tolerant Wheat: A SWOT Analysis appeared first on Germination.

Could all the publicity over the effectiveness of Covid vaccines help calm public concern over biotechnology? Stuart Smyth, associate professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Saskatchewan, says it’s quite likely on this week’s episode of the Germination Podcast. Current regulations in Canada surrounding Plants with Novel Traits (PNTs) […] The post Are Vaccines Calming Fears Over Biotech? appeared first on Germination.

This episode is the second of a series profiling young seed industry members. We will profile bright young minds from the sponsors who support this year’s Canadian Plant Breeding Innovation Scholarship program. Listen to the first episode here! Jeremy Boychyn, Agronomy Research Extension Specialist at Alberta Wheat & Barley, talks to us about his experience […] The post Jeremy Boychyn: Taking Agronomy from Low to High Resolution appeared first on Germination.

In this week’s podcast we look at the winner of this year’s Seed of the Year Award — L233P hybrid canola from BASF. Canola designed to  reduce pod shatter has changed the way farmers do business. Jeff Mansiere and Stewart Brandt are two of the BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions plant breeders they have to thank for […] The post How 3 Numbers and 2 Letters Changed the Canola Game appeared first on Germination.

https://media.blubrry.com/germination_strategy_session/s/content.blubrry.com/germination_strategy_session/Ask_Questions_Pick_up_the_Phone_Career_Advice_from_2_Bright_Young_Minds.mp3   In this episode of the Germination Podcast, Mira van Burck and Madison Spyk of SeCan talk about the experience of being 20-somethings in the seed industry and how other young people entering the workforce can be successful in their organization. Mira, 27, is marketing rep for southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan for SeCan, […] The post Ask Questions, Pick up the Phone: Career Advice from 2 Bright Young Minds appeared first on Germination.

Last week, Health Canada announced a 60-day a 60-day public consultation in regard to Canada’s Novel Food Regulations, which could determine how Canadian plant breeders are able to use gene editing to create new products for decades to come. We sit down for a chat with Jennifer Hubert, plant biotechnology director for CropLife Canada, to […] The post Gene Editing: Why a Product-Based Approach Makes Sense appeared first on Germination.

Our 2021 Plant Breeding & Genetics Award Winner explains what he sees coming down the pipe for Canada’s big crop. The post Van Ripley can see the Future of Canola Breeding appeared first on Germination.

Caio Canella, soybean breeding research specialist at the University of Missouri-Columbia, talks about the upcoming “Support-A-Scholar Fundraiser: A Day in the Life of a Plant Breeder Panel Discussion” on March 2 at 1 p.m. Organized by the NAPB Borlaug Student Scholars, this e-event will be a panel discussion focused on how daily work as a […] The post A Day in the Life of a Plant Breeder appeared first on Germination.

Saskatchewan Seed Growers Association President Mike Shewchuk talks about his vision for SSGA as he takes the president role and how seed growers can move forward after the recent Seeds Canada vote. The post After the Seeds Canada Vote, What’s Next for Saskatchewan Seed Growers? appeared first on Germination.

Find out what new varieties SeCan has lined up for the season ahead, including two new wheat varieties. Breeder Richard Cuthbert will discuss these new varieties and offer some insight into the world of wheat breeding! Our Webinar Speakers: Jim Downey Research and Development Manager SeCan Richard Cuthbert Wheat Breeder AAFC Swift Current The post SeCan New Varieties Update – A Germination Retail Roundtable Webinar & Podcast appeared first on Germination.

In our latest Giant Views video, Dr. Kidist Kibret, breeding software professional of Agronomix, sits down with Shawn Brook. In a world where it’s hard to get engaged in the industry, Kibret shares that she’s keeping herself motivated by getting excited about bioinformatics. When it comes down to plant breeding, bioinformatics is imperative. Kibret shares […] The post Cutting Breeding Time with Kidist Kibret appeared first on Germination.

SeCan General Manager Jeff Reid sits down to talk about why he decided to join the inaugural board of Seeds Canada, how the national seed organization can welcome seed growers into the fold, and how he feels Seeds Canada will represent a crucial part of Canada’s future seed industry if it goes ahead. The post Jeff Reid on Why Joining the Seeds Canada Board was a ‘Must’ appeared first on Germination.

The head of corporate affairs for Syngenta Canada talks with Marc Zienkiewicz about how the business world can maintain its connectedness in a time when having contact has become more complicated. The post Christina Stroud on Building Cohesive Partnerships in a Remote World appeared first on Germination.

Trevor Heck, president of Syngenta Canada, sits down to talk about how he did his job leading one of the country’s biggest agricultural companies during the tumultuous year that 2020 has been. He also discusses how work-from-home policies can attract the next generation of employees. The post Trevor Heck on the Challenges of Leading in 2020 appeared first on Germination.

Ian Affleck, vice-president plant biotechnology for CropLife Canada, joins Marc Zienkiewicz on this week’s podcast to talk about next week’s U.S. election and what it might mean — and not mean — for the world of biotechnology. The post What Might the U.S. Election Mean for Biotechnology? appeared first on Germination.

Michelle Klieger, editorial director for Seed World Pro and an economist based in Massachusetts, talks to Marc Zienkiewicz about the coming U.S. presidential election and what the future could look like under both a Donald Trump and Joe Biden administration. The post What the U.S. Election Means for You appeared first on Germination.

We thought it as good a time as any to bring you the latest on the fusarium situation in Canada and how you can go about proactively dealing with the problem and ensuring you are protected and know what management strategies are available. The post Miss Today’s Webinar? No Worries! Watch it Now and Get Informed on Fusarium appeared first on Germination.

Ellen Sparry, president of the Canadian Seed Trade Association and a candidate for the inaugural Seeds Canada board of directors, says a national seed organization is likely still moving forward, albeit without the participation of the Canadian Seed Grower’s Association. Last month, CSGA members voted down a proposal to amalgamate with the industry’s other seed […] The post Seeds Canada Discussions are Still Moving Forward, CSTA President Says appeared first on Germination.

On this week’s podcast we chat with Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) Commissioner Anthony Parker of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. He’s looking for people to join the CFIA’s PBR Advisory Committee to help guide the future of PBR policy in Canada. Have questions? Email anthony.parker@canada.ca. For an application form visit https://www.inspection.gc.ca/plant-varieties/plant-breeders-rights/notice-of-appointment/eng/1597428833063/1597428833516. The post Anthony Parker is Looking for Your Help appeared first on Germination.

The first high-CBD variety of hemp designed for grain production in Canada has been unveiled. New West Genetics and Tritium 3H (T3H) have signed an exclusive license agreement for distribution of Certified NWG2730 ABOUND hemp seed in Canada. At the same time, Health Canada has approved Cherry Blossom F1, the first high-CBD feminized hemp hybrid […] The post Big Things are Happening in Hemp appeared first on Germination.

Marc Zienkiewicz chats with newly-appointed Canadian Seed Trade Association president Ellen Sparry on very likely being the last CSTA president and what the future holds as members begin voting on the Seeds Canada merger proposal. The post Ellen Sparry is Very Likely the Last CSTA President appeared first on Germination.

At the July 7 virtual meeting of the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association, outgoing president Jonathan Nyborg alluded to the Robert Frost poem “The Road Not Taken”: Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I […] The post Jonathan Nyborg Thinks You Should Hear the Words of Robert Frost appeared first on Germination.