Members of the Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA), Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada (CSAAC), Canadian Seed Institute (CSI) and Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) have voted in favour of amalgamation, the groups announced Wednesday.

An inaugural board of 15 directors (see below) has been named for the new organization and has set up a transition committee to work on putting the new structure in place ahead of the formal merger on Feb. 1 next year, the groups said.

CSTA represents the seed trade, including some farmer-level seed growers, seed retailers and major seed companies such as BASF and Bayer. CSAAC represents seed-testing labs, CSI delivers accreditation and monitoring programs and CPTA supports intellectual property protection for the seeds sector.

The Seeds Canada founding groups said the new organization has “received a great deal of interest and the number of members is expected to grow, bringing new voices and perspectives to the existing membership of the four groups.”

The goal, they said, is for Seeds Canada’s membership to include national and provincial seed associations as well as seed growers from across the country.

For now, however, it won’t include the Canadian Seed Growers Association (CSGA), whose members voted this summer to reject a previous proposal for a five-way amalgamation.

The remaining groups announced in October they would put the new four-way merger proposal to their members for a second vote.

The CSGA would have been the largest of the five, as it represents pedigreed seed producers, with a membership made up mainly of farmers. It also has statutory power to certify pedigreed seed.

For now, the CSGA, in its role as a CSTA affiliate, is expected to be invited to become an affiliate member of Seeds Canada, as would some provincial seed grower associations.

The CSGA had been in on developing the original amalgamation proposal, which dates back to a 2015 brief from the CSGA and CSTA, followed by a 2017 “green paper” on the “core ideas and context for the next-generation seed system.”

CropLife Canada, a separate body representing life science companies that develop and sell new varieties and crop protection products, had also originally been part of the proposed group but opted out before the earlier vote this summer.

A 2018 white paper from the five organizations pointed out that, among other issues facing the seeds sector, the groups have “overlapping memberships and even directors, creating a significant draw on member time and resources.”

Critics of the five-way proposal this summer warned of a risk that larger agribusinesses and multinational seed companies might ultimately dominate Seeds Canada — a concern merger supporters have said was largely unwarranted.

“Growers play an integral role in the seed system, and Seeds Canada needs their involvement to succeed,” the four Seeds Canada groups said in their statement Wednesday.

For now, they said, “the priority is to have a smooth transition and ensure business continuity for members on Day One of Seeds Canada.” — Glacier FarmMedia Network

Who’s on the board?

Seeds Canada’s inaugural 15-member board includes:

• Annie Bergeron, CEO, Les Grains Semtech
• Philippe Charlebois, CEO, Semican
• Georges Chausse, seed division lead, Sollio Agriculture
• Chris Churko, CEO, FP Genetics
• Brent Collins, head of canola seeds, North America, BASF
• Holly Gelech, business development manager, SGS BioVision
• Dianne Gilhuly, president, Kent Agri Lab
• Monica Klaas, general manager, Alberta Seed Processors Association
• Jeff Loessin, corn, soy and winter wheat marketing lead, Corteva Canada
• Quentin Martin, co-CEO, Cribit Seeds
• Eric McLean, owner, Ben Ledi Farms
• Jeff Reid, general manager, SeCan
• Nick Sekulic, seed grower, Prestville Farms
• Ellen Sparry, general manager, C+M Seeds
• Jim Wilson, vice-chair, Canterra Seeds

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The Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA), Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA); Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada (CSAAC) and Canadian Seed Institute announced plans Tuesday to seek approval from their respective boards and memberships for a four-way amalgamation.

No longer in the Seeds Canada hopper is the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA), whose membership “did not vote in favour” of a five-way amalgamation proposal during a vote held over six weeks ending in late August.

The amalgamation proposal dates back to a 2015 brief from the CSGA and CSTA, followed by a 2017 “green paper” on the “core ideas and context for the next-generation seed system.”

A 2018 white paper from the five organizations pointed out that, among other issues facing the seeds sector, the groups have “overlapping memberships and even directors, creating a significant draw on member time and resources.”

The CSGA, which would have been the largest participating group in a five-way merger, represents pedigreed seed producers, with a membership made up mainly of farmers. It also has statutory power to certify pedigreed seed.

The CSTA, meanwhile, represents seed companies including major multinationals such as BASF and Bayer as well as smaller seed grower/retailers. CSTA president Ellen Sparry said last month it’s hoped the CSGA would co-operate with a separate Seeds Canada organization, possibly through a formal agreement.

The four other organizations said Tuesday they now plan to build on the momentum from their previous votes in favour, and update the Seeds Canada ratification package before undertaking a new membership vote.

“The goal is to ensure that members and stakeholders, including seed growers, will see value in the new amalgamation package,” they said in a release.

Implementation work on the new plan will take place “concurrently,” with the goal of bringing Seeds Canada into existence in February 2021 pending board and membership approvals, the groups said.

“While there may be one less amalgamating partner, the vision for Seeds Canada to become the voice of the seed sector, including seed growers, analysts and the seed trade, remains the same,” the groups said.

The new plan’s goal, they said, is for Seeds Canada’s membership to eventually include national and provincial seed associations, “as well as seed growers from across the country.” — Glacier FarmMedia Network

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Members of the Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA), Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada (CSAAC), Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA), Canadian Seed Institute (CSI) and Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) had voted on the proposal over the past six weeks.

Offering up no details, the groups said in a release Thursday that “one organization, the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association, did not vote in favour.”

The seed organizations, in their joint release, said the “result is disappointing, and the boards of each participating organization will now consider how to move forward.”

Of the five groups involved, the CSGA is the largest. It represents pedigreed seed producers, with a membership made up mainly of farmers. It also has statutory power to certify pedigreed seed.

Without a unanimous decision in hand, the groups’ boards said Thursday they will “reconvene to determine the next steps” and expect to update members by the middle of September.

The groups had announced their plans in June for a vote on whether to amalgamate under the banner “Seeds Canada,” in a move they said would “bring together these organizations for greater efficiency and a common purpose: a stronger, united voice for Canada’s seed sector.”

The groups had said at the time that if one or more of the five didn’t ratify the plan, the remaining groups “may proceed to amalgamate on their own” — or could then choose not to proceed at all.

The proposal dates back to a 2015 brief from the CSGA and CSTA, followed by a 2017 “green paper” on the “core ideas and context for the next-generation seed system.”

A 2018 white paper from the organizations pointed out that, among other issues facing the seeds sector, the groups have “overlapping memberships and even directors, creating a significant draw on member time and resources.”

Critics of the proposal, however, have voiced concerns that larger agribusinesses and multinational seed companies may ultimately dominate Seeds Canada.

Others have asked aloud whether the proposed new organization would result in the undermining of Canada’s current pedigreed seed system. — Glacier FarmMedia Network

CORRECTION, Aug. 27: A previous version of this article incorrectly referred to Aug. 27, 2020 as “Friday.” We regret the error.

The post Seed groups weigh options as CSGA rejects merger appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

The ‘new’ Cereals Canada was created June 1 when it and the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) amalgamated after two years of discussions and the approval of their respective boards April 13.

Hames, who farms northwest of Lloydminster near Marwayne, also chairs the Alberta Wheat Commission and served as chair of Alberta Canola.

Hames, has a degree in computer engineering from the University of Alberta and worked as a software engineer before returning to the family farm in 1991, according to Cereals Canada.

Hames, “a dedicated zero tillage farmer,” has grown canola, wheat, peas and barley under conservation tillage for 25 years.

“I believe in working together in partnerships to achieve larger goals,” Hames states on his Twitter account.

Why it matters: Cereals Canada has an important and challenging mandate: representing Canada’s cereal sector from farmer to exporter, based on consensus, with a goal of all making all participants better off.

The new Cereals Canada board has 16 directors, who elected Jennifer Marchand of Cargill as vice-chair, Robert Misko as treasurer and Jean-Marc Ruest as secretary.

Misko farms at Roblin, Man., and is a director with the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA); Ruest, Cereal’s Canada’s former chair, is Richardson’s senior vice-president of corporate affairs and general counsel.

The executive committee will also serve as the search committee to find a CEO, Hames noted in a release Tuesday. That job is currently held by Cam Dahl.

A human resources consultant has been hired to lead the search, Dahl said in an interview Tuesday.

“The board needs to do its due diligence at looking at all the available candidates and that’s in the best interests of the organization,” he said. “And I absolutely believe that.”

The board also selected a governance committee consisting of Jake Leguee, Henry Van Ankum, Jeff Bertholet and Jeff Cockwill.

Leguee is a Saskatchewan farmer and vice-chair of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission; Van Ankum farms in Ontario and is a director of the Grain Farmers of Ontario.

Bertholet and Cockwill are with BASF and Viterra, respectively.

Cereal Canada’s new board and CEO will consider where to locate, Ruest said in an interview April 14.

Cereals Canada, with six employees, is located in the old Grain Exchange Building in downtown Winnipeg; Cigi has just under 30 staff located a few blocks away. in the Canadian Grain Commission building.

While Cigi — created in 1972 to teach Canadian grain customers, including millers and bakers, how to get the most value from Canadian grain — is now part of Cereals Canada, its role and name will continue, outgoing Cigi chair Trent Rude said in an interview April 14.

“One of the main things we wanted to do is maintain the brand of Cigi,” Rude said. “In the milling industry globally it has a very, very strong brand and is very well respected when it comes to nations around the world that are buying Canadian wheat and milling Canadian wheat. That was one of the main, important things.”

Meanwhile, the amalgamation between Cereals Canada and Cigi is proceeding smoothly, Dahl said.

“According to the bylaws we needed 21 days notice for an annual meeting so in fact (Monday) was the very first day that we could provide that much notice after June 1,” he said. “So as quickly as we can, the members and directors have come together to take those next steps to secure the future of the new organization.”

— Allan Dawson reports for the Manitoba Co-operator from Miami, Man.

Cereals Canada: The board

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A “detailed ratification package” has gone out to members of the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA), Canadian Seed Institute (CSI), Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA), Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA) and Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada (CSAAC).

The new organization, if ratified, “will bring together these organizations for greater efficiency and a common purpose: a stronger, united voice for Canada’s seed sector,” the groups said in a release Friday.

The ratification package going to members of the five groups will include details about the amalgamation and the proposed bylaws, finances and governance structure for Seeds Canada.

Webinars, member meetings and other communications will take place “in the coming weeks and months” and voting will take place “over the summer.” Members in good standing with more than one of the organizations will be eligible to cast votes with each of those groups.

If one or more of the member organizations doesn’t ratify the plan, the remaining groups “may proceed to amalgamate on their own” — or may choose not to proceed, they said.

The proposal dates back to a 2015 brief from the CSGA and CSTA, followed by a 2017 “green paper” on the “core ideas and context for the next-generation seed system.”

A 2018 white paper from the organizations pointed out that, among other issues facing the seeds sector, the groups have “overlapping memberships and even directors, creating a significant draw on member time and resources.”

CSGA is the largest of the five groups, representing pedigreed seed producers, with a membership made up mainly of farmers. It also has statutory power to certify pedigreed seed.

CSTA represents the seed trade, including some farmer-level seed growers and major seed companies, while CSAAC represents seed-testing labs.

CSI delivers accreditation and monitoring programs and CPTA supports intellectual property protection for the seeds sector.

CropLife Canada, representing life science companies making and selling new varieties and crop protection products, had originally been part of the proposed group but has since opted out and would co-operate with the new group, if formed, by way of a memorandum of understanding.

The current proposal would see Seeds Canada offer “over 36 essential services” to members and clients, including all original services offered by the five founding groups, through a new “single window” model.

The membership model would be voluntary, with voting privileges going to “seed industry business class” members — business entities, including sole proprietors — who grow, breed, condition, test, inspect, develop, trade/sell and/or distribute seed and/or seed crops.

Branch organizations, such as the provincial seed organizations now affiliated with the CSGA, would continue to operate as “autonomous entities.”

Seeds Canada would not have control or any role in such branches’ governance, membership, staff, assets, finances activities or initiatives, but would “continue to honour collection and remittance of fees.” — Glacier FarmMedia Network, with files from Allan Dawson of the Manitoba Co-operator.

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A total of 165 ballots were cast Wednesday and Thursday during the groups’ annual general and special meetings at the CropConnect conference in Winnipeg, with members at the various events voting between 80 and 95 per cent in favour of a special resolution to amalgamate.

Each of the five groups — the National Sunflower Association of Canada, Manitoba Corn Growers Association, Manitoba Flax Growers Association and Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association and Winter Cereals Manitoba — needed at least a two-thirds majority for the resolutions to pass.

The board of directors for the merged entity, dubbed the Manitoba Crop Alliance, plans to take a petition Friday to the Manitoba Farm Products Marketing Council (MFPMC).

The petition will seek a designation regulation under the Agricultural Producers’ Organization Funding Act, allowing the MCA to collect levies on the seven affected crop types, at the levies’ current levels.

If the regulation clears, the MCA expects to become operational Aug. 1. More details and reaction are now available at Manitobacooperator.ca. — Glacier FarmMedia Network

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Winter Cereals Manitoba Inc. (WCMI) announced Thursday its chair, Doug Martin, and director Allan Olinyk will join a steering committee made up of directors and staff from the Manitoba Corn Growers Association (MCGA), Manitoba Flax Growers Association (MFGA), National Sunflower Association of Canada (NSAC) and Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA).

The four-group steering committee has been gathering and collating feedback on the proposal for a combined organization, coming out of the groups’ regional meetings in January and annual general meetings in February.

An “amended” proposal is due to be released next month, the five groups said Thursday.

Another group, Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers, had been in on an initial memorandum of understanding in May last year to consider amalgamation. As of August this year, though, only MCGA, MWBGA, MFGA and NSAC remained.

The four groups and MPSG had been considering two options — amalgamation and a model that “did not include legal amalgamation.” From those discussions, the four groups, without MPSG, agreed in August to “move forward together” on amalgamation by putting a potential merger to a vote.

WCMI’s board felt “the time was right to join the discussion… to explore a potential amalgamation with the understanding that membership will make the decision,” Martin, who farms at East Selkirk, Man., said in Thursday’s release.

WCMI is no stranger to a shared-services approach. In February it contracted NSAC and MWBGA to manage its day-to-day operations, research work and communications with members and stakeholders and is now based out of a shared office in Carman.

The new proposal due out in December is expected to include “revised board and governance structures, an organizational chart, budget allocations, timelines, and the legal process to legally amalgamate,” the five groups said.

The steering committee is also “determining the next steps to ensure an adequate consultation period for members to review the proposal.”

Their target timeline currently calls for the members of each participating organization to vote on an amalgamation proposal resolution at their annual general meetings in February next year.

If approved, the target date for a new joint organization to be in place would be Aug. 1, 2019.

While the groups’ leaderships have touted the merits of a merger as a more efficient use of grower levies and checkoffs, the plan drew some criticism from members of participating groups at their annual meetings earlier this year.

Some farmers voiced fears that a merged body might undermine farmer control and allow smaller crops to fall through the cracks. — Glacier FarmMedia Network

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