The debate about Canada finally adopting UPOV 91 has transpired all winter. For some in the seed industry the inclusion of UPOV 91 being included in the Canadian Federal Government’s Agricultural Growth Act (Bill C-18) has been a long time coming. The NFU has been strongly trying to convince farmers and the general public that… Read More
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Changes to Canada’s variety registration system and staying competitive and innovative were hot topics at this week’s Canadian Seed Trade Association semi-annual meeting. Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz was on hand at the CSTA semi-annual meeting to announce a $100,000 worth of funding for the seed industry, but after that announcement the discussion turned to… Read More
After watching the throne speech yesterday I quickly remembered back to a conversation that I had with Gerry Ritz back in January at Farmtech regarding Canada implementing UPOV 91. (Canada’s plant breeder’s rights system is currently based on the 1978 convention). On several occasions Minister Ritz was very confident Canada would conform to the UPOV… Read More
It’s been more than a year since the Canadian government’s decision to implement UPOV ’91 standards for Plant Breeders’ Rights. When it was ratified, the seed industry touted the agreement as a significant driver of new investment in crop breeding and genetics for Canadian farmers. In this Wheat School episode, Real Agriculture resident agronomist Peter… Read More
There are still lingering questions as to how farmers access, pay for and use seed varieties under UPOV ’91, which Canada adopted with the passing of Bill C-18 back in March of this year. For those that claim that under the act farmers lose their right to save seed, Patty Townsend, executive director of the… Read More
The Canadian government’s decision to implement UPOV ’91 standards for plant breeders’ rights is driving new investment in crop breeding, say seed industry officials. Bill C-18 — the federal legislation amending the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act — became law last week. Representatives from the seed trade and the crop sector value chain celebrated its passage at a press conference… Read More
The federal agriculture minister, seed industry officials and representatives from various crop sector and farmer organizations celebrated the passage of Bill C-18 — the Agricultural Growth Act — at the head office of Canterra Seeds in Winnipeg on Friday. The legislation, which includes the implementation of the UPOV ’91 standard for plant breeders’ rights and changes… Read More
Canada’s rules and regulations regarding plant breeder’s rights adhere to a convention that’s over 35 years old, even though there is a more modern, widely accepted convention that’s a mere 23 years old — UPOV ’91. Bill C-18, currently in the parliamentary process, will bring Canada in line with UPOV ’91, a move that has… Read More
With over 100 years of breeding new varieties at public institutions Drs. Keith Downey (Saskatoon AAFC Research Centre) and Bryan Harvey (University of Saskatchewan) are pleased to see the recently tabled Agricultural Growth Act (Bill C-18). It enshrines a farmer’s ability to save seed for his or her own use and protects against the capture… Read More
No matter what profession you choose in life, learning opportunities surround you — although it’s up to you to choose to take them. Speaking for myself, jumping into the agriculture world has had its learning curves but it’s also given me the opportunity to explore and learn more about the industry I have grown to… Read More
It was a very frosty week in Saskatchewan, which felt just right at -50 degrees Celsius. Inside the walls of Prairieland Park at the Crop Production Show, farmers were in a relatively good mood despite roughly 10% of the 2019 crop still out in the fields. After three days at the show, I decided to… Read More
Canada’s largest distributor of certified seed is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Likely ahead of its time in bringing together industry, universities, government and producer partners, the not-for-profit member association known as SeCan was started in 1976. “The roots are tied very closely to the Canadian Seed Growers Association — seed growers, seed trade,… Read More
Since the day that the federal election was announced, I have wondered what the future will hold for Gerry Ritz. Now don’t get me wrong Mr. Ritz is going to easily win his riding as there are reports he hasn’t even had to open up a campaign office for his riding. With his seat secure, how could… Read More
Federal legislation containing changes to plant breeders’ rights and farm cash advance programs became law on Wednesday, as Bill C-18 — also known as the Agricultural Growth Act — received royal assent. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz will be holding a press conference at Canterra Seeds in Winnipeg on Friday morning to mark the passage of the bill…. Read More
There are those who would rather not put extra funding towards varietal research, but to Steve Tomtene, a Saskatchewan-based farmer, the return on research and development is entirely worth the investment. “Our farm started back in the late sixties,” Tomtene explains in an interview with Shaun Haney, “and I think when we look back over the course… Read More