It’s Imperative That Cereal Crops Remain Governed by Regulatory Oversight

About this episode

The episode discusses the importance of maintaining regulatory oversight for cereal crops amidst ongoing transformations in the agricultural system.

Reflecting on the ongoing transformations within our system, I find the overhaul known as Seed Regulatory Modernization (SRM) to be a valuable departure from the gradual evolution we’ve observed over the years. Martin Pick I can’t help but acknowledge the significant role played by W.R. “Wilf” Bradnock, who led the Seed Section of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) throughout the 1960s until the 1980s. His tireless efforts crisscrossing the nation were instrumental in shaping Plant Breeders’ Rights legislation. Together with Ed McLaughlin, the executive director of the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association, they laid the foundation for the establishment of SeCan. Notably, under Bradnock’s leadership, a crucial shift occurred in 1960 when legislation was introduced stipulating that variety names could only be associated with seed from one of the pedigree classes. This stands in stark contrast to the current patchwork system prevalent in much of the United States, where variety designations are often loosely applied. Looking forward, it’s apparent that some form of registration and its corresponding regulations must endure. While my…

Topics covered

• cereal crops
• regulatory oversight
• Seed Regulatory Modernization
• Plant Breeders' Rights

Keywords

• agriculture
• Canada
• seed industry

Mentioned in this episode

Places: the United States

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