Pilot to examine seed crop inspection delivery

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

A Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) pilot project designed to examine opportunities for more streamlined, flexible seed crop inspection delivery  gets underway this fall with the evaluation of two inspection models.

The first model is second-party inspection where Pioneer Hi-Bred employees inspect fields producing certified soybean crops with crop certificates assigned to Pioneer Hi-Bred. The second model is third-party inspection involving 20/20 Seed Labs Inc. where independent, third-party seed crop inspectors inspect about 60 fields producing certified soybean crops that are not assigned to Pioneer Hi-Bred.

Growers selected to be part of the project will receive a notice from the CFIA and from either Pioneer Hi-Bred Ltd. or 20/20 Seed Labs Inc. before the inspection takes place. Only some fields in the Chatham and London areas producing certified soybean seed crops will be included in the pilot project. The locations and number of fields will be finalized by early August.

The CFIA retains overall responsibility for seed certification, including monitoring and auditing all seed crop inspection activities. The CFIA will also inspect certified soybean crops not included in the pilot project and all fields planted with Breeder, Select and Foundation status seed. There are no additional costs to growers included in the research project.

Project development has been guided by a working group with members from the CFIA, the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association, the Canadian Seed Institute and the Canadian Seed Trade Association. BF