Cereal seed business

[TOM4CWB]

We do as much here... in a little different way. Secan.

As Canada's Seed Partner, SeCan actively seeks partnerships which promote profitability in Canadian agriculture. SeCan is the largest supplier of certified seed to Canadian farmers with more than 700 members from coast to coast engaged in seed production, processing and marketing. We are a private, not-for-profit, member corporation with the primary goal of accessing and promoting leading genetics.

We work closely with our breeding partners to bring the top-performing cultivars to Canadian farmers. SeCan has more than 430 varieties across the major field crops, including cereals, oilseeds, pulses, special crops, grasses, and legumes. Most of the varieties we distribute were developed by publicly-funded Canadian plant breeding organizations such as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, provincial ministries of agriculture, and universities. We also distribute varieties sourced by private and foreign companies.

Our genetics are easily accessible. Farmers can purchase SeCan varieties at most dealers of certified seed in Canada, which allows them the convenience of choosing a preferred local supplier.

Since SeCan was formed in 1976 we've been able to bring new varieties with improved features into commercial production more quickly. This is a benefit to everyone in the business, including farmers, millers and other processors, consumers and exporters.

We're proud of our accomplishments. SeCan continues to be a major supporter of plant breeding in Canada. To date, the organization has returned more than $70 million in royalties and research funding. We support Plant Breeders' Rights as a way to ensure the long-term sustainability of a healthy and viable seed industry in Canada.

Please contact us if you have any questions about SeCan or the benefits of membership. SeCan has the "Genes that fit your farm".

https://www.secan.com/?sv=&category=Home&title=about_us

[sumdumguy]

Was Secan suffering prior to Upov?

[tweety]

To add to sumdum's question, what do you gain in upov91 that was not already legislated thru pbr and seeds act?

Secan isn't owned by farmers, its owned by a select group of seed growers. Secan, in the future, will have to start paying for that germplasm and varieties to farmers after the government breeder germplasm model is initiated. Your basically free ride would be over. Farmers would own and control all of that.

Note to Secan, careful for what you have asked for (upov91) because sometimes you get it.

That's if they (commissions) can get their shit together. Its all there for the taking with huge benefit to the farmer.

Or will we just keep whining about seed company control and price. The Sask3 way.

[grower99]

Tom, that is why it is essential to have Ag Canada...keep a significant role in breeding of cereals...

[furrowtickler]

Very good questions / points tweety .

[rkaiser]

[tweety]

Too bad they will never be answered.

We now return you to our regular scheduled whining.

[FarmRanger]

So, let's just play along with this scenario. The provincial commissions all create a company that buys the varieties out of AAFC, CDC, etc. and markets them. Like Tom said, isn't this what SeCan is doing already?
Or are you talking about farmers actually doing the breeding ourselves and becoming another CDC or AAFC breeding program? With the average variety taking 10-12 years from F1 to registered variety, there would be tens, if not hundreds of millions of checkoff dollars spent before anything came back into kitty in the form of royalties. When the royalties did start coming back in, there would be farmers thinking that they took all this money from my check for 10 years, I should get the variety for nothing.
Maybe there's a better business model out there, but the one I described above would be a nightmare for western Canadian farmers and any commissions that entered into such an endeavour.

[tweety]

Sure hope you're not on a commission.

The "we can't" attitude is astonishing.

The answer is, yes to the scenario. Own the germplasm WITH cdc AAFC, license the varieties collecting royalties reinvesting and building even better varieties. Work with them.

Let Secan be a distributor, but control the stipulation of being able to grow you're own seed not letting go of that priviledge.

You don't have to be a seed peddler to control how its marketed.

THAT's where the expense is, buying new seed every year for every acre. Like canola.

[tweety]

anywhere in the states, europe, or canada where farmers along with university and government are doing germplasm/variety research and development?