Seed Certification in Canada PowerPoint Presentation - PowerPoint
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Seed crop certification is a program of planned production, record keeping, unbiased inspections, and rigid standards to ensure the production of high quality, variety specific seed. Whether by traditional means or with the use of biotechnology, plant breeders continue to produce superior varieties of field crops. By overseeing production of seed crops, CSGA provides the vital link between plant breeders and farmers who benefit from these advances. Certified seed is derived from a seed crop that has been issued a CSGA crop certificate, is labeled with an official blue Certified tag (or bulk pedigreed certificate) and graded with a Canada pedigreed grade name when sold in Canada. The blue Certified tag is a symbol of the high quality standards of certification assuring dependable performance.

The pedigreeing of seed and seed crops ensures varietal purity. This is especially important to maintain yield, quality, disease resistance and the other distinguishing characteristics of a variety.

Certification is a limited generation concept whereby variety specific characteristics are maintained. New varieties developed by plant breeders are increased to supply farmers with seed of superior performance.

Breeder Seed is developed and maintained by the CSGA-recognized plant breeders of public research institutions and private companies.

Foundation Seed is the first generation for most open-pollinated crops, and second generation for most self-pollinated crops, produced from Breeder seed and rogued for off-types to meet variety descriptions and strict Foundation purity standards.

Certified Seed is the first generation for most open-pollinated crops, and second generation for most self-pollinated crops, produced from Foundation seed by CSGA seed growers for sale to farmers to use in planting their commercial grain acreage.

For most self-pollinated crops, Select plots are the first generation from Breeder seed and Registered crops are the first generation from Foundation seed. Most open-pollinated crops are produced in Foundation plots.

Seed crop certification is performed for CSGA seed growers and processors dedicated to taking the extra steps necessary in planting, harvesting, handling, storage, and conditioning to produce Certified seed.