22 | Advancing Seed in Alberta A CSGA Member since 1946 Treating of Cereal Seeds and Pulses Available Inoculation of Pulses Available 54174 Range Rd. 225 Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta T8L 3Z9 E-Mail: [email protected] | Bus. (780) 998-3036 | Fax (780) 998-1288 Website: www.gallowayseeds.com | @gallowayseeds BARLEY: CDC Copeland CDC Austenson CDC Thompson CANOLA: Roundup Ready Liberty Link SOYBEANS: NSC Leroy RR2Y NSC Watson RR2Y PS00095 RR2Y PS00078 RR2Y PEAS: AAC Barrhead CDC Limerick CDC Saffron CDC Amarillo CDC Greenwater AAC Chrome (NEW) FABABEANS: Snowbird WINTER WHEAT: AAC Wildfire HYBRID RYE KWS Bono KWS Gatano WHEAT: AAC Connery AAC Penhold AAC Redwater AAC Brandon AAC Viewfield CDC Landmark VB Muchmore AAC Crossfield (NEW) AC Andrew FLAX: AAC Marvelous How it Might Work While there is much to still be decided on, Hadley notes that an efficient electronic contracting system is envisioned. Similar to how canola is marketed, distributors will decide if payments will be applied per acre or pound of seed. There will be no interference with provincial check-offs. Pawlik believes the end result will draw on similar situations elsewhere. In his view, an effective system must include the ability to simply and transparently track seed sold and acres planted, and a flexible pricing mechanism associated with the value of individual varieties. In Merryweather’s view, rollout of a trailing royalty system will be quite simple. “A database would be developed or modified to fit the collection of purchase information on certified seed for every grower which would then identify every purchase of certified seed,” he says. “This information would be available to the licensee to administer the royalties. Growers would declare each year what crops have been planted and which variety was used to seed. After harvest, they would then declare production on each field.” Growers would therefore ‘pay on production’ and companies would then invoice them for the trailing royalty after verifying certified seed purchases and deducting such purchases (a pre- determined amount) so there is no possibility of paying twice. “The licensee would have the right to audit a grower if there was any dispute,” he says. “All such audit costs would be charged to the licensee.” Darcy Pawlik is vice-chair of the CSTA’s Intellectual Property Committee. Hurdles In Pawlik’s view, one of the largest hurdles would be a transfer of a significant portion of the costs associated with breeding activities to growers. But he believes that “so long as our objective remains truly aligned among the various stakeholders and parties in that we want to encourage greater investment by the private sector into cereal and pulse breeding, as well as the desire to have the strongest and most globally competitive ag sector, these hurdles can be overcome.” Along with that, Pawlik believes there will be a continued requirement for engagement, transparency, cooperation and foresight. “This will be critical if we are to achieve the vision and reverse the tide of investment that is flowing to other jurisdictions at the expense of Canadian agriculture, farmers and competitiveness.”