An accredited Alberta laboratory is asking growers and industry partners to help shape a seed potato testing process that is practical, accessible, and sustainable for the long term.
When 20/20 Seed Labs developed its Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)-approved seed potato testing capacity in Nisku, the opportunity seemed straightforward: Alberta growers would have access to an accredited laboratory closer to home.
Before this service was established, Alberta potato growers often had to ship samples out of province — in some cases as far away as Prince Edward Island — for testing. Establishing testing capacity in Alberta made sense for growers, the industry, and the broader goal of building local agricultural services.
But proximity is only one factor in a grower’s decision about testing, says Sarah Foster, President and Senior Seed Analyst at 20/20.
“A grower managing multiple varieties and seed lots must consider the cost of each test, how samples are collected and shipped, how quickly results are required, and which tests satisfy certification and market requirements,” she says. “At the same time, an accredited laboratory must maintain trained staff, specialized equipment, quality-control systems (ISO17025), and CFIA Accreditation. It also needs sufficient testing volume to keep the service economically sustainable.”
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