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Why Should Consumers Care About Certified Seed?

For most consumers, food is just something they buy in the grocery store. They don’t always consider all the work that went into producing that food from the truck driver that drove it to the store, to the factory worker who oversaw the production line for it, to the farmer who grew the ingredients, to the seed grower who produced the seed for the farmer. At the end of the day there wouldn’t be food on grocery store shelves if it wasn’t for seed production.

On the May 17 episode of Seed Speaks, we’re taking a closer look at why consumers should care about certified seed and all the work that goes into producing it. We’re joined by Andrew Dawson, president of the Ontario Seed Growers Association; Sarah Wilbanks, CEO of the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA); and Todd Hyra, business manager for Western Canada with SeCan.

Dawson grew up in Peterborough County, Ont. on a mixed farm. Following graduation from the University of Guelph, he moved to eastern Ontario to farm. Dawson and his wife Julie purchased their current farm, RiverRun Farms, in 2004. They now producing over 750 acres of crops including corn, soybeans and wheat, while also growing strawberries and running a beef cattle operation. Dawson has been a pedigreed seed grower for 15 years.

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Why Port Infrastructure is Key to Growing Canada's Farms and Economy

Video: Why Port Infrastructure is Key to Growing Canada's Farms and Economy

Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) knows that strong, modern port infrastructure is vital to the success of Canada’s agriculture. When our ports grow, Ontario grain farmers and Canadian farms grow too—and when we grow, Canada grows.

In this video, we highlight the importance of investing in port infrastructure and how these investments are key to growing Ontario agriculture and supporting global trade. The footage showcases the strength of both Ontario’s farming landscapes and vital port operations, including some key visuals from HOPA Ports, which we are grateful to use in this project.

Ontario’s grain farmers rely on efficient, sustainable ports and seaway systems to move grain to markets around the world. Port investments are crucial to increasing market access, driving economic growth, and ensuring food security for all Canadians.

Why Port Infrastructure Matters:

Investing in Ports = Investing in Farms: Modernized ports support the export of Canadian grain, driving growth in agriculture.

Sustainable Growth: Learn how stronger ports reduce environmental impact while boosting economic stability.

Global Trade Opportunities: Improved port and seaway systems help farmers access new global markets for their grain.

Stronger Communities: Investment in ports means more stable jobs and economic growth for rural communities across Ontario and Canada.

We are proud to support the ongoing investment in port infrastructure and to shine a light on its vital role in feeding the world and securing a prosperous future for Canadian agriculture.

Special thanks to HOPA Ports for providing some of the stunning port footage featured in this video.