When it comes to Canada’s seed industry, most of what’s grown stays local. But don’t mistake that for isolationism. There’s a quiet, high-stakes choreography happening at the border—one that moves half a billion dollars worth of seed between Canada and the U.S. every year.
“We are very balanced, very complementary, and incredibly integrated,” says Lauren Comin, policy director at Seeds Canada. “We don’t have the kinds of trade deficits you see in other sectors. Seed moves fluidly—until it doesn’t.”
That fluidity is under threat. With uncertainty looming over tariffs and a policy vacuum caused by Canada’s upcoming election, the seed sector finds itself in a precarious limbo. And for Comin, that signals challenges—not just for growers, but for the entire agricultural value chain.
A Seed Doesn’t Travel Alone
While Canada produces most of the seed it uses, certain classes—like garden and vegetable seed—are almost entirely imported. “We source virtually 100% of our garden seed from abroad,” says Comin. “And often, it moves through or is processed in the U.S., which impacts things like the tariff code.”
That level of interdependence means even minor policy shifts can cause major disruptions. “Some companies break up their production across North America to balance risk and ensure quality,” she says. “Tariffs force them to rethink all of that.”
And it’s not just about seed being sold at Canadian Tire. “This affects greenhouse operations, produce production, and even nursery crops,” she adds. “One seed might cross the border multiple times. How many tariffs can it sustain before it’s no longer viable?”
Trade Policy by a Thousand Paper Cuts
Seeds Canada has been part of a multi-year effort to modernize the country’s seed regulations via the Seed Regulatory Modernization (SRM) process—a sprawling attempt to update decades-old frameworks. But the effort is now tangled in politics.
“The government had promised to release a policy document this spring,” Comin explains. “But with an election looming, we’re in caretaker mode. That means no new policies, no consultations. We might not see anything until mid-May—if we see it at all.”
Betting on Alliances, Not Just Policy
In the face of this gridlock, Seeds Canada has taken a strategic step: joining the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA). “It’s a win-win,” says Comin. “CAFTA has deep experience advocating for free trade. By joining them, we gain access to conversations we weren’t previously a part of, and we’re also helping to resource the heavy lifting they’re doing on behalf of the entire ag sector.”
This isn’t just about bureaucratic maneuvering. It’s about protecting the starting point of the food system.
“Seed is the beginning of the value chain,” she says. “A farmer’s decision on what seed to buy is based on what markets they can access. Trade restrictions ripple out across the whole system.”
Don’t Waste a Crisis
Despite the political and regulatory turmoil, Comin sees a silver lining.
“Agriculture is resilient. Maybe not my generation, but those before us have seen tough times,” she says. “We rally. We adapt. I’ve already seen alliances forming that would have been unthinkable a few years ago.”
She calls it “trauma bonding”—a tongue-in-cheek nod to how crises can force connection. “It’s building relationships that will make us stronger in the future,” she says.
If anything, the current uncertainty is lighting a fire under the industry. “We’ll keep pushing for an advisory body that brings real industry voices to the table,” says Comin. “We’ll fight for a framework that allows continuous improvement—not just one-off fixes.”
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