Become a Member

Membership

Join Seeds Canada today!

Seeds Canada is a member-driven organization. All members have an equal voice at the table, regardless of size, and work together on behalf of Canada’s seed sector. Member engagement and participation is vital. All members can serve on committees and the Board of Directors.

READY TO BECOME A MEMBER?

Are you ready to become a member of Seeds Canada? We’re excited to have you join us!

Please send an email to Membership@seeds-canada.ca and we will send you our application form. Please include your name and the name of your company. You will receive an email with a link to our member portal.

MEMBERSHIP Categories

Seeds Canada membership is divided into three categories. Click through the drop-down menu below for information on each of our membership categories.

BUSINESS CLASS

This category applies to members who derive revenue from the seed industry value chain (seed developers, seed distributors, seed technology, seed growers, processors, seed retailers, seed testing laboratories, authorized seed crop inspection services, and seed service providers - i.e., consultants, brokers, seed packaging and containers, etc.).

AFFILIATE CLASS

This category is for public and not-for-profit institutions (national, provincial, and international associations, and universities).

PROFESSIONAL CLASS

This class is for individual membership only and is tied to a specific individual working in and/or providing services to the seed industry (seed analysts, licensed seed crop inspectors, licensed graders and/or operators, agronomists, or individual seed growers who do not meet the criteria for Business Class membership).

WHAT DO I GET FOR MY MEMBERSHIP?

Becoming a member gives you access to member services. Benefits of membership include:

Have a seat at the table, at Canada’s only organization with broad representation across the full seed value-chain
Get access to best in class member services
Benefit from a strengthened, unified voice advocating on your behalf
Network with colleagues in the sector and stay up to date with the latest regulatory development
Engage and shape policies that have direct impacts on your business
Receive the latest industry news and information and hear about upcoming events and more through our industry newsletter and exclusive member alerts
Access to member meetings and networking events
International engagement
Trade facilitation
Intellectual property protection – monitoring and enforcement
Professional development and continuing education programs
Accredited seed analyst seal program
Member engagement – many opportunities to participate in committees, shape policies, and improve public communication

2023 - 2024 Fees (Fiscal Year Feb. 1, 2023 - Jan. 31, 2024)

Business Class

Membership fees in this class take a cumulative bracket approach based on sales, usage, and benefits received so that all members within a category are paying a comparable amount in proportion to their sales.
The fee accounts for varying business sizes, revenue streams, and retained revenue. The minimum fee payable is $1,200.
‘Revenue’ is defined as revenue derived from either the sales, production, and/or services provided on all seed for sowing and is based on your primary source of business revenue.
Businesses will be asked to self-declare annually which category/group they fall into as well as their 3-year average revenue.
All declarations will be held under the strictest confidence by Seeds Canada.
In the case of businesses that may fall into more than one category, they are to categorize themselves according to their primary business activity/revenue stream.

Revenue and Category Information

Revenue Definition

“Revenue” as defined below shall include the total amount of “revenue” of all business entities under common ownership (whether such entities are incorporated or not and whether they are independently managed or not), unless a business entity under common ownership in its own right and pays fees based on the value of its own “revenue”, provided, however, that the balance of the entity must also maintain its own membership, if it has any additional “revenue”.

Developer/Distributor/Retailer

Membership fees are based on the average of the previous three years’ rolling revenue derived from the sales of all seed for sowing, including the value of:
a)      Seed and seed technology delivered in or on all seed sold in Canada or exported from Canada.
b)      Seed and seed technology transferred from Canada to affiliate companies (whether wholly- or partially owned or under common ownership) located in other countries.
c)      Royalties or other revenue received resulting from licensing or sale to others of seed, seed technology and seed treatments delivered in or on the seed.
d)      Revenue received from contracting for, producing and/or conditioning seed.

Grower, Seed Testing Laboratory, Service Provider
Membership fees are based on the average of the previous three years’ rolling revenue derived from the following:

In the case of a Seed Grower:
a)      All seed and seed technology delivered in or on the seed sold in Canada or exported from Canada.
b)      All seed and technology transferred from Canada to affiliate companies (whether wholly- or partially owned or under common ownership) located in other countries.
c)      Revenue received from contracting for, producing and/or conditioning seed for others.

In the case of a Seed Testing Laboratory or other Service Provider:
a) Services provided on all seed for sowing.
b) All seed related services provided to the seed industry.

Definitions of Seed Testing Laboratory, Service Provider and Seed Grower:

Seed Testing Laboratory
A CFIA accredited laboratory that conducts seed analysis testing or a non-accredited seed testing laboratory that conducts seed analysis testing on non-pedigreed crops.

Service Provider
A company that provides services to the seed industry. These services can include Authorized Seed Crop Inspection Services, consulting, , seed packaging and containers suppliers, equipment, brokerage services, and any other type of service not covered in any other group.

Seed Grower
A pedigree seed grower’s operating entity. One business entity equals one membership.

Affiliate Class

The fee for all Affiliate Class members is $1615/year.

Professional Class

The fee for all Professional Class members is $470.

QUESTIONS?

Please contact membership@seeds-canada.ca