The seed sector spends a lot of time talking about the future \u2014 new breeding technologies, regulatory modernization, market access and innovation. But at this year\u2019s Seeds Canada conference, the spotlight shifted to the people who helped build the foundation that makes those conversations possible.<\/p>\n
Seeds Canada presented its 2026 Award of Excellence to two individuals whose combined careers span nearly a century: retired seed industry executive\u00a0Georges Chauss\u00e9\u00a0and\u00a0Senator Rob Black.<\/p>\n
The award, first given out in 2025, recognizes outstanding contributions to the Canadian or international seed sector, with nominees evaluated on leadership, innovation and lasting impact.<\/p>\n
While their careers took very different paths, one through the private seed business and industry governance, the other through public service and politics, both recipients shared a common theme: building institutions that outlast individuals.<\/p>\n
The Quiet Architect Behind Seeds Canada<\/p>\n
For many in the room, Georges Chauss\u00e9\u2019s greatest accomplishment wasn\u2019t tied to a single company. It was helping create the organization presenting the award.<\/p>\n
Introducing the recognition, his friend Blake Ashton described Chauss\u00e9 as \u201ca builder, a collaborator, and an outstanding servant to our industry,\u201d noting that his nearly 40-year career was defined by steady leadership rather than headlines.<\/p>\n
Chauss\u00e9 began his career as a crop input sales advisor in Quebec before becoming director of seed services with Sollio Agriculture. Along the way, he helped build the Elite Seeds brand across Quebec and Atlantic Canada before playing a central role in its joint venture with Maizex Seeds.<\/p>\n
But his influence extended well beyond commercial success.<\/p>\n
As president of the Canadian Seed Trade Association, Chauss\u00e9 helped guide the industry through the complex Seed Synergy Collaboration Project \u2014 the multi-year effort that ultimately brought four national organizations together to form Seeds Canada.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen that process got difficult \u2014 and it did \u2014 Georges remained steady, optimistic and always focused on the bigger picture,\u201d Ashton said. \u201cThe industry\u2019s common interests outweighed any differences.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chauss\u00e9 later became one of the founding members of the Seeds Canada board. Ashton suggested the moment carried particular significance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout his efforts, Seeds Canada itself might not exist.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unable to attend the ceremony after retiring earlier this year, Chauss\u00e9 sent a message that Ashton shared with delegates.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m deeply moved by this wonderful tribute and sincerely grateful that Seeds Canada is honouring my career and recognizing my contribution in this meaningful way,\u201d he wrote. \u201cLooking back at my career, I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunities that I\u2019ve had and the amazing people that I\u2019ve worked with. Thank you for this generous recognition. This means the world to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bringing the Seed Sector to Parliament<\/p>\n
If Chauss\u00e9 helped build the industry\u2019s home, Senator Rob Black has spent years making sure its voice is heard in Ottawa.<\/p>\n
Presenting the award, Seeds Canada Past-President Ellen Sparry described Black as someone who doesn\u2019t simply work in agriculture.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are people who work in agriculture, and then there are people who live it,\u201d Sparry said. \u201cThe Honourable Rob Black is the latter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before his appointment to the Senate in 2018, Black held leadership roles with Ontario\u2019s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 4-H Ontario and Canada, the Rural Ontario Institute and several leadership development organizations.<\/p>\n
In the Senate, he has become one of the seed sector\u2019s most consistent advocates, using his position on the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry to champion science-based regulation, modern plant breeding technologies and policies that improve Canadian producers\u2019 access to new genetics.<\/p>\n
Sparry said Black has also played an important role connecting seed innovation with broader conversations around soil health, environmental stewardship and rural development.<\/p>\n
Perhaps most importantly, she said, Black has become an effective bridge between farmers, industry leaders and government.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe can walk into a room of farmers, a boardroom or a Senate committee and speak credibly to all of them,\u201d Sparry said. \u201cHe has built and strengthened relationships between government, industry and farm communities in ways that genuinely move the needle.\u201d<\/p>\n
Accepting the award, Black said the recognition belonged as much to the people working throughout the seed value chain as it did to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Canadian seed sector is filled with passionate people who care deeply about innovation, stewardship and helping agriculture thrive,\u201d he said. \u201cIt has been my privilege to be part of this community and to contribute in a small way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Black also acknowledged fellow agriculture senators Mary Robinson and Todd Lewis while emphasizing that effective advocacy depends on staying connected to the sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always tell folks I can\u2019t stand up in the chamber if I don\u2019t know the issues,\u201d he said. \u201cDon\u2019t hesitate to let me know your concerns, your insights and your perspectives.\u201d<\/p>\n
He closed with a promise familiar to many in the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cI look forward to continuing to advocate on your behalf in the Senate chamber.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The seed sector spends a lot of time talking about the future \u2014 new breeding technologies, regulatory modernization,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":120418,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[20272,17,11573,3798,3780,11574],"class_list":["post-120417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-canada","tag-associations","tag-canada","tag-featured-canada","tag-industry","tag-people","tag-seed-world-canada"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=120417"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120417\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/120418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=120417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=120417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=120417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}