SGS’s Comprehensive Seed Testing Network Supports Canadian Growers with Advanced Solutions for Competitive Agriculture

SGS’s Comprehensive Seed Testing Network Supports Canadian Growers with Advanced Solutions for Competitive Agriculture

(IN BRIEF) SGS has strengthened its support for Canadian farmers by offering extensive seed testing services across the country, combining local expertise with global testing standards. With laboratories in key agricultural regions such as Grande Prairie and Sherwood Park, SGS helps growers meet both local and international market demands through accredited seed health and disease diagnostics, seed chemistry testing, and stress tolerance evaluations. The company also offers support for regulatory compliance and global market entry. As planting season begins, SGS’s seed tests, including warm germination and cool stress tests, help farmers manage the variability in germination rates, ensuring optimal plant densities and growth.

(PRESS RELEASE) GENEVA, 29-May-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — SGS has expanded its support for Canada’s agricultural community through its comprehensive seed testing network, combining local expertise with global standards. In an article published in Seed World Canada, Holly Gelech, Senior Business Development Manager for Crop Science at SGS, explained how the company helps local growers maintain their competitive edge by leveraging SGS’s wide-reaching testing capabilities.

SGS operates multiple facilities across Canada, with a notable presence in Grande Prairie, Alberta, a key region for fescue seed production. Here, SGS works alongside seed growers and turf grass companies, ensuring that products meet the necessary quality standards for both the domestic and international markets.

The Sherwood Park laboratory, one of SGS’s national hubs, offers extensive testing services for various crops. The lab conducts accredited analysis for germination, seed health, and purity, as well as more specialized assessments such as trait assays and seed size evaluations. Disease diagnostics are another area of focus, utilizing both visual pathogen identification and molecular techniques. Additionally, SGS tests seed chemistry, including chlorophyll and tannin content, to ensure high-quality standards.

Collaboration is key to SGS’s success in Canada, and Holly emphasized how knowledge is shared seamlessly between SGS’s Canadian labs and the Brookings, South Dakota, facility. This international cooperation ensures that clients receive consistent, top-tier service across borders, further enhancing SGS’s ability to meet diverse agricultural needs.

SGS’s support extends to specialized testing for stress tolerance in seeds, including tests for cold and aging stresses, helping farmers assess seed vigor under adverse environmental conditions. Furthermore, SGS aids clients in navigating complex regulatory requirements, particularly when expanding into international markets, ensuring that testing protocols and export documentation are aligned with global standards.

As the planting season progresses, SGS is helping growers optimize their planting strategies. With this season’s notable variability in germination rates, SGS offers critical tests such as warm germination, cool stress, and thousand kernel weight, which assist in predicting emergence and setting target plant densities. Early results show significant variation: wheat germination rates range from 100% to 25%, barley has dropped as low as 14%, and pulses like peas are performing poorly at 24%.

SGS’s seed testing services, backed by their extensive network of laboratories, enable growers to make informed, confident decisions throughout the entire seed development process, from early breeding stages to final distribution.

To discover more about SGS’s capabilities or prepare for the season, visit the Crop Science page.

About SGS

SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of 99,500 dedicated professionals. With over 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.

Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and trusted specialized brands, including Brightsight, Bluesign, Maine Pointe and Nutrasource.

SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN:SW).

Media Contact:

Holly Gelech
Senior Business Development Manager
Crop Science
Tel: +1 780 660 9657

SOURCE: SGS