Fast Facts
Canada is a leader in agriculture and agri-food and continues to be a leading producer of high-quality seed that is in strong demand in the Canadian and international marketplace. The numbers below indicate just how important the seed industry is to Canada.
New: Value of Seed Sales - The value of seed sales as calculated by Statistics Canada, continues to increase. Statistics Canada calculates the value of seed sales using farm operating expenses for commercial seed. Find a table that presents the numbers by province and nationally here.
Download CSTA’s “Quick Facts” as a .pdf by clicking here
QUICK FACTS
Canadian Seed Industry Statistics 
Contributes Billions to the Canadian Economy
Over $1.6 billion annually in domestic seed sales
Over $300 million annually in export seed sales
Annual operating costs of over $1.7 billion
Annual capital investment of over $650 million
Annual cost of salaries and benefits over $1 billion
Annual Economic Contribution by Segment of the Seed Industry
Plant breeding and research………………………over $361 million
Seed production……………………………………….over $1.1 billion
Seed processing and production support……..over $1.5 billion
Seed sales and marketing………………………….over $975 million
Employs More than 14,000 Canadians
Plant breeding and research ……………………..3,048
Seed production ………………………………………2,575
Seed processing and production support …….6,234
Seed sales and marketing …………………………2,371
Invests in Research and Development
The private sector invested over $56 million in plant breeding and research in 2007
Plans are to invest over $106 million by 2012
- 75% of the investment will be in canola
- 12% in soybeans
- 9% in corn
- 2% in cereals
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Value of Producer Purchases of Seed By Calendar Year
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| 2001 | $1.42 billion |
| 2002 | $1.54 billion |
| 2003 | $1.53 billion |
| 2004 | $1.52 billion |
| 2005 | $1.59 billion |
| 2006 | $1.65 billion |
| Source: Statistics Canada | |
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Value of Seed Exports by Calendar Year
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| 2005 | $256.8 million |
| 2006 | $267.1 million |
| 2007 | $369.5 million |
| 2008 | $373.0 million |
| Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada | |
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Top Seed Exports from Canada |
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| Yellow Dent Seed Corn | $74.6 million |
| Navy/White Bean Seed | $29.8 million |
| Perennial Rye Grass Seed | $25.3 million |
| Creeping Red Fescue Seed | $24.9 million |
| Alfalfa Seed | $24.9 million |
| Bean Seeds (not elsewhere specified) | $23.1 million |
| Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada | |
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Value of Seed Imports by Calendar Year
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| 2005 | $238.2 million |
| 2006 | $211.8 million |
| 2007 | $256.4 million |
| 2008 | $323.9 million |
| Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada | |
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Top Seed Imports to Canada
Calendar Year 2008 |
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| Yellow Dent Seed Corn | $109.5 million |
| Low Erucic Acid Rape or Colza | $27.9 million |
| Corn Seed Other than Yellow Dent | $22.7 million |
| Vegetable Seed | $11.7 million |
| Tomato Seed | $10.7 million |
| Kentucky Blue Grass Seed | $10.4 million |
| Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada | |