Canadian Seed Growers' Association
1. Identity
Who is the tech company?
The Canadian Seed Growers Association (CSGA) is a non-profit organization that serves as Canada’s national seed crop certification authority. For over 100 years, CSGA has partnered with the Government of Canada to deliver a transparent, science-based certification system that supports traceability, quality assurance, and market access.
What products, platform, or services within the tech company are certifying as Ag Data Transparent?
Products include CSGA web-based services and CSGA’s SeedCert platform, which facilitates seed crop certification.
Who are the primary users of the product, platform, or services?
Primary users include applicants for seed crop certification, seed crop inspectors, and inspection services.
2. Categories of Ag Data Collected
What categories of data does the data platform collect?
Land Data.
Farm Management Data.
Agronomic Data.
CSGA collects:
Required Data - Information necessary for seed certification, including field location, crop details, grower identification, and certification status. All data submitted to CSGA is considered required data unless otherwise specified at the time of collection.
Voluntary Data - Additional information that users may provide for value-added services, operational insights, or research participation that is clearly marked as voluntary data.
Learn More:
For details, see CSGA Ag Data Use Policy under “Ag Data Collected”
3. Ownership
Do the tech company’s agreements with the user address ownership of user data?
Yes.
CSGA acknowledges that users own their ‘required’ and ‘voluntary’ agricultural data.
Learn More:
For more information, see CSGA Ag Data Use Policy under “Ownership of Ag Data”
4. Transparency in Aggregation
Does the tech company allow the user to opt out of inclusion in anonymized and aggregated datasets that are accessible by other users?
No, users cannot opt out of their required or voluntary being included in anonymized and aggregated datasets.
Learn More:
See CSGA Ag Data Use Policy under “Ownership of Ag Data and Your Ability to Delete Ag Data”
5. Vendor Access to Data
Does the tech company require outside contractors that have access to user data to follow the tech company’s data policies?
Yes. Any third-party service provider or contractor engaged by CSGA are required to follow CSGA’s Ag Data Policy, Privacy Policy, and Security Policies.
Learn More:
See CSGA Ag Data Use Policy under “Ag Data Sharing With Others”
6. Consent
Does the tech company obtain a user’s consent before sharing user data with third parties? (E.g. integrations, government and others)
Yes. CSGA does not share user data with third parties without the user’s consent, which is obtained through the acceptance of CSGA SeedCert Terms of Use and Ag Use Policy.
Learn More:
For details, see CSGA Ag Data Use Policy under “Ag Data Sharing With Others”
7. Consent
By signing up, does the user give the tech company the right to sell aggregated data to third parties without obtaining further consent?
Yes, but only anonymized and aggregated data. CSGA may use such data for research, industry reporting, and system improvements in compliance with applicable laws and privacy policies. CSGA will not sell non-anonymized or non-aggregated Ag Data to any third party.
Learn More:
For details, see CSGA Ag Data Use Policy under “Ag Data Sharing With Others”
8. Portability
Does the tech company maintain an original copy of user data that can be retrieved or deleted upon a user’s request?
Yes, but it depends on the type of Ag data. Required data is retained for regulatory compliance and cannot be deleted. Voluntary data can be deleted at anytime through the SeedCert platform.
Learn More:
See CSGA Ag Data Use Policy under “Your Ability to Delete Ag Data”
9. Data Security
Will the tech company notify the user if a breach of data security causes disclosure of the user’s data to an outside party?
Yes. In the event of a data breach, CSGA will notify affected users via email or as required by law.
Learn More:
See CSGA Ag Data Use Policy under “How CSGA Stores Your Ag Data”
10. Notice
Will the tech company notify the user when data agreements are changed and summarize how the agreements were changed?
Yes. CSGA will provide notifications of any changes by email or when the user logs into the SeedCert platform.
Learn More:
See CSGA Ag Use Data Policy under “Modifications to this Policy”
11. Changes in Company Ownership
Do the tech company’s data agreements address what happens to user data if the tech company is sold to another company?
CSGA, as a non-profit association with delegated regulatory authority, cannot be sold. If CSGA undergoes structural or governance changes, existing data protections continue unless users are notified and new terms are accepted.
Learn More: