Safeguarding Diversity for Organic Farmers

OSA’s research program strengthened organic seed systems in two major ways this year: by developing new varieties best suited for organic agriculture and researching cover crop seed production. OSA is breeding new organically adapted carrots, sweet corn, and purple sprouting broccoli, thanks to support from the USDA and organic industry partners. In fact, OSA partnered with the Agricultural Research Service, Purdue University, University of California, University of Wisconsin, and Washington State University on a new Organic Research and Education Initiative project to breed carrots for organic agriculture. We are also evaluating varieties of vetch, oats, buckwheat, clover, and field peas to determine the best varieties as cover crop seed as part of a project funded through the Organic Farming Research Foundation.