“Seeds are all about the next generation, which is exactly what organic is about. The work of OSA is crucial to the future of food and life.”

Atina Diffley
OSA board member and owner, Organic Farming Works

“No other organization’s efforts match the work of Organic Seed Alliance. They understand that the foundation of organic agriculture starts with the seed. If organic farmers want to grow good food then we need good seed to work within our systems. Their research, advocacy, education and support have had consistent, positive impacts on my organic seed farm.”

Beth Rasgorshek
OSA supporter and owner, Canyon Bounty Farm

“I believe in OSA and their mission — they are accomplishing great things. Their work complements our efforts at Seed Savers Exchange, and we’re delighted to be partnering with OSA on a new seed saving book.”

Amy Goldman
OSA supporter and board chair, Seed Savers Exchange

Please donate today. Here’s how.

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.

Looking at the agricultural news of the day, I read about how some genetically engineered corn is failing, as corn rootworms evolve to overcome the insecticide contained in the corn. And weeds resistant to Roundup are springing up all over. Does this sound familiar to you? It should. Much of our agricultural system is focused on new “silver bullets,” as we race against evolution to develop new herbicides, insecticides, and single gene disease resistances faster than nature can overcome them.

Attendees of OSA’s Organic Seed Growers Conference on January 19-21, 2012, will get to hear about a different paradigm. Keynote speaker Dr. Bill Tracy will be talking about how, for the long-term health of the planet, agriculture needs to move beyond these silver bullet approaches and develop fully integrated systems. Bill will talk about how organic agriculture can create these integrated systems, but to complete the system, organic farmers need access to high quality organic seed.

Bill Tracy is well qualified to speak about this topic, having spent time working in both conventional and organic agriculture. He has been a professor of agronomy and a sweet corn breeder at the University of Wisconsin – Madison for over 25 years. Currently, he is also serving as the Interim Dean and Director for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. In that time, he has developed new sweet corn varieties, conducted fundamental research into sweet corn genetics, mentored dozens of graduate students in plant breeding (including me!), and has been active in the Seeds and Breeds for 21st Century Agriculture initiative.

Bill has also been a friend to organic agriculture. He has worked with OSA on our plant breeding advisory committee and formally as a board member. He has also worked with organic farmers to breed open-pollinated sweet corn that is adapted to organic systems, with cold tolerance, early vigor, disease and pest resistance, and high quality for eating. For those of you who are looking to help agriculture move beyond the silver bullet into a sustainable future, Bill’s talk will be one of many that will inspire you. From farmer-participatory breeding to local seed systems to seed cleaning techniques, you will come away from Port Townsend, Washington, full of ideas on how to strengthen organic seed systems and support our best chance for a viable and durable agriculture.

Register for the conference today!

Advertise in the Sixth Organic Seed Growers Conference Program!

This is a terrific opportunity to showcase your business or organization to hundreds of conference participants. The program is the official Organic Seed Growers Conference guide, and includes the full agenda, session descriptions, speaker bios, and other conference information for participants to refer to throughout the conference.

Our conference is recognized as the only event of its kind in North America, bringing together farmers, seed production and distribution companies, researchers, plant breeders, pathologists, university extension agents, and other organic seed community members. Download the instructions and rates.

Strengthening Community Seed Systems

January 19 – 21, 2012
Fort Worden State Park
Port Townsend, Washington

How we steward our seed determines the quality and integrity of our food. Developing organic seed systems is therefore paramount to the ongoing growth and success of organic agriculture. Gather with others in the organic community for the nation’s largest conference focused solely on organic seed to learn from 50 experts in the fields of organic plant breeding, organic seed production, marketing, distribution, policy, and more. With more than two dozen working sessions, the conference suits a range of experience levels and interests. Find more information and register here.
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OSA congratulates board member Ira Wallace of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (SESE), who received an award last weekend at the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association’s annual conference. SESE was honored as Institution of the Year:

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange emphasizes varieties that perform well in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast and are specifically adapted to organic conditions. Part of their mission is to promote seed saving and traditional plant breeding. Ira Wallace shared: “We believe that preserving unusual heirloom varieties helps to preserve and promote that other endangered breed – the American small farm.” They are honored as institution of the year in recognition of their important work to provide a variety of seed saving equipment, as well as seed saving resources in their books and DVDs, to the agricultural community.