Organic Seed Alliance

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** ORGANIC SEED PRODUCTION AND ORGANIC PLANT BREEDING ARE CRUCIAL TO THE INTEGRITY AND LONG-TERM SUCCESS OFORGANIC AGRICULTURE. ORGANIC SEED PRODUCERS AND SEED COMPANIES HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR: THE LACK OF ROBUST,PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SEED YIELD DATA AND PRODUCTION PROTOCOLS IS A BARRIER TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ORGANIC SEEDINDUSTRY - AND A BARRIER TO THE WIDER AVAILABILITY OF ADAPTED, AFFORDABLE, HIGH-QUALITY ORGANIC SEED FOR ALL ORGANICPRODUCERS WHO USE SEED.THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INCREASE THE RESILIENCE AND SUCCESS OF ORGANIC SEED PRODUCTION SYSTEMS.BY CREATING A ROBUST, NATIONAL COLLABORATION OF ORGANIC SEED RESEARCHERS AND PRACTITIONERS FOCUSED ON ADVANCINGTHE FIELD OF ORGANIC SEED PRODUCTION RESEARCH, THIS PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP PRACTICAL TOOLS AND RESOURCES THAT THEORGANIC SEED INDUSTRY NEEDS TO DEVELOP, TEST, PRODUCE, DISTRIBUTE AND MAINTAIN SEED OF REGIONALLY AND ORGANICALLYADAPTED CULTIVARS.TO ACHIEVE THIS LONG-TERM GOAL, WE ARE PURSUING THREE OBJECTIVES WITHIN THIS PROPOSAL:1) BETTER ELUCIDATE THE EFFECTS OF GENETICS, CLIMATE, AND MANAGEMENT ON ORGANIC VEGETABLE SEED YIELDS THROUGHMULTI-LOCATION SEED YIELD TRIALS, SEED PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT TRIALS, PARTICIPATORY SEED RESEARCH, AND THEDEVELOPMENT OF A ROBUST VEGETABLE SEED YIELD DATABASE.2) DEVELOP ECONOMIC DECISION-MAKING TOOLS FOR ORGANIC SEED PRODUCERS.3) EXPAND SEED PRODUCTION INFORMATION EXCHANGE FOR AND AMONG ORGANIC SEED STAKEHOLDERS.

ORGANIC SEED PRODUCTION PRESENTS A LUCRATIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR BEGINNING FARMERS. CURRENTLY, THE SUPPLY OF HIGH-QUALITY COMMERCIAL ORGANIC SEED LAGS BEHIND DEMAND, AND SEED COMPANIES CITE THE LACK OF SKILLED SEED PRODUCERS AS A PRIMARY FACTOR. BEGINNING FARMERS ARE INCREASINGLY INTERESTED IN PRODUCING SEED AS A PRIMARY ENTERPRISE, ELEMENT OF INCOME DIVERSIFICATION, OR TO ENSURE SPECIFIC VARIETIES REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR ON-FARM USE. HIGH-QUALITY SEED PRODUCTION REQUIRES SPECIALIZED SKILLS NOT COMMONLY AVAILABLE IN BEGINNING FARMER TRAINING PROGRAMS. THE SEED PRODUCTION INTERNSHIP PROGRAM DEVELOPED IN BFRDP #12671 BEGAN TO MEET THIS NEED, BUT PARTICIPANTS IN THAT PROJECT HAVE REQUESTED MORE INTENSIVE SEED PRODUCTION INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT, ENHANCED NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, AND INCREASED INTERNSHIP SUPPORT TO FULLY PREPARE THEM TO ENTER THE SEED MARKET. THIS PROJECT RESPONDS TO THESE REQUESTS BY 1) CREATING AN ONLINE FACILITATED SEED-PRODUCTION COURSE OPEN TO PROGRAM INTERNS AND OTHER BEGINNING FARMERS; 2) INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEER- TO- PEER AND IN PERSON LEARNING FOR PARTICIPANTS (REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY); 3) DELIVERING SEED PRODUCTION INTENSIVES AND NETWORKING EVENTS IN TARGET REGIONS TO FACILITATE NATIONAL PROGRAM EXPANSION; AND 4) PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR INTERNS UPON PROGRAM COMPLETION. THIS PROGRAM IS EXPECTED TO REACH 650 BEGINNING FARMERS IN THE THREE-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD. OSA AND MESA WILL LEVERAGE COMBINED DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN FARMER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, ORGANIC SEED PRODUCTION AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT TO DESIGN, IMPLEMENT AND EVALUATE THIS PROJECT.

CARROT IMPROVEMENT FOR ORGANIC AGRICULTURE WITH ADDED GROWER AND CONSUMER VALUE

CIOA 2: CARROT IMPROVEMENT FOR ORGANIC AGRICULTURE WITH ADDED GROWER AND CONSUMER VALUE - DEVELOP CARROT BREEDING STOCKS FOR PRODUCTION IN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS WITH IMPROVED NUTRITIONAL VALUE, TRIAL CARROTS IN DIVERSE GROWING LOCATIONS, AND RELEASE GERMPLASM TO THE SEED INDUSTRY. GROW CARROT TRIALS IN MULTIPLE SITES.

CLASSROOM AND FIELD-BASED TRAINING TO ASSIST BEGINNING FARMERS ENTRY INTO ORGANIC SEED PRODUCTION

2017RMEPP

RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS

RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS

RME OUTREACH

RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS

APPLYING ADVANCED PHENOTYPIC AND GENOMIC TOOLS TO IMPROVE FLAVOR, NUTRITION, AND PRODUCTION TRAITS IN CARROT (OSA)

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE ORGANIC SEED GROWERS CONFERENCE IS A BIENNIAL GATHERING BY AND FOR AGROECOLOGICAL SEED COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S. AND ACROSS THE WORLD. THE EVENT CREATES SPACES WHERE EXPERIENCED AND EMERGING SEED STEWARDS CAN CONVENE TIMELY CONVERSATIONS, EDUCATIONAL TRAINING, AND STRATEGY SESSIONS. THE GATHERING SERVES AS A CONDUIT FOR MAKING NEW CONNECTIONS AND CATCHING UP WITH OLD FRIENDS, NETWORKING ACROSS ORGANIC SEED COMMUNITIES, SHARING KNOWLEDGE WITH OTHER PARTICIPANTS, AND CELEBRATING THE GROWING MOVEMENT. ORGANIZERS CURATE A CONFERENCE AGENDA THAT REFLECTS THE MULTIFACETED NEEDS OF SEED GROWERS AND ADVOCATES, NO MATTER THE EASE OR DISCOMFORT OF THE TOPICS. THE GOAL OF THE ORGANIC SEED GROWERS CONFERENCE IS TO INSPIRE INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND BUSINESSES TO TAKE ACTIONS THAT SUPPORT AND IMPROVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL AND PRACTICAL SYSTEMS THAT MAKE UP THE ORGANIC SEED MOVEMENT AND TRADE.

RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS

RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS

2017RMEPP

THE SEED WE NEED ???WORKING GROUP, SYMPOSIUM, AND ACTION PLAN FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF ORGANIC SEED SYSTEMS

SEED IS THE FUNDAMENTAL INPUT OF OUR FOOD CHAIN, YET WE HEAR LITTLE ABOUT HOW IT IS PRODUCED OR THE BENEFITS OF GROWING IT FOR ORGANIC FARMING SYSTEMS. IN 2020, AS COVID-19 CASES SKYROCKETED SO TOO DID DEMAND FOR ORGANIC SEED, EXACERBATING LONGSTANDING SUPPLY LIMITATIONS. CONVENING THE ORGANIC SEED COMMUNITYTO SHARE INNOVATIONS, CRITICAL NEEDS AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES WILL BOLSTERORGANIC SEED PRODUCTION AND PUBLIC CULTIVAR DEVELOPMENT, ENHANCING THE SUPPLY ANDRESILIENCE OF ORGANIC FOOD SYSTEMS.BY ADAPTING A SUCCESSFUL NATIONAL ORGANIC SEED CONFERENCEFROM A GATHERING IN CORVALLIS, OR TO A VIRTUAL EVENT VIA A NEW CURRICULUM DELIVERYAND COMMUNITY-BUILDING NETWORK,ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND SUPPORT WILL EXPANDFOR PARTICIPATINGSEED GROWERS, FARMERS, PLANT BREEDERS, UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS, CERTIFIERS, FOOD COMPANIES,SEED COMPANIES AND ADVOCATES.THROUGH THIS PROJECT, THE DECENTRALIZED ORGANIC SEED COMMUNITY THAT GATHERS NATIONALLY ONLY ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS WILL CONNECT IN REAL-TIME FROM THEIR HOME REGIONS AND ENGAGE WITH EACH OTHER VIA THE NETWORK ON AN ONGOING BASIS, PROVIDING UNPRECEDENTED POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND AGRONOMIC ADVANCES.

PLANNING FOR ORGANIC PLANT BREEDING AND SEED PRODUCTION IN THE SOUTHEAST

THE STUDENT ORGANIC SEED SYMPOSIUM (SOSS) IS AN ANNUAL RESEARCH AND NETWORKING EVENT HELD BY AND FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS WORKING IN ORGANIC PLANT BREEDING AND SEED SYSTEMS. APPROACHING ITS TENTH YEAR PROVIDING NETWORKING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF ORGANIC SEED ACADEMICS AND PROFESSIONALS, THIS PROJECTSEEKS TO EXTEND THE REACH OF SOSS BEYOND THE INTIMATE GATHERING THAT TAKES PLACE EACH AUGUST. IN 2021, SOSS WILL BE HELD OVER THREE DAYS IN MADISON, WI AND WILL INCLUDE PRESENTATIONS BY THOUGHT LEADERS IN ORGANIC BREEDING AND SEED SYSTEMS, DISCUSSIONS, CAREER PANELS, AND AN OUTREACH EVENT OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND ORGANIC COMMUNITY. STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THEIR RESEARCH, INCLUDING SHARING BREEDING MATERIAL THROUGH DEMONSTRATION PLOTS. THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE THE IMPACT OF SOSS THROUGH OUTREACH INCLUDING PUBLICLY AVAILABLE WEBINARS, THROUGH TRAVEL GRANTS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS, AND THROUGH NETWORKING EVENTS AIMED AT RECRUITING A MORE DIVERSE POOL OF SOSS PARTICIPANTS AND INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF ORGANIC SEED RESEARCH ACROSS THE WIDER SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY. IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT WILL BE DOCUMENTED THROUGH EVENT ATTENDANCE, REPORTS FROM TRAVEL GRANT RECIPIENTS, A FEEDBACK SESSSION AT THE SYMPOSIUM, AND A POST-SYMPOSIUM SURVEY.

ORGANIC SEED PRODUCTION AND ORGANIC PLANT BREEDING ARE CRUCIAL TO THE INTEGRITY AND LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE. ORGANIC GROWERS ARE REQUIRED TO USE ORGANIC SEED IF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE, HOWEVER THE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN SLOW TO CATCH UP WITH DEMAND IN PART DUE TO A LACK OF INFORMATION AND TRAINING ON OPTIMUM ORGANIC SEED PRODUCTION PRACTICES.THIS PLANNING PROPOSAL WILL USE THE FOLLOWING METHODS TO ASSESS THE STATE OF RESEARCH NEEDS AROUND ORGANIC SEED PRODUCTION, AIMING TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FULL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROPOSAL TO THE ORGANIC RESEARCH AND EDUCATION INITIATIVE (OREI) IN 2021:1. AN ORGANIC SEED PRODUCER AND INDUSTRY SURVEY.2. A REVIEW AND COMPILATION OF EXISTING ORGANIC SEED PRODUCTION RESEARCH.3. A REVIEW OF CAPACITY AND INTEREST AMONG RESEARCHERS WORKING IN ORGANIC SEED RESEARCH OR ADJACENT FIELDS.THE LONG-TERM GOALS OF THIS PROPOSAL ARE TO DEVELOP A PROJECT THAT WILL SUPPORT THE SUCCESS OF ORGANIC SEED PRODUCERS; INCREASE THE QUALITY, QUALITY, AND DIVERSITY OF ORGANIC SEED; AND ULTIMATELY ENSURE THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE. THIS PROJECT DIRECTLY ADDRESSES OREI PRIORITY FOUR. OREI SUPPORT FOR ORGANIC PLANT BREEDING HAS HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN THE GROWTH OF UNIVERSITY BREEDING PROGRAMS RELEASING NEW ORGANIC VARIETY RELEASES. THIS PROJECT WILL BENEFIT FARMERS AND BUILD CAPACITY TO PRODUCE COMMERCIAL QUANTITIES OF ORGANICALLY BRED VARIETIES, AND WILL SUPPORT A PIPELINE TO AMPLIFY THE WORK OF OREI PLANT BREEDING PROJECTS.

IDENTIFYING PRIORITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE ORGANIC PLANT BREEDING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

PLANNING FOR ORGANIC PLANT BREEDING AND SEED PRODUCTION IN THE SOUTHEAST