Introduction: The importance and value of local seed systems
Organic Seed Alliance Publishes State of Organic Seed
Organic seed systems are improving but require increased attention and resources. Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) released an extensive report last weekend at the Organicology conference in Portland, Oregon, that serves as the first comprehensive analysis of the challenges and opportunities in building the organic seed sector.
The report, titled State of Organic Seed: Advancing the Viability and Integrity of Organic Seed Systems, is an ongoing project to monitor the status of organic seed systems in the United States. The USDA National Organic Program requires the use of organically produced seed when commercially available. However, the organic seed sector was almost nonexistent when the organic program began, and has not caught up to meet the demand for organic seed. This gap could expand given the continued growth of the organic industry.
State of Organic Seed provides evidence that organic seed systems are developing. Farmers report increased attempts to source organic seed and more pressure from certifiers to do so. Public research in organic plant breeding has increased slightly, with investments from both the public and private sector.
State of Organic Seed Report – Organic Seed Alliance 2011
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Organic Producer Questions
Additional Resources
Seeds of Freedom
A landmark film from The Gaia Foundation and the African Biodiversity Network
Hawai‘i Foundation Seeds, CTAHR
Seeds available for order from University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture Seed Lab
Cooperative Extension Service, UH Mānoa
The Cornell University Public Seed Initiative
OSA’s Research Program, links to research reports and studies on organic seed trials, varieties, and research
Seed Savers Foundation, a registered charity that fosters fruit and vegetable seed exchanges in twenty countries
Safe Seed Pledge
• Download a PDF list of companies that have taken the Safe Seed Pledge
Family Farmers Seed Cooperative
AOSCA Organic Seed Finder
The purpose of this Web site is to allow seed providers and their potential customers to find one another. The seed listings are dynamic and will change during the year to reflect new vendors and seed availability.
Center for Food Safety: Save Our Seeds
Seedmap.org
An online portal on seeds, biodiversity and food complete with news, resources, campaigns and an interactive online seed map. It is a valuable teaching and advocacy tool and reference point on seeds, biodiversity, and food. The heart of Seedmap.org is an interactive map that lets you visit hundreds of case studies around the world where agricultural biodiversity originated, is threatened, and where people are working to safeguard it.
OSGATA develops, protects and promotes the organic seed trade and its growers, and assures that the organic community has access to excellent quality organic seed, free of contaminants and adapted to the diverse needs of local organic agriculture. They also have an online download available Protecting Organic Seed Integrity: The Organic Farmer’s Handbook to GE Avoidance and Testing.