Resources
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
Web sites
Seed Savers Exchange
Hawai‘i Foundation Seeds, CTAHR
Cooperative Extension Service, UH Mānoa
Organic Seed Alliance (OSA)
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
Seeds of Diversity's On-line
Heritage Plants Database
Family Farmers Seed Cooperative
Guides
Saving Your Own Vegetable Seeds - A Guide for Farmers
Written by: Sutevee Sukprakarn, Sunanta Juntakool and Rukui Huang, Kasetsart University
A Seed Saving Guide for Gardeners and Farmers, Organic Seed Alliance (OSA)
On-Farm Variety Trials - A Guide For Organic Vegetable, Herb, and Flower Producers, Organic Seed Alliance (OSA)
The Organic Center Critical Issue Report: "The Magnitude and Impacts of the Biotech and Organic Seed Price
Premium," by Charles Benbrook, December 2009
Organic Seed Resource Guide
"Reinvigorating Plant & Animal Breeding for a Sustainable Future," a Position Paper of the Midwest Sustainable Agriculture Working Group & the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Out of Hand: Farmers Face the Consequences of a Consolidated Seed Industry, a report by the Farmer to Farmer to Campaign on Genetic Engineering, December 2009
Meeting Notes from Seed Groups around the State
East Side 2010 Seed Exchange Panel Discussion: "What works in Puna"
Reports
Organic Vegetable Breeding & Variety Testing
Overview of Projects by Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station
Organic Seed Alliance Annual Report 2011
To read the report online, click here.
To download the report, click here.
Organic Seed Alliance Annual Report 2010
Public research on indigenous cereal seed varieties could be a key to increasing food supplies in Africa
May 2011
Seed Videos
Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library - Richmond, California Seed Saving Videos
How to Save Peas and Beans
How to Save Lettuce Seeds and other Members of the Sunflower Family
The complete Seed Symposium Web site can be found at www.kohalacenter.org/seedsymposium/about.html. Information on this site includes a list of our Symposium Partners, the Seed Symposium Program, and Bios of all the speakers.