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Untitled document
Organic Seed Growers Conference 2008
by Micaela Colley, Organic Seed Alliance and Carol Miles, WSU Vegetable Extension Specialist
The Fifth Biennial Organic Seed Growers Conference was held in Salem, Oregon, February 14-15, 2008. Conference organizers were Micaela Colley, Matthew Dillon, Sarah Collyer (all of Organic Seed Alliance), Alex Stone (OSU), Carol Miles (WSU), Joel Reiten (Seeds of Change) and Zea Sonnabend (Ecological Farming Association).
The conference was attended by approximately 200 growers, seed company representatives, university faculty and Extension agents, and non-profit organizations. Participating growers included those who had decades of experience growing organic seed as well as those who are just now considering it.
The 2008 conference program reflected the current state of affairs in the world of organic seed. Today organic and conventional seed growers are working together to protect their vegetable seed crops from contamination by genetically modified crops.
As the organic seed market continues to develop, NOP regulations still include exemptions for unavailability of organic seed. However, the exemptions are becoming more narrow and growers must demonstrate substantial effort to obtain organic seed before they may use non-organic untreated seed.
As the demand for organic seed is increasing, breeding for organic and low-input systems is also gaining momentum and several speakers presented recent developments in the US and Europe. University-based plant breeders shared their challenges and current and future directions of public breeding programs focused on organics.
While retaining a core focus on organic specialty seed crops, the scope of this year’s agenda included sessions on organic grains, cover crops, and potato seed production. This year’s farmer’s talks included two inspirational, but distinct farms, Nash’s Produce, a 200 acre highly diversified seed and produce operation, and Brian Anderson Farm, a 400 acre farm that has successfully produced 100 acres of organic hybrid carrot seed. The committee has listened to grower’s requests for practical, usable seed production advice and included several sessions on managing seedborne disease, soil nutrition, and opportunities to “ask the experts” seed production questions. In addition to sharing technical information, the conference is viewed as an opportunity to cultivate an enjoyable experience filled with good humor and good organic food.
The conference planning committee worked hard to keep the Organic Seed Growers Conference affordable and inclusive. This was accomplished through the generous contributions of food from farmers and organic food businesses, and financial support from numerous seed companies, the organic foods industry, non-profits, WSARE, and WSU CSANR. Through support from WSU CSANR and WSARE, the Proceedings of the 5th Biennial Organic Seed Growers Conference is available on-line through Organic Seed Alliance.
OSA Participatory Kale Breeding at Nash’s Organic Produce, photo by Micaela Colley
Harvesting organic barley seed
WSU Organic Farm CSA shares, photo by Brad Jaeckel
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