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As you planted seed this spring, did you think about how each variety was bred and produced? Or about saving some of your own seed this year? Maybe you wish your favorite variety had been available in a certified organic form.

If so, you are not alone.

According to Organic Seed Alliance’s data, less than 20% of organic farmers have access to enough organic seed to meet their agronomic and market needs. Most U.S. organic production relies on seed bred for chemical-intensive agriculture. These high-input systems, and the seed bred for them, lack agricultural resilience. Continue reading and support us today.

Southeast Organic Seed Stakeholder Survey

OSA has released findings from a 2012 organic seed survey conducted in the Southeast region of the US. Findings point to enormous interest among farmers and other agricultural professionals in strengthening seed systems in the Southeast that address the needs of the organic community. Read the press release and download the report (opens PDF).

6th Organic Seed Growers Conference

Organic Seed Alliance and eOrganic bring you selected recordings from the 2012 Organic Seed Growers Conference held in Port Townsend, WA, on January 19 – 21, 2012. The conference brought together 500 members of the organic seed community for two days of presentations, panel discussions, and networking events.

Download selected recordings

Download conference proceedings

View conference pictures

View the post-conference press release

NOVIC :: Northern Organic Vegetable Improvement Collaborative

As part of NOVIC, OSA has partnered with seven local farms to trial six vegetable crops: carrots, corn, broccoli, snap peas, winter squash, and beets. We’re teaching farmers how to breed on-farm for organic conditions, and creating an online forum for farmers and researchers to pool resources about organic variety needs. Learn more here

Publications for Free Download

• State of Organic Seed The purpose of this project is to increase the success and minimize risks for the organic farming and food sector by advancing the viability and integrity of organic seed systems. View now

• A Seed Saving Guide for Gardeners and FarmersThis publication from Organic Seed Alliance condenses years of farming, gardening, plant breeding and seed saving wisdom, as well as conversations with many prominent seed experts. The guide covers the basics of seed growing from choosing appropriate varieties for seed saving to harvesting, processing, and storing seed. View now

• Principles and Practices of Organic Beet, Carrot and Lettuce Seed Production in the Pacific Northwest These publications are now available thanks to support from the Organic Farming Research Foundation, and complement our existing publlications on radish, bean and spinach seed production. View now