Accomplishments in 2009.
Micaela Colley, Director of Research and Education is working with researchers in the Northern Organic Variety Improvement Collaborative (NOVIC) to breed and trial varieties for production under organic conditions. She delivers seed-related technical support to farmers, is the lead in seeds and breeds content development for eOrganic and recently published the Organic Seed Resource guide.
Matthew Dillon, Director of Advocacy and Communication is working with organic farmers, food companies, seed companies and advocacy groups to create a “State of Organic Seed Report” that captures the successes, obstacles, opportunities, and risks of contamination from genetically engineered (GMO) crops in organic seed systems. This report, the first of its kind, will promote and protect organic food and seed integrity. Matthew is the OSA liason for the Roundup Ready Sugar Beet suit and editor of OSA's Seed Broadcast.
Dan Hobbs, Advisory Services - forming cooperatives and farmer-based enterprises in key seed production regions throughout the western United States that protect farmers rights to save seed, preserve heritage varieties, foster bio-regional independence, and diversity farm income.
Kristina Hubbard, Advocacy Program Specialist is working on areas of concentration in the seed industry, writing and speaking on risks of GE contamination in organics, and concentration in the seed industry. She is a regular contributor to Seed Broadcast.
Dr. John Navazio, Senior plant breeder is bringing research into the field, working with farmers to adapt their vegetable and grain crops for production under organic conditions, season extension and seed production for organic markets. Through traditional field breeding methods he is developing crops with horizontal resistane to disease, cold soil tolerance, the abillity to compete with weeds, and tolerance to heat and drought stress.
Jared Zyskowski, Intern trialing over 150 vegetable varieties to find the the ones that are best for regional seed production, and completing two seed production manuals that will join the other publications OSA provides free to farmers.
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