Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Organic seed production and organic plant breeding are crucial to the integrity and long-term success oforganic agriculture. Organic seed producers and seed companies have been very clear: the lack of robust,publicly available seed yield data and production protocols is a barrier to the success of the organic seedindustry - and a barrier to the wider availability of adapted, affordable, high-quality organic seed for all organicproducers who use seed.The long-term goal of this project is to increase the resilience and success of organic seed production systems.By creating a robust, national collaboration of organic seed researchers and practitioners focused on advancingthe field of organic seed production research, this project aims to develop practical tools and resources that theorganic seed industry needs to develop, test, produce, distribute and maintain seed of regionally and organicallyadapted cultivars.To achieve this long-term goal, we are pursuing three objectives within this proposal:1) Better elucidate the effects of genetics, climate, and management on organic vegetable seed yields throughmulti-location seed yield trials, seed production management trials, participatory seed research, and thedevelopment of a robust vegetable seed yield database.2) Develop economic decision-making tools for organic seed producers.3) Expand seed production information exchange for and among organic seed stakeholders.
Animal Health Component
70%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
70%
Developmental
10%
Goals / Objectives
The long-term goal of this project is to advance best practices for organic vegetable seed production through a national collaboration of researchers and seed producers. Outcomes will facilitate more regional organic farmers scaling up vegetable seed production, providing expanded availability of organically grown seed to support the profitability, integrity, and sustainability of organic vegetable systems.The long-term goal of increasing the resilience and success of organic seed systems will be achieved by pursuing three objectives within this project:1) Better understand the impacts of genetics, environment, and management on organic vegetable seed yields through multi-location trials and participatory research.2) Develop economic decision-making tools for organic seed producers.3) Expand seed production information exchange for and among organic seed stakeholders.
Project Methods
Our project adopts a comprehensive approach to tackle the primary challenges in organic seed production, focusing on yield, efficiency, productivity, and economic viability. We prioritize participatory research methodologies, integrating them with formalized trials. This includes historical yield data collection, video interviews with producers, participatory seed yield trials, and regional outreach programs such as field days and summits.Objective 1: Organic Seed Yield ResearchActivity 1.1: Multi-location Vegetable Seed Yield TrialsCoordinated by OSA and partners, trials will occur at several research farms across the US, including OSA, Oregon State, Colorado State, University of Vermont, Cornell, and Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. The trials will focus on a Core Crop Set of twelve model crops: tomatoes, lettuce, cucurbits, and brassicas, selected based on their prevalence, value, and the percentage of organic seed use among producers.These trials will utilize a replicated complete block design with four replicates at each site, conducted over three growing seasons to provide comprehensive yield data. Plant spacing and density will follow the specifications outlined in Table 2, with adjustments made based on local climate conditions, recorded via on-site weather stations.Activity 1.2: Seed Yield Management TrialsIn the first year, trials at four locations will explore different planting densities for Brassicaceae and Lactuca, using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) to compare three spacing levels. Additionally, irrigation management trials in Oregon and California will test three irrigation levels to determine optimal watering rates for seed production based on local evapotranspiration rates.Activity 1.3: Participatory Seed Yield TrialsStarting in Spring 2025, these trials will be facilitated through the SeedLinked platform, encouraging large-scale grower participation. Growers will document their methods and results via the platform, contributing to a robust dataset that will be analyzed and presented at industry conferences.Activity 1.4: Historical Seed Yield Data CollectionThis activity will combine a thorough literature review with direct data collection from producers and seed companies. A digital database will be created to standardize and synthesize the collected data, with a focus on identifying and documenting yield-affecting factors.Objective 2: Organic Seed Economics ResearchActivity 2.1: Seed Enterprise BudgetsHighland Economics will develop enterprise budgets for vegetable seed crops to provide a detailed financial analysis of seed production costs and revenues, helping to reduce economic uncertainties for producers.Activity 2.2: Seed Breakeven Price ToolThis tool will calculate the breakeven price for various seed crops based on data from the enterprise budgets, allowing producers to assess the profitability of different seed varieties.Objective 3: Seed Production Education, Outreach, and Information ExchangeActivity 3.1: Seed Cleaning GuideOSA will compile and publish a comprehensive guide on seed cleaning techniques, supported by surveys, interviews, and literature reviews.Activity 3.2: Seed Equipment GuideThis guide will detail the available technologies for seed cleaning and processing, providing valuable information to seed producers and companies.Activity 3.3: Seed Disease GuideThrough surveys, field trials, and laboratory studies, we will develop a guide on managing seedborne diseases, focusing on organic management practices.Activity 3.4 to 3.8: Outreach and Education ProgramsThese activities will include regional seed summits, on-farm field days, a series of webinars, and various presentations at national conferences. These events will facilitate knowledge exchange and showcase research findings from the project.By integrating research with practical applications and engaging directly with producers, our project aims to significantly advance organic seed production practices, ultimately contributing to the sustainability and profitability of the organic seed industry.