Field Report: Organic Seed Growers Conference
by Micaela Colley

The organic seed movement is gaining momentum as evidenced by the first Organic Seed Growers Conference held at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon January 9th-11th, 2004. As a longtime leader in organic seed production and development, Seeds of Change was strongly represented at the conference. Several Seeds of Change seed growers joined Steve Peters, commercial seed contractor, Erica Renaud, research farm manager, and Micaela Colley, bulk seed representative to share their experiences and participate in discussions about future developments within the greater organic seed industry.

The conference was hosted by Organic Seed Alliance, a non-profit organization that supports the ethical development and stewardship of agricultural seed through collaborative educational and research programs with organic seed farmers and professionals. With supporting involvement from Oregon State University and Oregon Tilth, the conference focused on the need to increase organic seed production, maintain or improve organic seed quality, and support organic variety development and marketing efforts. Participants included a diversity of seed industry professionals, university researchers, certifying agencies, and seed growers. Discussions focused on both identifying obstacles to and support for organic seed development as well as sessions on practical production information useful to organic seed growers.

The first day of the conference took a political and philosophical tone as sessions focused on the current state of public and private plant breeding. The opening session was presented by Keith Aoki, professor of law from University of Oregon, who spoke on plant breeder's rights and obstacles to public domain plant variety development. With pressures to finance public breeding programs and the implementation of the Bahye-Dole act, which encourages public plant breeders to engage in proprietary arrangements with private companies, University-based plant breeders face difficulties in releasing public domain varieties while they recieve huge incentives, including personal royalties, to release proprietary varieties. Within this system, breeding efforts largely focus on varieties for industrial-conventional production rather than needs of organic and small-scale farmers. Additionally, Professor Aoki spoke of the philosophical ramifications of plant and seed ownership and the politics of multi-national corporations patenting foreign germplasm. These issues raised pertinent discussions about the direction of organic seed development and questions of proprietary versus non-proprietary breeding endeavors focused on varieties for organic growers.

Professor Aoki's presentation led into a panel discussion on "Breeders Rights and Alternatives to Patents". Panel members discussed creative alternatives to plant patents they have been investigating. Frank Morton, independent plant breeder, spoke of his work breeding non-patented organic varieties and his development of the Wild Garden Seed Society in which private companies pay a fee to partially support his work and in turn have first access to his new variety releases as well as an opportunity to view and provide feedback on his developing germplasm. Mark Henning, plant breeder from Cornell University, spoke of their Public Seed Initiative in which private companies and the Oregon Tilth, Farmer Cooperative Genome Project have access to trialing new varieties under a material transfer agreement which prevents any party from patenting the variety without arrangements through Cornell. Although ensuing discussions elucidated some disagreements among the audience around variety ownership it was clear that there is a need to further investigate some creative models of public domain variety development in which the public or private breeders work is financially supported.

Later that evening Jim Meyers, public plant breeder from Oregon State University, gave an informative slide show of his work and the current priorities and pressures placed on plant breeding. Dr. Meyers, with his predecessor Jim Baggett, have released many public domain varieties in the Willamette Valley, several of which Dr. Meyers brought to share with conference participants. Heather Smith from the Farmer Cooperative Genome Project gave an update on the FCGP's work. This past year OSU and the FCGP led an organic, open-pollinated broccoli breeding project with participating organic farmers around Oregon.

On the more practical side, several sessions focused on information and technology support for organic seed growers. Many smaller scale seed growers are attempting to grow in size with the growing organic seed market, but face challenges in accessing appropriate-scale harvesting and processing equipment. Growers were enthralled with an extensive tour of the Oregon State University seed production and processing facilities led by Darryl Ehrensing, the OSU seed facilities manager. He spoke of the history of seed production in the Northwest and how in the past the OSU facilities were more engaged in the development of seed harvesting and processing equipment. Darrell's large to medium scale seed cleaning equipment tour was later followed up with a hands-on small scale seed cleaning demonstration by Frank Morton and a slide show by Micaela Colley of the professional cleaning equipment used at the Seeds of Change seed cleaning facility.

Another practically oriented session which nearly all participants, growers, researchers, and seed companies alike were intensely engaged in was "Disease in Vegetable Crops, ID, Treatment and Prevention" by Lindsey Dutoit, Vegetable Seed Pathologist from Washington State University. This three hour short course on seed born disease issues was of immense use to both growers and seed professionals. It was clear in ensuing discussions that the organic seed industry must strive to maintain high quality standards in regards to preventing seed born diseases as the organic-commercial seed market develops. Seeds of Change is addressing such quality standards by strategizing areas of seed production with low disease pressure, upholding high standards of seed cleaning, testing high risk crops for incidence of seed born diseases, investigating seed treatment options and supporting breeding efforts to develop disease resistant varieties.

Several sessions and panel discussions focused on the development of an organic seed market. The national organic standards requirements that organic growers utilize organic seed when available has brought attention to the need for increased organic seed production and development, but many companies still feel the law provides a loophole in which growers can continue buying conventional seed and seed companies investments into the organic seed industry are highly risky. Several members of the organic certifying community, including Pete Gonzales of Oregon Tilth, spoke of their efforts to support adoption of organic seed use. Several seed company representatives spoke of the need for support in creating the organic seed market and facilitating awareness in the public of the importance of organic seed. Miguel Guerrero, Projects Coordinator of OMRI (organic materials review institute) spoke of their web based listing of the organic seed that is currently available and suggested that certifiers refer growers to the listing. Through discussions it was clear that progress in the organic seed movement will best develop through concerted efforts of certifiers, growers, seed companies, researchers and the greater organic community.

With high attendance, even under inclement weather, the first Organic Seed Growers Conference was a success and generated many ideas for future conferences as well as lasting connections among participants. As the weekend came to a close with an active seed swap, participants eagerly exchanged their favorite treasures reminding us all of what we are working for and how much we have to share.