Organic Seed Alliance and conference co-hosts Oregon State University, eOrganic, and Washington State University invite you to help shape the 7th Organic Seed Growers Conference by providing proposals for content. This is your opportunity to share important research and ask timely questions related to organic seed. The conference is the only event that brings together diverse members of the organic seed community in two days of presentations and networking events focused solely on organic seed. We welcome your proposals for presentations, workshops, posters, panels, and roundtables.
Conference attendees receive practical information, cutting edge research, updates on policy and seed advocacy efforts, and inspiring stories from the field. The 7th Organic Seed Growers Conference theme is Innovation in the Field, a celebration of advancements in organic seed and the role farmers play in improving our crop genetic resources. While we welcome a diversity of proposals, those that fit the following categories are encouraged:
• Advancements in organic plant breeding
• Breeding for resiliency and biodiversity
• Farmer-led breeding projects
• New models for organic seed production and enterprise development
Deadline:
Proposals must be submitted by July 1, 2013. Applicants will be notified by August 1, 2013.
Proposals (presentations and posters):
To submit a proposal, please copy the Proposal Application fields below into a Word doc, complete it, and email to Cathleen McCluskey. If you have any issues, please contact Cathleen with questions.
• Name
• Title
• Organization/Business
• Phone
• Email
• Check one: Poster or Presentation
• Title of Presentation
• Brief Description (300 words or less)
• Target Audience
We welcome not only academic sessions, but also encourage advocates, government staff, and others with practical knowledge of organic seed systems to participate. Each presenter will be required to submit a paper for the conference proceedings no later than November 15, 2013. Please contact Cathleen for assistance with the proposal process.
Suggestions for content:
We also welcome suggestions for speakers and topics. What issue would you like to learn more about? What questions do you want to see addressed through a panel discussion or presentation? Who would you like to hear speak at the conference? Email your ideas and questions to Cathleen McCluskey in Word format or in the body of an email. If possible, please include: name and contact information (for follow-up questions), suggested topics, suggested speakers, and any additional input regarding conference format and agenda (note: the date and location are already set).
Selection process:
Proposals are evaluated and chosen by a review committee with diverse representation from the organic seed community. The agenda is also informed by input received from past conferences.
Conference location:
The conference venue is the Oregon State University Alumni Center, a beautiful facility located on campus in Corvallis. Registration opens September 1, 2013.
Past proceedings and updates on the 2014 conference are available at:
http://www.seedalliance.org/organic-seed-growers-conference/
