On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, the Organic Seed Alliance convened the Midwest Organic Seed Summit. Held entirely virtually to maximize accessibility, we were thrilled to welcome 70 participants to the conversation. The goal of the summit was to explore the cooperative model, connect seed growers, and ground our work in shared values. Below is a snapshot of what we learned and where we are going next.
Key Takeaways & Discussions
Our discussions focused heavily on the mechanics and philosophy of cooperative structures. Three major themes emerged from the sessions:
- The Importance of Values: We discussed how vital it is to center a cooperative on shared values. Having a clear mission serves as a “guiding light,” simplifying complex decision-making processes down the road.
- Navigating Conflict: Conflict is natural in any human group. The consensus was that groups must anticipate conflict and have clear, confident resolution procedures in place from the beginning, rather than reacting only when issues arise.
- The Diversity of Models: There is no “one size fits all” for cooperatives. We explored the many shapes these organizations can take and highlighted that resources (and people) are available to help existing and aspiring cooperatives navigate this complexity to find the model that works best for them.
Community Feedback
The response to the summit was overwhelmingly positive, emphasizing the need for connection in the seed industry. Participants appreciated the accessibility of the virtual format and the “movement-building” energy of the presentations.
“I really appreciated that it was online. It is hard for me to find events like this locally.”
“[The presentation] helped to build excitement and ground people in a sense of ‘this is a movement that can and is happening.'”
“What was invaluable to me about the seed summit was the networking and chance to meet other folks in the seed industry.”
The Path Forward: Action Items
To ensure this momentum continues beyond the summit, the community identified specific next steps:
- Creating More Virtual Spaces: There is a clear demand for accessible ways to gather. Attendees are currently meeting to plan future virtual spaces where people can continue discussing seeds and collaborative projects.
- Collaboration on Crops & Storytelling: Seed growers expressed a strong interest in working together on both storytelling initiatives and crop improvement projects for organic agriculture. This will take the form of joining existing groups or launching new initiatives.
Recordings & Resources
Did you miss the summit? We have compiled the recording and a list of resources mentioned during the summit below.
Organic Seed Alliance – YouTube
Publications – Organic Seed Alliance
This event is supported through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP). Additional support is provided by the Blooming Prairie Foundation.
