February 12-15, 2020 | Corvallis, Oregon
Mark your calendar to join us for the 10th Organic Seed Growers Conference – February 12-15, 2020 – in Corvallis, Oregon. The conference is the largest event focused solely on organic seed in North America, bringing together hundreds of farmers, plant breeders, researchers, certifiers, food companies, seed companies, and others from across the U.S. and around the world. The biennial conference has been convening the organic seed community for over a decade and includes a packed agenda of presentations, panel discussions, networking events, and celebration. Farm tours and short courses are held prior to the full two-day conference.
Call for Proposals
Organic Seed Alliance invites you to help shape the conference by submitting a proposal for the agenda. This is your opportunity to share important research and ask timely questions about organic seed. The call for proposals will be open through July 28, 2019. We are particularly interested in proposals that include farmers and underrepresented groups.
We also welcome proposals for the scientific research poster session. The poster session will be on display throughout the main conference – Friday and Saturday. Each poster presenter will also give a 4-minute introduction of their research to the full conference audience.
Conference Sponsorship
Celebrate the 10th Organic Seed Growers Conference by becoming a conference sponsor for this special anniversary event. Conference sponsorship offers companies many promotional opportunities, while helping keep registration costs affordable and supporting the scholarship fund for farmers and students.
New this year! We are offering the special opportunity for one platinum level donor to sponsor the inaugural Organic Seed Growers Conference App that will serve as the digital communication tool for all participants throughout the pre- and main conference events. Your sponsorship will be recognized with a static banner that appears on the top of each app landing page. The app will be available for free download for both Android and Apple devices.
Contact Cathleen McCluskey to learn more and become a conference sponsor.
Who attends the conference?
- Farmers, seed producers, plant breeders, and researchers working in organic seed systems
- Seed companies selling organic seed or looking to enter the organic sector
- Organic and non-organic farmers and seed producers interested in organic seed production
- University extension looking to expand organic seed education and outreach
- Farmers interested in on-farm plant breeding
- Organic certifiers interested in learning about organic seed availability and related issues
- Government employees involved in plant breeding or related research and education
- Government employees engaged in food, farm, and rural policy
- Non-government seed advocacy, research, and education organizations
- Food companies, cooperatives, and processors in the organic sector
- Undergraduate and graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers studying organic seed
What are some examples of past presentation topics?
The conference and review committee selects presenters from a pool of farmers and other professionals in the organic seed community following a call for proposals which is open through July 28, 2019. Presenters are leaders in the organic seed community, ranging from farmers who produce organic seed to university breeders and seed suppliers. Our presenters represent diverse areas of expertise and regions, both in the U.S. and internationally. Past agenda items have included seed production practices and economics; breeding projects focused on organic systems and markets; creative models for regional seed networks; and timely policy topics focused on growing diverse organic seed systems. Congressman Peter DeFazio delivered the keynote address at the 2018 conference.
When does registration open?
Registration will open in October 2019.
Many thanks to our generous 2020 sponsors!
Gold Level Sponsors
Johnny’s Selected Seeds is a privately held, employee-owned seed producer and merchant headquartered in Winslow, Maine, USA. Our mission is to help families, friends, and communities feed one another by providing superior seeds, tools, information, and service. Lainie Kertesz is the Regional Sales Rep living in Olympia, WA, 207-238-5320 or cell: 207-215-3247, email: lkertesz@johnnyseeds.com.
Oregon Tilth In 1974, Oregon Tilth was founded on the idea that food and agriculture should be equitable and sustainable. Each day, we work with a community of changemakers to transform the food marketplace. We provide certification services that sustain organic agriculture and the people who support it. But we don’t stop there. From education to technical assistance, Oregon Tilth designs strategies and tools that address the challenges faced by farmers and food producers. Visit: tilth.org
Row 7 Seed Company Born from a cross-pollination of chefs and plant breeders, Row 7’s mission is to change how we eat by fixing how—and what—we grow at scale. We work together in the field and kitchen to create, trial and distribute delicious new plant varieties that make an impact in the soil and at the table. All of our seeds are certified organic, unpatented and produced in the United States.
Silver Level Sponsors
Cafe Mam coffee is 100% organic and fair trade certified, shade-grown, and roasted to-order. Cafe Mam coffee is grown in the mountains of Chiapas, Mexico by Maya-decent farmers on their own small, family-owned farms, and fresh roasted in Eugene, Oregon.
Culinary Breeding Network The Culinary Breeding Network (CBN) mission is to build communities of plant breeders, seed growers, farmers, produce buyers, chefs, and other stakeholders to improve quality in vegetables and grains. Formed in 2011, CBN strives to accomplish their goals through engaging public outreach events which are both educational and fun. The events bring many often disconnected individuals together to create change in an engaging, approachable, social format.
Equal Exchange was founded to challenge the existing trade model, which favors large plantations, agri-business, and multi-national corporations; support small farmers; and connect consumers and producers through information, education, and the exchange of products in the marketplace. Underlying our work is the belief that only through organization, can small farmers survive and thrive. The cooperative model has been essential for building this model of change.
Fedco Seeds a cooperative garden supply company focused on cold-hardy selections and dedicated to organic/sustainable agriculture, offers untreated vegetable, herb and flower seeds, soil amendments, cover crops, garden supplies, fruit trees, berries, ornamentals, seed potatoes, garlic, flower bulbs and more.
Gaia Herbs is the leading herbal brand in North America, with more than 200 patented Liquid Phyto-Caps™, liquid extracts, functional powders and herbal teas to help support and maintain optimal health. From seed to shelf, Gaia is deeply committed to the purity, integrity and potency of each product. The company uses only organic methods to cultivate more than 6.5 million plants each year (representing 21 varieties in 2017) on its farms in the US and Costa Rica, and that same organic approach continues through manufacturing, using patented technology to achieve the highest efficacy of each herb, validated by Gaia’s scientists throughout the process.
High Mowing Organic Seeds is an independently owned, farm-based seed company offering 700+ varieties of USDA Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified seeds for farmers, gardeners and homesteaders. We specialize in providing professional grade organic seeds that are selected to thrive in organic conditions and varieties that are widely adapted to perform in all regions of the U.S. and Canada.
Organically Grown Company Founded in 1978, perpetual purpose trust-owned Organically Grown Company (OCG), is the largest organic produce distributor in the Pacific Northwest. For the past 40-years, the company’s progressive and entrepreneurial spirit has fueled its mission and growth, meeting the demand for organics in the marketplace while supporting its community of farmers. OGC has been recognized as a leader in sustainable business practices including sourcing 100% renewable energy in facilities, support for fair trade and charitable giving. When people in the Northwest purchase organic fruits and vegetables at their grocery store, there is a very good chance that it’s there because of OGC.
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange offers 700+ heirloom, organic, and open-pollinated vegetable, herb, and flower varieties, plus garlic, perennial onions and seed saving supplies. Our mission is to ensure that people retain control of their food supply, conserve genetic resources and offer gardeners the option of saving their own seeds.
Vitalis Organic Seeds Founded in 1994 in The Netherlands, Vitalis Organic Seeds is a global leader in organic seed production and breeding. All Vitalis varieties are certified organic for the US, Canada, Mexico and the EU. We believe in building organic production systems with organically produced seed.
Bronze Level Sponsors
Acres U.S.A.
Albert Lea Seed
Blue River Organic Seed
Clif Bar
Hummingbird Wholesale
Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES)
Mountain Rose Herbs
Osborne Quality Seeds
Pacific Botanicals
PCC Community Markets
Straus Family Creamery
Welter Seed and Honey Company
