August 1st, 2025
Time: 9 am – 10:30 am Pacific (UTC -8 Find Your Time)
Topic: Current Advocacy Efforts & the National Plant Germplasm System
Speakers:
Nico Enjalbert (SeedLinked)
Mike Bollinger (Seed Savers Exchange)
Sarah Dohle (USDA National Plant Germplasm System)
Cathleen McCluskey (Organic Seed Alliance)
Jim McFerson (National Genetic Resources Advisory Council)
Join Organic Seed Alliance on August 1st for our next Quarterly Call, where we’ll dive into current advocacy efforts and what’s happening with the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). This call offers a chance to connect, learn, and shape policy priorities that impact organic seed growers and the broader seed system.
OSA’s Policy and Advocacy Director Cathleen McCluskey will share updates from our Advocacy Office Hours and introduce the re-energized Seeds and Breeds Coalition, a collective effort to align voices for resilient, publicly supported plant breeding. You’ll also hear from Nico Enjalbert at SeedLinked and Mike Bollinger from Seed Savers Exchange spotlighting how community-based seed work can inform and strengthen federal systems like the NPGS. Jim McFerson from the National Genetic Resources Advisory Council will share some updates.
We’ll explore the state of NPGS and current advocacy efforts to support and grow the stability of the collections. We’ll also cover promising innovations like crowdsourced characterization and how it could unlock genebank potential for organic and public plant breeders.
The role of OSA in supporting policy change, and examples from other national groups will be discussed. Expect clear talking points and space for action: your voice matters, and we’ll include an activity or quick poll to help shape our advocacy work ahead.
This is a vital moment for engagement in seed policy. Don’t miss it!
