Upcoming Calls I Suggest a Topic
Speakers: Almendra Cremaschi (Bioleft, University of San Martin), Solveig Hanson (Cornell University / Cover Crop Breeding Network), Jared Zystro (Organic Seed Alliance)
POLICY CORNER UPDATES:
OSA’s Policy Platform for Seed
The next National Organic Standards Board meeting is scheduled for November 4–6 in Omaha, Nebraska with a virtual stream option. A public comment period will be open in advance of the meeting. Timely NOSB work related to organic seed growers: Risk-based certification, which aims to develop risk-based approaches (e.g. common OSPs) as a way to ease certification burdens for low-risk organic growers, processors, and handlers. Research priorities focused on serving organic seed growers and plant breeders.
Organic seed regulation and guidance Marker Bills of Interest: Organic Science and Research Investment Act (OSRI Act) introduced by Senators Fetterman (PA) and Schiff (CA). The OSRI Act funds critical research that gives farmers innovative organic practices and varieties while ensuring consumers have access to high-quality, sustainably grown food.
The Agriculture Resilience Act, was reintroduced by Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine and Senator Martin Heinrich (D – New Mexico) on Earth Day and focuses on helping farmers build climate resilience and deliver farm-ready cultivars while opening new market opportunities and ensuring long-term food security for consumers.
We’ve also signed on support of the Organic Imports Verification Act, which is a bipartisan bill from Senator Ricketts (R-NE) and Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), protects American organic farmers from unfair competition and ensures consumers get the authentic organic products they pay for.
Have you or seed folks you work with been impacted by federal funding freezes and/or contract cancellations? We are collecting these instances and stories to inform our advocacy work. Please reach out to me at cathleen@seedalliance.org if you’d like to share.
RESOURCES SHARED ON THE CALL:
Join us on the Participatory Plant Breeding Synergy Space on Organic Seed Commons to continue the conversation.
Organic Seed Alliance Asynchronous Course – learn online at your own pace!
Organic Seed Alliance Synchronous Course – the 2025 cohort meets mid-May through the fall.
This program is supported by the USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP).
