Organic Seed Production Research on Economics and Yield (OSPREY): Advancing organic seed production through yield research, economic tools, and shared knowledge.
About the OSPREY Project
OSPREY: Organic Seed Production Research on Economics and Yield is a multi-year project by Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) and our research partners. The project was launched in September 2024 and is funded by the Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI).
OSPREY brings together a team of researchers, educators, and organic seed stakeholders from across the country to address critical needs in the organic seed sector, advance organic seed production practices, and expand the availability of high-quality organic seeds.
Why OSPREY Matters
Most organic farmers want access to affordable, high-quality organic vegetable seed, but growers face barriers:
- Unpredictable seed yields
- Challenging long-term weather patterns
- Lack of seed cleaning equipment
OSPREY is working to remove barriers so more farmers can grow and sell vegetable seed successfully.
What is OSPREY doing?
- Multi-location trials of lettuce, tomato, squash, and brassica seed crops
- Comparing the effects of crop spacing, protected culture, and irrigation on seed yields
- Conducting on-farm participatory seed yield trials
- Tracking economic returns on seed crops
- Building a free seed yield database
- Sharing results through videos, guides, and events
300+ VARIETIES
17+ STATES
20+ GROWERS
“Seed is at the heart of organic farming. With OSPREY, we’re investing in research that moves us towards a future where more farmers can grow high-quality organic seed and strengthen our food systems.” – Jared Zystro, Organic Seed Alliance
Get Involved
OSPREY connects farmers with Field Days and Summits, on-farm seed trials, free seed cleaning videos and guides, and webinars on pricing, disease, and equipment. For more information, please reach out to Molly Travis: molly@seedalliance.org.
OSPREY Partners
Want to grow seed or expand your seed production? Learn more about our Research.
