Organic Seed Development

Begun in spring 2005, the Organic Seed Partnership (OSP) is a three-year, nationwide project dedicated to developing improved vegetable varieties for organic systems.   Building on work done by the Public Seed Initiative, the OSP wants to expand farmer participation in breeding for varieties adapted to organic conditions.  Another goal is to improve capacity for production of high-quality, organically certified seed.  NOFA-NY is a major participant in the project in the Northeast in cooperation with Cornell University and the Plant Genetic Resources Unit (USDA-ARS) at Geneva, NY.  Other institutions in the partnership include New Mexico State University, Oregon State University, Alcorn State University (Mississippi), West Virginia State University, and University of California at Davis.

The Organic Seed Partnership is funded through the USDA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (Award No. 2004-51300-02229).