February 13-15, 2008 - 5th Biennial Organic Seed Growers Conference and Organic Seed Production Short Course (Salem, OR)

• Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) is pleased to announce the 5th Organic Seed Growers Conference, to be held February 13-15, 2008 at the Salem Convention Center in Salem, Oregon. The Organic Seed Growers Conference, co-hosted by OSA, Oregon State University (OSU) and Washington State University (WSU), is the largest meeting of seed professionals engaged in organic seed production, research, and plant breeding in the United States. This event brings together producers, university extension and researchers, seed industry professionals, and food industry participants from across the country. Past conference topics have included seed pathology, seed biology, breeding for nutrition, breeding for ecological complexity, seed economics and marketing, and presentations from experienced organic seed producers. Conference attendees receive practical information, cutting edge research and inspired stories from the field. The conference includes published proceedings, poster presentations, and a participant contact list.
• Fundamentals of Seed Production: The 2008 conference will also feature a one day pre-conference Short Course on the Fundamentals of Organic Seed Production to be held on February 13, 2008. Funded by Western SARE, the short Course will address two major areas:
  • Fundamentals of seed production for organic professionals and farmers interested in learning how to grow specialty seed.
  • Fundamentals of organic production for seed professionals and farmers interested in learning how to grow organically
    • University Extension and research faculty, specialty seed professionals, and conventional and organic seed farmers will assist project partners in developing Short Course content. The Organic Seed Production Guide and the Guidebook on Organic Principles and Practices will be provided to all workshop participants. Both the Short Course and Conference target complementary audiences or agricultural professionals.
      • Organic farmers currently producing seed and those wishing to diversify into seed production
      • conventional seed producers wishing to diversify into organic production
      • Seed industry professionals unfamiliar with organic production
      • University Extension personnel working in specialty seed production areas