The National Organic Coalition (NOC) has been a longstanding champion of measures to revitalize public plant and animal breeding activities, with a focus on developing “farmer-ready” seeds and animal breeds that are regionally adapted.
“We are greatly encouraged by the leadership that Senator Baldwin is providing by introducing this bill. This legislation will increase the resiliency and competitiveness of American farms by providing farmers with access to seeds that are adapted to their specific soil, pest, and disease challenges,” says Steve Etka, Policy Director for the National Organic Coalition. “Organic and conventional farmers alike will benefit greatly from having access to seeds that are adapted to their local and regional conditions.”
The Seeds for the Future Act will give farmers access to 21st century seeds by:
- Ensuring that federal investments are sufficient to support farmers and researchers in developing seeds that work for a diversity of farming systems and locations.
- Prioritizing “farmer-ready” public cultivar development in federal agricultural research grant programs.
- Encouraging commitments to seed diversification and regional adaptation.
- Increasing efficiency and improving coordination across different USDA competitive grant research programs.
“The decline in public cultivar development in recent years is making our food system more vulnerable,” says Kiki Hubbard, Director of Advocacy & Communications for the Organic Seed Alliance. “We need more genetic diversity, not less, to address future food and fiber needs and to combat challenges related to our changing climate and increased disease and pest pressures.”
For more information:
Organic Seed Alliance
info@seedalliance.org
seedalliance.org