Seed Ambassadors: Building an International Network to Advance Organic Seed Systems

Main Topics:

• Celebrating culinary diversity and exploring the potential to breed for taste and flavor
• Plant breeding methods, approaches, and models for supporting the transition to truly sustainable food systems
• Participatory plant breeding and seeds as commons as tools to integrate biodiversity in society
• Supporting the growth and success of the next generation of organic plant breeders and seed ambassadors
• Innovating a systems approach for organic plant breeding to reflect IFOAM principles, addressing the needs of people and planet

Objectives:

• Raise awareness on the importance of organic seed and plant breeding;
• Engage young seed ambassadors and seed pioneers, build relationships and broaden international representation within the organic seed community;
• Stimulate knowledge exchange and provide a think tank for innovating organic seed and breeding systems in line with IFOAM principles;
• Broaden international representation within the organic seed community;
• Revitalize and diversify IFOAM organic seed working groups;
• Celebrate and share diversity of culture, food, seed, and methodologies;

Expected Outcomes:

• Ensure an international network of culturally diverse organic seed actors across continents
• Achieve a paradigm shift towards holistic and systems-based breeding as an alternative to the present seed monopoly
• Recruit organic seed experts as facilitators for working groups under the umbrella of the IFOAM SEEDS Platform and for participation in ad hoc Seed working groups of the IFOAM Board
• Establish a roadmap of prioritized actions for the next 3-5 years and develop plan for maintenance of the IFOAM SEEDS Platform
• Develop a declaration and communication strategy for boosting organic seed and plant breeding.

Format:

• Field tour of research and farm sites working on organic seed and plant breeding
• Interactive culinary activities
• Participatory Workshops
• Facilitated group discussions

More info: https://owc.ifoam.bio/2020/pre-conferences/seed-ambassadors