Canadian Program | SeedChange : SeedChange

SeedChange’s Canadian Program

Climate change and the loss of agricultural biodiversity are increasing the pressures facing farmers across Canada. Canadian agriculture primarily relies on synthetic fertilizer, chemical inputs, and heavy amounts of fossil fuel use to be productive, but these practices are contributing to increased greenhouse gas emissions that are worsening the climate crisis. Varieties bred for high-input agriculture may not perform well under organic conditions, leaving farmers with limited access to seed suited to climate-resilient farming practices.

Canada’s public plant breeding programs for cereals and field crops have been on the decline over the past several decades and there has been limited investment in the development of varieties for organic and climate-resilient farming conditions. Canada currently imports virtually all of the seed used to grow vegetables in the country. This heavy reliance on imported seed leaves Canada’s food system exposed to supply chain disruptions, trade barriers, and other events beyond our borders that can affect the availability of seed.

In response to these challenges, SeedChange works with organic and ecological farmers, seed producers, researchers, and other partners across the country. Our Canadian program focuses on four interconnected themes:

Participatory Plant Breeding: Participatory, on-farm seed research to develop and trial new varieties of field crops and vegetables
Seed Conservation: Sourcing, banking and distribution of heirloom varieties to ensure long term availability of diverse, open-pollinated seed.
Knowledge Exchange: Facilitating unique farmer learning opportunities for skills related to seed conservation, seed production, and plant breeding
Farmer-led Seed Policy Research: Mobilizing in support of farmer-led seed policy and advocacy to advance farmer-led seed systems

Our long-term vision is a resilient Canadian seed system grounded in farmer-bred, biodiverse varieties of grains and vegetables for agroecological and climate resilient farming. Our Canadian program contributes to four long-term outcomes:

Increase the quality, quantity, and diversity of Canadian-grown seed
Support farmer leadership and learning in seed conservation, production, and research
Advocate for policies that support resilient farmer-led seed systems in Canada
Build a regionally-driven, partnership-oriented national movement to advance seed system resilience in Canada