BC Seed Security Program

BC’s food system resiliency relies on the availability of locally bred seeds, able to withstand the province’s varied growing conditions. Through this program, we support both farmers and home gardeners to build a resilient seed supply.

We collaborate with farmers who conduct variety trials and plant breeding programs to build capacity for quality vegetable seed production and crops for commercial sale. Our various workshops, field days, and on-farm research provide farmers with tangible resources, additional education and training, and plant breeding strategies.

Our team also supports home gardeners to engage in seed saving. We support Seedy Saturday organizers, do workshops, and run a citizen seed trial each year.  Not only do we want to keep seed-saving skills alive, but we also want people to demand local seeds!

Through our BC Seed Security Program, we work to cement BC’s place in the national seed movement.

BC Seed Security Programs

Canadian Organic Vegetable Improvement

The (CANOVI) program is a collaboration between ourselves, the UBC Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, and the Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security.

Mobile Seed Cleaning Trailer

Our mobile seed cleaning trailer is outfitted with seed cleaning equipment to help farmers save and clean their seeds; readying them for sale. We have cleaned over 100,000 pounds of over 50 seed varieties since 2018.

Citizen Seed Trial

Our Citizen Seed Trial (CST) is a free, public, science program that engages gardeners and passionate growers in the process of seed saving and breeding.

Research and Education Seed Farm

Our Research and Education Seed Farm has become a nucleus for local seed development where we conduct our public breeding trials.

Seed to Food

We launched the Seed to Food program in the Summer of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

BC Seed Gathering

Folks working across the seed sector come together in one place to foster collaboration.

Seedy Saturday Capacity Building

Our Seedy Saturday Capacity Building program helps facilitate information and resource sharing within independent Seedy Saturday event organizers across BC.

Public Seed Events

We can come to your community event to talk seeds! We collaborate with organizations at independent seed events such as seminars, workshops, variety tastings, and open-house gatherings.

Farmer Field Days

Farmer Field Days are collaborative peer-to-peer seedy learning experiences.

Seed Enterprise Budgets

Our Seed Enterprise Budgets help farmers determine their cost of labour and materials input, as well as potential sales revenue for projected seed crops.

The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security

Since 2012, the Bauta initiative advances agricultural biodiversity through collaborations with Canadian organic and agro-ecological seed stakeholders.

School Seed Stewardship

Our School Seed Stewardship resources include a collection of seed saving presentations, games, and resources that help educators bring seed saving training to their classrooms, school programs, nature camps, and more!

Program Collaborators

Supporters and Sponsors

Stories