Entering its fourth year, this symposium was originally incepted to create a scientific community in which graduate students, researchers, farmers, and industry professionals could build relationships and form collaborations to develop the organic seed movement. Planned by a team of graduate students from across the country, this year’s three-day event is being hosted by University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Horticulture and will take place August 9th- 12th, 2015.

The symposium will provide an environment that facilitates the continued network established in the previous years, which has led to new research initiatives and post-graduate career opportunities in the organic seed sector. It will also foster the free exchange of ideas, knowledge, and research surrounding organic seed breeding, production, and ethics. The conference theme, “Growing the Organic Seed Spectrum, a Community Approach,” will be explored through lectures from invited organic community experts and field trips showcasing the Midwest’s organic seed spectrum- from local to global integration. Each year, our outreach and momentum build as new graduate students, faculty members, farmers, and industry stakeholders participate in our authentic community experience.

Wisconsin is home to vibrant agriculture, and will serve as an ideal setting to explore new models and ideas for our organic community. The symposium will include field trips, workshops and keynote addresses given by distinguished speakers. The preliminary agenda includes touring University of Madison-Wisconsin research programs and partners, a student-led field day to showcase student research projects, and field visits to local farms, seed companies, and food artisans.

For details and registration, visit the symposium website.