Report: State of Organic Seed (USA)

The Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) has released an extensive report that serves as the first comprehensive analysis of the challenges and opportunities in building the organic seed sector. The report "State of Organic Seed: Advancing the Viability and Integrity of Organic Seed Systems" is an ongoing project to monitor the status of organic seed systems in the USA. The full report is available here: Organic Seed Alliance

The USDA National Organic Program requires the use of organically produced seed when commercially available. However, the organic seed sector was almost nonexistent when the organic program began and has not caught up to meet the demand for organic seed. This gap could expand given the continued growth of the organic industry.
 

"State of Organic Seed" notes that the organic seed sector is challenged by the lack of federal protection from GE contamination for organic markets and by the consolidation of the seed industry. However, the report also provides evidence that organic seed systems are developing. Farmers report increased attempts to source organic seed and more pressure from certifiers to do so. Public research in organic plant breeding has increased slightly, with investments from both the public and private sector.