BC Seed Trials
Project Lead
Alexandra Lyon, Postdoctoral Fellow, Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, Faculty of Land and Food Systems (PI)
Funding
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm, Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security, Whole Foods Market
About the Project
The goal of the BC Seed Trials is to contribute to resilient agri-food systems in British Columbia through participatory research which engages farmers in producing knowledge relevant to seed systems development. A multi-year collaboration between Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security, FarmFolk CityFolk and UBC Farm, the BC Seed Trials research project aims to increase the quality and quantity, as well as the biodiversity of BC’s seed industry. The variety trials conducted at the UBC Farm and at over 20 other farms will identify seed that is well adapted to the local climate and ecosystem. Variety trials test different varieties of a single crop (such as beets or carrots) in a uniform system to identify how their traits and adaptations varies. The project will increase the expertise among local farms in seed trial design and crop evaluation and eventually lead to a scalable ecological BC seed production.
The BC Seed Trials also have field days, public events, articles and social media presence to raise the visibility of BC-grown seed and generate conversations between seed growers, vegetable growers, and end consumers. Additionally, they have education and training strategies to pass on this knowledge to existing farmers.
External Links and Publications
Read more about the BC Seed Trials here
Banner Photo Credit: BC Seed Trials