PORT TOWNSEND — The Organic Seed Growers Conference at Fort Worden State Park will go on despite the weather.
Registration for the two-day event, which begins today, was closed as of last Friday.
The Organic Seed Alliance said on its website, www.seedalliance.org, that it had no plans to cancel the conference because of the week’s snowstorms.
More than 300 farmers, researchers, distribution companies, plant breeders, pathologists, university extension agents, food industry representatives and others are expected to attend the sixth Organic Seed Growers Conference.
Prior to the conference, a full-day tour Thursday of the Skagit Valley was set to provide an opportunity to learn about organic seed research projects at Osborne Seed Co. and the Washington State University Northwest Research Center.
“The Organic Seed Growers Conference is recognized as the only event of its kind in North America,” the seed growers group said on its website.
The conference features presentations, panel discussions, networking events and entertainment around the theme “Strengthening Community Seed Systems.”
Session topics
Session topics range from organic plant breeding, seed production and distribution to enhancing policies that support the growth and integrity of the organic seed sector.
Two nationally recognized authorities provide this year’s keynote talks.
William F. Tracy is the interim dean and director of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin.
He leads one of the few remaining public sector sweet corn breeding programs in the U.S. and is active in other organic plant breeding projects.
Eric Holt-Gimenez is the executive director of Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy, an organization working to end the injustices that cause hunger, poverty and environmental degradation throughout the world.
More than 50 additional experts will present at the conference.