Seed banks are a well-known way to preserve genetic diversity through preservation and propagation of rare food crops or varieties that have fallen out of favor. Matthew Dillon, who runs the Seed Matters initiative of Clif Bar Family Foundation, puts the challenge in bigger terms. In a story at Civil Eats, he says, “In order to have long-term resiliency, we need resilience in our seed systems, meaning regional farmers with strong seed skills, who know not only how to save seed for their own on-farm use, but how to continually improve crops and breed brand-new crops.” Dillon says he is doing “seed CPR” by funding organic seed breeding, research and production. Seed companies are taking a larger role, so growers are less likely to save seed or engage in plant breeding.
The National Organic Coalition, an organic agriculture and food alliance, announced Abby Youngblood as its new executive director. Youngblood was food and environment program office at North Star Fund prior to joining NOC.