 |
FARM GROWN VEGETABLE SEED CATALOGUE
In recent years, several events have disrupted seed supplies and challenged long-held assumptions around seed availability. The Covid-19 pandemic, Canada Post shutdowns, trade uncertainty, rising import costs and increasingly onerous regulatory requirements, and extreme weather events have all resulted in challenges for both seed producers and buyers. By choosing to purchase seeds from local growers, you are supporting this patient and essential work — one variety at a time. View catalogue here.
|
 |
VOICES FROM THE FIELD
SeedChange is actively creating multi-media content featuring Quebec seed farmers through practical guides, educational videos and podcast interviews, like the Wiki Maraîcher, the SeedHeads podcast and the YouTube series Bien semer, bien manger and Seed Stories from the Field. These series offer practical insights and accessible guidance aimed at farmers, gardeners, and seed enthusiasts, helping to promote better seed practices. Through this engaging content, SeedChange supports public awareness and empowers growers to improve seed quality, diversity, and resilience.
|
 |
SUPPORT FOR ON-FARM PLANT BREEDING CLUBS AND INDEPENDENT PLANT BREEDERS
There is an incredible diversity of on-farm breeding projects going on across the province. There are many ways our program supports on-farm experimentation, including one-on-one advice, farm visits, variety trials, covering lab test costs, creating guides on hand pollination and crop improvement, connecting farmers with professional breeders, convening isolated growers working on a similar crop, or distributing seeds with interesting potential. This versatile program works on a case-by-case basis depending on the breeding project’s maturity and goals. It has introduced new germplasm and advance farmer-bred varieties across a dozen crops.
|
 |
SEED FARM VISITS AND REGIONAL TOURS
From July to September, the regional coordinator organizes a series of field days focused mainly on vegetable seed production. Designed for beginner to advanced seed growers and seed businesses, topics range from seed crop planning, workspace efficiency and ergonomics to varietal selection and breeding, seed extraction and cleaning, as well as economic and marketing strategies. Over the past years, dozens of farm tours have been co-hosted with seed producers, offering valuable opportunities to connect, share knowledge, and build community. The coordinator also leads tours for international visitors with unique knowledge and experience.
|
 |
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS FOR FIELD CROP DIVERSIFICATION
In an effort to improve field crop farmers’ rotations, SeedChange has established partnerships with McGill University’s Pulse Breeding and Genetics Lab (dry beans and chickpeas) and the Quebec Grain Research Center (CEROM) (sunflower and buckwheat). These collaborations aim at increasing engagement and participation from organic and conventional farmers and buyers in plant breeding and to align breeding priorities with real needs. Together, we identify key traits, co-develop breeding goals, enhance our collective understanding on what steps go into breeding and host field days to strengthen connections between all the players in the value chain.
|
 |
STRENGTHENING A DIVERSIFIED AND PARTICPATORY SEED POTATO VALUE CHAIN
Building on a participatory potato breeding project with the Quebec Potato Research Consortium (CRPTQ), SeedChange helps farmers access diverse, flavorful, colorful seed potato varieties suited to organic and ecological conditions. From creating a comprehensive guide on potato breeding for organics and sharing true potato seeds to piloting new seed procurement initiatives — we’re building a resilient, transparent, collaborative seed potato value chain.
|
|
|
SUPPORTING AN EMERGING COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE ON PLANT BREEDING
In Quebec, plant genetic conservation and breeding research is decentralized and complex, with about ten public and semi-public programs across universities, research centers, nonprofits, and farmer-led groups. SeedChange values breeding for the public interest and believes in working across crops and sectors. Inspired by the Organic Seed Alliance (USA), the Cover Crop Breeding Network, and the Live Seeding consortium (Europe), this pilot program fosters coordination, collaboration, and knowledge exchange around a vision : adapting to climate change, promoting agroecological practices, and empowering farmer autonomy. Learn more about the community of practice. See the monthly meet-up schedule and themes.
MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PLANT BREEDERS
Plant breeding is central to our ability to adapt agriculture to the challenges of climate change. Yet this sector faces a critical challenge: a generation of experienced breeders is nearing retirement, taking with them valuable and hard-to-replace knowledge. At the same time, many young farmers, students, and scientists often lack applied experience, interdisciplinary knowledge, or guidance in their professional careers. This program aims to build bridges between these two generations.
|
 |
EXPANDING NETWORKS FOR FRUIT AND NUT TREES AND SHRUBS
With growing interest in perennial crops, agroforestry and food forests, SeedChange is launching a pilot project to connect with nurseries and orchardists. The goal is to better understand and support their seed and variety needs and identify collective solutions. This initiative is fostering new relationships with groups like Paw Paw Quebec and la Pomme de demain. This marks a new regional direction for SeedChange, broadening its work to strengthen seed systems for perennial and fruit crops.
|
