QUEBEC
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EVENTS |
PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS
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Voices from the fieldSeedChange 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. |
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Support for Farmer-Breeder Clubs and Independent On-Farm Breeding ProjectsThere 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 helped introduce new germplasm and advance farmer-bred varieties across a dozen crops. |
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Seed Farm Visits and Regional ToursFrom 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. |
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Strategic Partnerships for Field Crop DiversificationIn 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. |
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Strengthening a Diversified and Participatory Seed Potato Value ChainBuilding 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. |
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Supporting an Emerging Community of Practice on Plant BreedingIn 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) and 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. |
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Expanding Seed and Variety Networks for Fruit and Nut Trees and ShrubsWith 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. |
RESOURCES
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The Wikimaraîcher is a multimedia, collective, and evolving encyclopedia dedicated to commercial organic market gardening in the context of northeastern America. It was created to enable members of the organic market gardening community in Quebec and the surrounding area to share their knowledge while making it accessible to all internet users in a non-commercial environment. All published content is therefore available free of charge to anyone browsing the site. Discover selected resources, available only in French: -- Guide de sélection de la pomme de terre (2025) |
The video series: This French language video series highlights seed conservation and participatory plant breeding, which involves farmers in evaluating available varieties, adapting them, and creating new ones. This project is funded through the Innov'Action Program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, an agreement between the governments of Canada and Quebec. This project is also funded in part by the Government of Canada through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program. |
These resources are currently available in French only. -- PPB Potatoes -- Yellow Beans -- Diversifying Field Crops -- Biodiversity conservation and management for climate change resilience in Quebec |
