Project Overview
Commodities
Practices
Proposal abstract:
Building on prior Southern SARE-funded seed initiatives and momentum generated through the Southeast Seed Summit and the emerging Southeast Seed Network, this Train-the-Trainer project will strengthen regional seed production knowledge and educator capacity across the Southeastern United States. The project responds to a well-documented need for practical, regionally adapted seed systems education among Extension personnel, NGO educators, research station staff, academic partners, and mentor farmers.
Through a combination of participatory field intensives, regional workshops, online educational resources, and collaborative programming at the 2027 Organic Seed Growers Conference-the first time the conference will be hosted in the Southeast-this project will equip agricultural professionals with the technical skills, economic understanding, and educational tools needed to support farmer-led seed production and resilient regional seed systems.
The project integrates farmer mentors as co-educators and centers experiential learning, peer exchange, and cross-state collaboration. In partnership with North Carolina State University, Organic Seed Alliance, Organic Association of Kentucky, Working Food, and the Appalachian Growers Seed Collective, the initiative will strengthen durable connections among research, Extension, nonprofit organizations, and producers.
By expanding the capacity of agricultural professionals to train and support farmers in seed production and seed enterprise development, this project will contribute to greater farm profitability, regional resilience, biodiversity, and long-term quality of life for agricultural communities across the Southern region.
Project objectives from proposal:
The goal of this project is to strengthen the capacity of agricultural professionals in the Southeastern United States to train and support farmers in economically viable, regionally adapted seed production systems. Building on prior SARE-funded work and regional stakeholder input, this project will implement a coordinated train-the-trainer framework that equips participants with the technical, economic, and regional understanding necessary to advance resilient seed systems across a range of agroecological contexts.
The project will engage up to 100 agricultural professionals, including Extension agents, USDA field staff (NRCS, FSA), NGO educators, academic professionals, and mentor farmers. Participants will represent multiple Southeastern states and production systems, ensuring broad applicability and regional relevance.
Objective 1: Increase Skills and Technical Competency
Agricultural professionals will gain applied knowledge in seed production, including crop-specific seed saving practices, population management, regional adaptation, harvesting, cleaning, and storage, and participatory variety selection.
Participants will:
- Apply seed production techniques (e.g., isolation, roguing, selection, harvesting, cleaning) in demonstrations, field days, or technical assistance with farmers
- Confidently advise farmers on regionally appropriate seed-saving practices across multiple crops
- Incorporate hands-on seed production activities into their educational programming
- Present opportunities for further education and skill sharing within the Southeast
Objective 2: Build Knowledge about Seed Production and Economics
Participants will develop a deeper understanding of seed production economics to support farmers in evaluating seed production as a viable enterprise.
Participants will:
- Assist farmers in evaluating the economic viability of seed production enterprises
- Integrate seed enterprise concepts (costs, pricing, risk) into workshops, consultations, or educational materials
- Guide farmers in assessing market opportunities for regionally produced seed
- Support farmers in incorporating seed production into diversified farm business plan
Objective 3: Empowered Farmer Mentors and Document On-farm Learning Models
This project will support farmer mentors as key educators within regional seed systems.
Participants (including mentor farmers) will:
- Host on-farm trainings, workshops, or demonstrations focused on seed production
- Mentor other farmers through formal or informal learning opportunities (e.g., internships, field days, peer networks)
- Share practical knowledge and regionally adapted practices with broader farming communities
- Serve as local resource persons for seed production within their networks
Objective 4: Foster Regional Collaboration and Network Development
The project will expand and formalize the Southeast Seed Network as a durable platform for collaboration.
Participants will:
- Actively participate in the Southeast Seed Network through information sharing, meetings, listservs, and collaborative activities
- Initiate or contribute to cross-institutional collaborations (e.g., joint trainings, research trials, or outreach efforts)
- Co-develop and share regionally relevant training materials and resources
- Maintain ongoing professional relationships that extend beyond the project period
Objective 5: Develop and Utilize Digital and Printed Resources for Southeast Seed Systems
This project will generate durable, regionally specific educational resources that support ongoing training, program integration, and knowledge sharing beyond the life of the grant. Materials will be developed from curriculum design, field intensives, conference engagement, and documented case studies, ensuring they reflect real-world conditions and farmer experience in the Southeast.
Participants will:
- Actively use project-developed digital and printed materials (toolkits, videos, case studies, curricula) in their own trainings, workshops, and technical assistance
- Adapt and integrate these resources into existing Extension, NGO, and farmer education programs to support regionally relevant seed systems education
- Share resources through professional networks, including the Southeast Seed Network, Extension platforms, and partner organizations, expanding access across the region
- Contribute to the refinement of materials by providing feedback, case examples, and field-based insights that improve relevance and usability
- Develop new or enhanced educational products (e.g., presentations, fact sheets, training modules) based on project resources for use in their own programming