Research, Education, and Network Development to Support Western Organic Flower Seed Production

Commodities

• Additional Plants: other

Practices

• Crop Production: crop improvement and selection, organic fertilizers, pollination, pollinator habitat, varieties and cultivars
• Education and Training: farmer to farmer, on-farm/ranch research, participatory research, workshop
• Farm Business Management: budgets/cost and returns, risk management
• Natural Resources/Environment: habitat enhancement
• Production Systems: dryland farming, organic agriculture

The project addresses the
significant environmental and health challenges posed by
conventional flower production, including its substantial carbon
footprint due to refrigeration and express shipping, high
pesticide use, and intensive water demands. Organic, regional
flower production stands as a sustainable alternative, yet its
success hinges on producers' access to high-quality, regionally
adapted seed varieties. Through the following five research
objectives and five educational objectives, we aim to evaluate
flower seed crop yield and quality, assess management practices,
analyze weather conditions, determine suitable varieties, and
disseminate findings:

Research Objective 1: Evaluate the yield and quality of key
flower seed crops
Research Objective 2: Analyze
the influence of weather conditions on flower seed
production
Research Objective 3: Determine the
suitability of different varieties for flower seed
production
Research Objective 4: Determine
isolation distances for flower seed
crops.
Research Objective 5: Disseminate
research findings and reports
Educational
Objective 1: Create flower seed online community for
social networking, education, and research coordination on the
Organic Seed Commons
Educational Objective 2:
Develop crop profiles for key flower seed
crops
Educational Objective 3: Develop
enterprise budget case studies for seed
crops
Educational Objective 4: Host flower seed
field days at each farm site
Educational
Objective 5: Communicate project findings to producers and the
general public

Significance for Agricultural
Sustainability: The
project is poised to create incremental and transformative
changes in agricultural sustainability in the floral industry by
providing access to regionally adapted seed varieties, enhancing
economic viability, promoting environmental stewardship, and
increasing resilience against climatic and market
fluctuations.

Dissemination and
Follow-up: Our
dissemination strategy encompasses building communities of
learners through online learning circles, publishing
comprehensive reports, articles, presenting findings at
conferences, and engaging historically underserved communities.
Online platforms will serve as additional avenues for
distributing guides and fact sheets. Collaborative efforts with
stakeholders are designed to ensure the transfer of knowledge and
increase the lasting impact of the project.

Expected Outcomes:
The project is expected to yield
several significant outcomes, including the expansion of markets
for organic flowers, job creation for cut flower and seed
producers, and the strengthening of rural businesses. Through
this initiative, we aim to support a new paradigm for flower
production that aligns with the principles of sustainability and
community well-being.

Our project's innovative
approach, collaborative team structure, and focus on research,
education, and dissemination will contribute to sustainable
agriculture. By addressing the need for regionally adapted seed
varieties, we empower producers to thrive in an environmentally
sound and economically viable manner.

Research Objective 1: Evaluate the yield and quality of key
flower seed crops
Research Objective 2: Analyze
the influence of weather conditions on flower seed
production
Research Objective 3: Determine the
suitability of different varieties for flower seed
production
Research Objective 4: Determine
isolation distances for flower seed
crops.
Research Objective 5: Disseminate
research findings and reports
Educational
Objective 1: Create flower seed online community for
social networking, education, and research coordination on the
Organic Seed Commons
Educational Objective 2:
Develop crop profiles for key flower seed
crops
Educational Objective 3: Develop
enterprise budget case studies for seed
crops
Educational Objective 4: Host flower seed
field days at each farm site
Educational
Objective 5: Communicate project findings to producers and the
general public