The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing $2.3 million in funding for a unique collaboration in Oregon to conduct plant breeding focused on organic farming systems. The research will be done in five states, looking at five crops (broccoli, carrot, snap pea, sweet corn, and winter squash).

The Northern Organic Vegetable Improvement Collaboration (NOVIC) is a partnership of the Organic Seed Alliance, Oregon State University, Cornell
University, University of Wisconsin Madison, and Washington State University Extension. They partner with organic farmers to breed new crop varieties, identify the best performing existing varieties for organic agriculture, and educate farmers on organic seed production and plant variety improvement. [Read more...]