Leaders in Organic

PROFILE

Neglect of organic seed development inspired the Clif Bar Family Foundation launch of a special funding initiative called Seed Matters in April 2010. The five-year, $500,000 commitment is viewed as a potential catalyst for reinvigorating seed and breed research nationwide, said Elysa Hammond, the foundation’s sustainability advisor and Director of Environmental Stewardship for Clif Bar and Company.

Ted Quaday/OFRF
Clif Bar & Company owners Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford, and Elysa Hammond, director of environmental stewardship at Clif Bar & Company.

“We see the need for an organic research fund and attention on a holistic approach that includes starting with the conservation and protection of our crop genetic diversity. It’s an irreplaceable resource that’s been stewarded by farmers for ten thousand years, and it’s at risk now,” said Hammond.

“The seeds contain agricultural biodiversity,” Hammond added. “All the thousands of varieties of crops that have been stewarded by farmers, that have adapted to unique regions, or that have unique nutritional characteristics or flavor characteristics. Seeds contain that biodiversity, so we need to preserve that and look at seeds as the unique vessel that contains the biodiversity passed down for thousands of years.”

The foundation has targeted three principle areas in its effort to catalyze interest in organic seed development. The first, said Hammond, is a focus on conservation of the genetic diversity now at risk. Second, she says, farmers need to reengage in their crucial role as seed stewards. Third, public organic seed research needs to be reinvigorated and supported like it has been for conventional agriculture.

The Clif Bar Family Foundation selected the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), Center for Food Safety and Organic Seed Alliance as partners to zero in on its core concerns. OFRF will take the lead in encouraging new seeds and breeds research. In November, OFRF issued its first round of research grants to support the project. The Center for Food Safety works through the courts to challenge contamination and other environmental problems caused by genetically engineered seed. The Organic Seed Alliance is working with farmers to develop regional seed stewardship activities and providing information sharing opportunities for farmers and other seed savers. (For in-depth features about organic seed systems and information on initiatives engaged in by the Seed Matters partners, download OFRF's Information Bulletin No. 18, Winter 2011.)

OFRF Executive Director Maureen Wilmot praised the Clif Bar Family Foundation for its vision and significant commitment to the Seed Matters Initiative. 

“Such forward thinking reflects a deep understanding of the significance of organic seed in organic farming systems and recognition of the incredible investment in time, energy and resources needed to rebuild our threatened organic seed supply,” said Wilmot. 

Hammond said Clif Bar Family Foundation recognized the long-term nature of seed research, which is why the foundation made its five-year funding commitment. The aim, she said, is to lift the burden of fund raising by encouraging multi-year research grants.

“This will allow people to really get the work done, and that work, we hope, will bring attention from public universities, get the attention of USDA, and my hope is that this will be a catalyst for a renaissance in seed research in the United States,” said Hammond.