Location: Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU)
Project Number: 8060-21000-027-003-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Oct 1, 2014
End Date: Aug 31, 2019
Objective:
Develop outreach activities to disseminate germplasm distributed, provide information on performance of varieties under organic conditions, and best practices in producing quality seed.
1. Attending Organic meeting events to provide demonstrations of small scale seed production and disseminate information about NOVIC II, seed production and new organic varieties of vegetables; especially the Common Ground Fair in Maine each year.
2. Assist in developing outreach materials for seed production and participatory breeding for brochures for handouts and for eXtension website.
Approach:
Each year the PGRU will participate in the Northeast’s premiere organic agricultural event, the Common Ground Country Fair in Unity, ME. This event is attended by more than 60,000 people annually and will best be utilized for the dissemination of information and for increasing public awareness organic vegetable breeding and methods and considerations in organic seed production. A mobile seed processing unit will be the main attraction and is housed in a 7 x 12 ft. trailer and includes various small-scale seed processing equipment. Many people arrive with seed to clean which also draws an interested audience to watch the process in action. During the previous OSP, PSI, and NOVIC projects the booth’s set up attracted well over 5,000 people interested in organic agriculture each year. At the event NOVIC II CD and brochure materials will be distributed (described below) and awareness of eOrganic content will be increased. Other events will be attended including the Cornell Organic Days in August, NOFA-NY and NOFA-VT annual meetings where information will be provided in booths and workshops will be conducted. We will also attend the annual project planning meetings.
Information bulletins will be produced for seed production with lists of equipment, etc. These bulletins will summarize what is shared at organic events about seed production including field operations and seed processing. Videos will be made available for CDs and the eXtension website. Also, assistance will be provided in production of other general bulletins about NOVIC II to increase public awareness of varieties, seed production and testing.
Additionally, we will provide requested germplasm of crops for breeding programs including Brassica, tomato and winter squash.
