« NFUniversity Home
« NFUniversity Past Classes
« All NFU Events
Growing Seed Sovereignty: Farmers, Seed Policy, and the Common Good
Start time by time zone
12 Noon PDT (BC) / 1 PM MDT (AB, SK) / 2PM CDT (MB) / 3PM EDT (ON, QB) / 4PM ADT (NB, NS, PEI)
March 12 @ 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm PDT
As part of SeedChange’s Where Does Your Seed Come From? series and the National Farmers Union’s NFUniversity, this webinar offers a clear, farmer-focused perspective on seed policy and why it matters now. Grounded in farmers’ experience, rights and time-honoured practices of saving, adapting, and exchanging seed, we’ll explore how farmers are impacted by seed policies in Canada and internationally.
We’ll outline a shared vision for what a public-interest seed system can look like and examine the ways our current Canadian policy environment benefits or hinders seed sovereignty. For decades, farmers and allies have organized to fight for seed systems that support farm livelihoods, food sovereignty, the environment, and the public good – and we sustain those advantages by staying engaged. Join us to explore how you can help shape policies that strengthen farmers’ rights and our collective seed sovereignty into the future.
Event Presenter(s)
Aabir Dey
Aabir developed his passion for seeds while he was completing his Sustainable Farming Certificate at Everdale, a teaching farm in Hillsburgh, Ontario, and supporting research trials for Seeds of Diversity’s collection of over 3,000 different Canadian seed varieties. After completing a Master of Environmental Studies at York University, researching organic seed systems in Ontario, Aabir joined the The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security, as Regional Program Coordinator for Ontario. Aabir has co-authored publications on Canada’s seed system including the Canadian Organic Seed Sector Environmental Scan, the Discussion Paper on Seed Policy in Canada, and Canadian Organic and Ecological Plant Breeding Priorities for Vegetable Crops, and Building Climate Resilient Seed Systems in Canada. He has been instrumental in shaping and leading the training, research, and policy programs developed for SeedChange’s Canadian program. Aabir loves working in the field with seed producers and farmers all over the country, and is committed to helping them build climate-resilient seed systems.
Cathy Holtslander
Cathy Holtslander is the Director of Research and Policy at the National Farmers Union. In addition to policy research, analysis and writing articles and briefs on NFU policy issues, she convenes working groups of NFU members addressing policy issues. Prior to joining the NFU staff in 2011 she taught ABE in Northern Saskatchewan, was the Coordinator of the Saskatchewan Eco Network, co-published Synergy Magazine, and was a founder of, and worked for the Beyond Factory Farming Coalition, an organization promoting sustainable livestock production. Her Master’s degree focussed on social movement adult education and the history of women’s leadership in the farm movement in Saskatchewan. She also has degrees in Sociology and Regional and Urban Development. She and her partner have operated a certified organic grain farm near Mont Nebo, SK since 2009.
