Seed Production Funding Opportunities

The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security is proud to announce three funding opportunities in support of seed production and seed saving across the country. Read below for details on each fund, and click on the relevant link for full details, including applicant eligibility and how to apply!

Local Seed Training and Exchange Fund
Call for proposals: October 1, 2013 – November 15, 2013

In order to keep a diversity of seed varieties in circulation and available to producers and gardeners, Canadians need to learn how to grow and save high quality seed. This funding is available to help create opportunities for seed savers to come together, learn from each other, and exchange ecologically grown, regionally adapted, and biodiverse seed varieties. Up to $1,000 per event is available for seed saving training and seed exchange events across Canada. To learn more and submit an application, click here.

Public Access and Regional Seed Diversification Fund
Call for proposals: October 1, 2013 – November 30, 2013

Canada’s farmers and gardeners rely on a narrow crop gene pool, composed mainly of seed varieties that are not ideally suited to Canada’s diverse and challenging growing conditions. This funding offers capacity-building support across Canada for organizations whose programs increase the diversity of seeds available to farmers and gardeners, especially of food crop varieties suited to local bioregions. The total amount to be allocated across the country in 2014 is $35,000. To learn more and submit an application, click here.

Seed Facilitation Fund: Scaling Up and Bulking Up Ecological Vegetable Seed and Grains Call for proposals: November 1, 2013 – December 31, 2013

Canada’s farmers, seed producers, processors and retailers need high quality grains and vegetable seeds in the quantities and varieties appropriate for their operations and markets. The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security will support producers and organizations looking to expand, diversify, and/or integrate seed production into their operations.

The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security’s Seed Facilitation Fund is issuing a call for proposals for three categories of activity:

1. Variety trials and bulking up
2. Capacity building
3. Capital investments for seed production

The funding targets ecologically produced vegetable seeds and grains (both seed and food crops of grains are eligible). The total amount to be allocated across the country in 2014 is $150,000. To learn more and submit an application, click here.