Since agriculture arose over 10,000 year ago, farmers have carefully nurtured their indigenous plant varieties, creating the food, fibre, and energy that humans need to survive.

Farmers’ crop varieties, and the time-tested knowledge needed to nurture these crops, are the foundation of the world’s food supply. All our modern crops are based on farmers’ varieties, and they provide the genes needed to develop new varieties resistant to our changing climate.

However, the future of agriculture is threatened. Over the last 20 years, the world has lost almost 75% of its agricultural diversity. In North America, in the past century we lost 90% of our fruit and vegetables varieties – and we’re losing more every day.

Become a Seed Saviour
You can help by planting organic and heirloom seeds, such as those found in our Seeds of Survival seed packets. After harvest, you can save your own seeds, or share and exchange them with friends, neighbours, and fellow farmers. By doing this, you’ll be promoting and protecting vital agricultural diversity in your own backyard!

Give generously to USC Canada’s Seeds of Survival Program. Your contribution will protect agricultural-diversity and sustainable farming livelihoods around the world.

Donate today! Be a Seed Saviour.

Your donation will help us:

• Build and maintain local community seed banks in Africa
• Train farmers on how to diversify crops and maintain collections of crop varieties
• Organize farmers to save and share seeds
• Support policy and advocacy work in Canada and globally to protect agricultural biodiversity

As a Seed Saviour, we’ll send you electronic copies of our annual Seeds of Survival newsletter, our quarterly E-newsletter, as well as special announcements and calls to action throughout the year to keep you informed about the work you’re supporting and about new developments in sustainable ecological farming around the world.

We’re suggesting a 10$ per month donation. Your monthly gift will ensure that farmers overseas have the steady support they need to protect agricultural diversity. Whatever, you choose to give, just be sure to tell us that you’re a Seed Saviour!

Planting your Seeds

We’re always out criss-crossing the country and talking to Canadians about our work in farming communities. If you’ve seen us in your community recently, you might have picked up a packet of seeds from us. We’ve collaborated with five organic farmers across the country to supply free seed packets in an effort to promote public education about seed issues and encouraging them to become seed saviours.

If you’ve picked up a seed packet, you can learn more about your seeds – how to plant them and the farm that donated them – by clicking on the appropriate link below:

• Cherry Tomato Seeds, from Greta’s Organic Gardens
• Blue Tinge Ethiopian Wheat, Salt Spring Island Seeds
• Heritage Bean Mix, Salt Spring Island Seeds
• Lettuce Mix Seeds, Stellar Seeds
• Mesclun Salad Seeds, Two Wings Farm
• Marrowfat Beans, Hope Seeds

Become a Seed Saviour! Your contribution is greatly appreciated.