A Comprehensive Seed Production and Business Training Course for Canadian Farmers
Are you interested in becoming a successful organic seed producer? Canadian Organic Growers (COG) is proud to offer this comprehensive, intermediate course focused on supporting a new generation of successful, commercial, organic seed producers in Canada. Access to organic, biodiverse, and locally adapted seeds is key to the success of the organic farming sector in Canada, yet organic seed availability remains limited.
Farmers across North America and Europe, surveyed in 2021 and 2022, identified a lack of training opportunities in seed production as a key barrier to strengthening the organic farming sector. This course helps address this gap in Canada by offering education on technical seed production as well as the development of a sound business plan in which seed production becomes part of a viable farming livelihood.
This course was designed in partnership with The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security (a program of SeedChange), with funding provided by the Continuing Education and Training Association of BC (CETABC).
Why Choose Organic Seed Production?
Seed is the foundation of our food system. Becoming an organic seed producer offers growers a profound opportunity to make purposeful decisions about the food and farming systems they engage with and endorse.
Becoming an organic seed producer provides opportunities for real world impacts like:
- Creating regionally-adapted seed that is resilient to the threats of climate change
- Creating, preserving and improving seed diversity for more flavourful and nutritious crops
- Alleviating the ongoing shortage of organic seed
- Increasing on farm and ecosystem biodiversity
- Increasing Canadian food security and supporting equitable farms and communities that want to feed people with care
Through this course we aim to cultivate the next generations of Canadian seed producers who, like us, envision a future where organic seed security and integrity is increased, organic farmers have access to resilient and adaptive seed, and alternative seed systems are flourishing.
Discover How Organic Seed Crop Production Fits on your Farm
Through this course, students will develop a thorough understanding of the science and business of organic vegetable seed production.
Students will also learn:
- How to produce organic vegetable seeds
- About the Canadian Organic Standards, certification and regulatory policy in Canada
- How organic seed crop production can be a thriving part of your farming livelihood
- About various seed business models and paths in seed production
- About seed sovereignty, seed stewardship, and Canada’s supply chain
- And much more!
Students will leave the course with:
- A seed crop and business plan tailored to your farming goals and practices, which reflects your region, climate and microclimates, acreage, and other characteristics
- Subject to mentor and funding availability, you may have the option to participate in a farmer-to-farmer seed mentorship program offered by The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security
- A network of contacts. At course completion you will have had opportunities to meaningfully connect with members of your learning cohort, mentors in the seed farming community, and other farmers in your region
- Ongoing support through programming from COG and The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security
- A certificate of completion
Course Overview
Registration
Registration is open!
Tuition: $500.00
The course offers 9 weeks of self-guided learning (7 units) and live learning sessions (6 total) from January 11th to March 12th, 2027. Final course assignment is due on March 28th, 2027.
Registration deadline: November 13, 2026
In order to make our courses as accessible to all as possible, COG strives to reduce financial barriers for registration by offering payment plans. Payment plans can be arranged in two or three instalments, with the initial payment required prior to the course start date. To arrange a payment plan or to discuss details, please contact ovsp@cog.ca.
Course Format
Organic Vegetable Seed Production is a comprehensive intermediate course focused on the science and business of organic vegetable seed production. The course is offered online, is self-directed over nine weeks, and is national in scope.
Students will participate in six live sessions via Zoom; these sessions are designed to enhance the online learning content and may include guest speakers, group discussions on complex topics, case studies, or instructor presentations that provide more in-depth study of key topics.
A knowledgeable course facilitator guides the course over the nine weeks and is there to support students’ learning by answering questions, offering guidance, and connecting with you through discussion posts, email, or one-on-one meetings.
Students may have the opportunity to enroll in a regionally delivered farmer mentorship program to support continued hands-on learning throughout the growing season (subject to funding and availability). Participation is not required to complete the course, but is strongly encouraged if available.
Course Modules
The course will build the competencies needed for successful, commercial organic seed producers. Modules covered in this course include:
- The “why” and “how” of organic seed farming
- Basic botany
- Organic seed quality assurance
- Seed crop harvesting and cleaning
- The business of seed
- Seed production in a changing climate
- On-farm plant breeding and variety trialing
Course Facilitator
Mary Brittain
Mary Brittain is passionate about seed saving and the importance of doing so properly so that we preserve the genetic biodiversity of our food crops and ensure seed sovereignty and seed security.
Mary’s seed preservation journey began on her southern Ontario farm in the late 1980’s, when her twin loves of history and gardening suddenly fused, and she discovered that a plant popular in medieval times was still in existence. Mary’s research led to the establishment of her seed company, The Cottage Gardener Heirloom Seedhouse, which grew to become a national organic heirloom seed company with over 750 varieties of heirloom vegetable, herb, and flower seeds.
Course Assessments
The course includes short quizzes, reflective exercises, and applied case studies. The main assessment is the creation of a seed crop plan.
This course uses a pass/fail evaluation model; participants must complete all modules and assessments to receive their certificate.
Course Access
Students will be provided 24/hr access to the course via an online LMS (learning management system) that houses all course materials and resources so they may learn at their own pace and schedule.
The course will be available to registered students/alumni from the date of purchase indefinitely so they may refer back to it throughout their seed growing journeys.
Additional Requirements
Technology
The course is offered online only. All students must have access to the internet and a computer in order to successfully complete the course.
Time Commitment
Students should expect to spend approximately 5-8 hours per week minimum to complete the course content, readings, activities, and assignments. Please note this is a primarily self-directed course so weekly time commitments may vary with each learner. The four live learning sessions will be 1.5 hours each.
Course Cancellations and Postponements
Canadian Organic Growers (COG) reserves the right to change or cancel a course at any time. When it is necessary to cancel or postpone a course, COG will make every effort to notify all students. It is important that you provide your full contact information including an email address when registering. In such cases, the paid course fee(s) will be refunded.
Refund Policy
- A full refund will be issued provided Canadian Organic Growers (COG) receives a refund request in writing at least 30 days prior to the course start date.
- If the refund request is received by COG after 30 days prior to the course start date and before the end of the first week of the course, a full refund, less a 25% cancellation fee will be provided.
- No refunds will be provided after the end of the first week of the course.
- Failure to take part in a course does not constitute notification of withdrawal and will result in the forfeiture of the entire course fee.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to abide by general academic integrity standards like giving credit, providing accurate references, taking responsibility for their own ideas, and respecting others’ privacy. Students found to be abusing the standards of academic integrity or participating in academic misconduct as detailed below may risk their eligibility and overall participation in the course.
Standards of Academic Integrity
Include, but are not limited to:
- Independently producing assignments and other course deliverables under their own name.
- Providing accurate and appropriately referenced work including listing collaborators or contributors.
- Completing assignments and other course deliverables without giving or receiving assistance (including the use of AI) with the exception of students requiring assistance due to a documented accessibility/accommodation need.
- Respecting the integrity of course materials, copyright and file privacy of other students and COG.
Academic Misconduct
Includes, but is not limited to:
- Cheating (misrepresenting that they have mastered information).
- Fabrication (intentionally using false information, falsifying research or findings with intent to deceive).
- Plagiarism (intentional or unacknowledged use of another persons words, ideas, and or data).
- Helping or attempting to help another to commit act(s) of academic misconduct.
FAQs
Yes – international students are welcome to register for the course. However, please note these important considerations that may impact your course experience:
- The course is offered within a Canadian agricultural context only
- Live course elements will be offered in Canadian time zones only
- The course is offered in English only
- Students outside of Canada will not be able to participate in any on-farm or in person mentorship components of the course
No – this course is intended for adult learners who are at least 18 years of age.
No – there are no prerequisites for this course.
No – there are no textbooks required in this course. However, the course includes readings and other learning activities with each module that we strongly suggest you complete for maximum learning.
No – COG is not an accredited institution. However, the course curriculum and materials were developed in partnership with Vancouver Island University and the Continuing Education and Training Association of BC (CETABC).
Vancouver Island University Offering
Through our funding partnership with the Continuing Education and Training Association of BC (CETABC), COG collaborated with Vancouver Island University (VIU) on the development of their own Organic Vegetable Seed Production course. More information can be found about their offering here: Seed Security | Vancouver Island University | Canada.