Global Seed Sector Development

Join us in a conversation about practical options for supporting informal and formal seed systems that smallholder farmers will actually use across the globe. This includes discussion about the research that needs to be done, as well as what mechanism is the best fit for farmers.  

For example, are the current seed dissemination programs successful? And if so, what is MSU’s role in those systems? If current seed dissemination programs are not successful, what can we do to improve them?

Seed systems are global in nature – meaning this is a domestic and international issue. In general, seed systems connect directly to the basic human need for food security.  This fits in directly with MSU’s work around food insecurity globally (including right here in Michigan)

We will engage faculty from the Departments of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Food Safety and Human Nutrition, Agriculture, Food and Resource Economics, Community Sustainability, the School of Packaging, International Studies and Programs, and the the College of Education, Engineering, Social Science (Anthropology), Natural Science, Communication Arts and Sciences, and the Broad College of Business.

Brief presentations will be given by:

• Krista Isaacs, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences
• Jim Kells, Chair, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

The primary goals of this program are to:

• establish a long-term, coordinated multidisciplinary initiative on campus that goes beyond any given funding opportunity;
• discuss ways we can engage and build upon the ‘Our Table’ campaign, continuing the goal of making MSU known as the food university;
• explore the potential to compete for the anticipated $25-$49.99 million USAID Seed Systems Support project released on November 20, 2017.

Co-Sponsored by the MSU Center for Interdisciplinarity

The MSU Center for Interdisciplinarity (C4I), located in the College of Arts & Letters, is an academic center of excellence for interdisciplinary activity. C4I works to maximize college and university strengths in interdisciplinary research and teaching and serve as a hub for interdisciplinary activity on campus.