WHAT IS SOSS?

• An annual gathering of graduate students, researchers, farmers, and seed industry professionals working in organic seed systems.

• The major annual event of the Society of Organic Seed Professionals (SOSP), the parent organization that has grown out of the SOSS network.

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF SOSS?

• To create a community grounded in both scientific rigor and regenerative ethics, in which the organic seed movement can grow.

• To connect and support graduate students working in organic seed systems, in order both to strengthen their current research and facilitate post-graduate opportunities.

WHAT MAKES SOSS UNIQUE?

• SOSS is centered on graduate students. SOSS was founded in 2012 to support and connect graduate students working in organic seed and facilitate their transition to the professional organic seed sector. While professionals from both private and public seed sectors are essential to the gathering, they are present primarily as mentors.

• SOSS is small. The gathering is intentionally limited to 75 attendees or fewer, and the schedule allows time for in-depth, informal conversations as well as thought-provoking programming. This helps to facilitate nuanced discussions and lasting interpersonal connections.

• SOSS focuses on plant breeding. Plant breeding for resilience in organic systems is the primary focus of many SOSS attendees, but people working on seed quality, seed production, and socioeconomic dimensions of organic seed systems are welcome too.