Organic Seed Alliance
Organic Seed Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advances organic seed systems in the U.S. through online courses, the biennial Organic Seed Growers Conference, multi-state research (OSPREY, State of Organic Seed), free web-based farmer tools, and federal-level policy advocacy serving organic farmers, seed growers, plant breeders, and seed companies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersPort Townsend, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Organic Seed Alliance does
Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2003 and headquartered in Port Townsend, Washington, that advances organic seed systems in the United States through an integrated four-pillar model of education, research, advocacy, and outreach. Its education pillar delivers multiple online courses (Organic Seed Production, On-Farm Plant Breeding for Resilient Organic Systems, Asynchronous Organic Seed Production, and a Midwest regional course) plus field days, webinars, and publications. Its research pillar is anchored by the OSPREY project — a multi-year, USDA NIFA-funded, multi-location replicated trial program running across seven states with Oregon State, University of Vermont, Cornell, Colorado State, and other university partners — and the State of Organic Seed monitoring initiative. Its outreach pillar is built around the biennial Organic Seed Growers Conference (the largest organic seed event in North America, drawing 413 in-person and 286 virtual attendees from 36 states in 2025), regional seed summits in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, California, and Southeast, and quarterly community calls. Its advocacy pillar focuses on organic seed policy and intellectual property rights, with formal influence via a seat on the National Organic Standards Board.
OSA's underlying technology consists of free web-based tools — the Organic Seed Producers Directory (a B2B matching platform), Variety Trial Tool (Shinyapps-based analytics), Seed Economics Toolkit (enterprise budget calculators), Seed Cleaning Toolkit, and Organic Seed Commons (community network) — together with a substantial content library of manuals, how-to guides, proceedings, and reports. The SeedLinked platform, integrated into OSPREY field days, supports participatory variety evaluation.
The business model is donation- and grant-driven rather than commercial. Operating revenue derives primarily from charitable contributions, federal grants (USDA NIFA OREI, SARE, TOPP), modest conference registration fees (with free or deeply discounted tiers for peer-reviewed speakers), and freemium publication distribution. There is no equity, no parent company, and no fundraising rounds; the organization is governed by a board of directors and led by Executive Director Laurajean Lewis with a staff of 11-50 across programs, research, policy, and outreach.
Organic Seed Alliance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Organic Seed Alliance
- Legal name
- Organic Seed Alliance
- Website
- https://seedalliance.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Organic Seed Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advances organic seed systems in the U.S. through online courses, the biennial Organic Seed Growers Conference, multi-state research (OSPREY, State of Organic Seed), free web-based farmer tools, and federal-level policy advocacy serving organic farmers, seed growers, plant breeders, and seed companies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Organic Seed Alliance industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Education and Research
- NAICS
- Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112)
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Organic Seed Production & Plant Breeding (Certified Organic Seed) (AFAGAKAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Foundation Seed Production (AFAGAIAA), Organic Certification Services (AFALAMAA)
Keywords
Where Organic Seed Alliance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Port Townsend
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Organic Seed Alliance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Organic Seed Alliance relies on charitable donations from individuals and organizations. EIN 51-0175667.
- Conference Registration Fees: Revenue from biennial Organic Seed Growers Conference registrations, including in-person tickets ($150 for discounted speaker rate) and virtual tickets ($15 for discounted speaker rate)
- Publication Sales: OSA regularly publishes and distributes resources including manuals, record-keeping materials, conference proceedings, policy reports, and webinars, many available free of charge with donation support
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One-time | In-Person Conference Full Registration (Peer-Reviewed Speakers) |
| Other | One-time | In-Person Conference Discounted (Research Posters & Lightning Talks) |
| Freemium | One-time | Virtual Conference (Peer-Reviewed Speakers) |
| Other | One-time | Virtual Conference Discounted (Research Posters & Lightning Talks) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels14 records
Organic Seed Alliance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Organic Seed Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers education, research, advocacy, and outreach programs to advance organic seed systems. Its offerings include online courses on organic seed production and on-farm plant breeding, the biennial Organic Seed Growers Conference, regional seed summits, the OSPREY research project, the State of Organic Seed monitoring initiative, online toolkits (Variety Trial, Seed Economics, Seed Cleaning), the Organic Seed Producers Directory, the Organic Seed Commons network platform, and policy advocacy resources.
Product overview
Organic Seed Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers an integrated suite of education, research, advocacy, and resource programs rather than a single commercial product. The core education offerings include the Organic Seed Production Online Course, On-Farm Plant Breeding course, and Asynchronous Seed Production course. Research is led by the OSPREY project (Organic Seed Production Research on Economics and Yield) and the State of Organic Seed monitoring initiative. The organization hosts the biennial Organic Seed Growers Conference (the largest organic seed event in North America) alongside regional summits and quarterly virtual calls. Publications include conference proceedings, how-to guides, and manuals. Resource tools include the Organic Seed Producers Directory, Variety Trial Tool, Seed Economics Toolkit, Seed Cleaning Toolkit, and Organic Seed Commons online platform. Advocacy efforts focus on seed policy and intellectual property rights.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Organic Seed Production Online Course
- On-Farm Plant Breeding for Resilient Organic Systems (Online Course) Online course teaching farmers how to grow and select locally-adapted plant varieties through participatory breeding methods.
- Midwest Organic Seed Production Online Course
- Asynchronous Organic Seed Production Course Self-paced, interactive course exploring organic seed production techniques and practices.
- Organic Seed Growers Conference Biennial gathering, the largest event in North America focused solely on organic seed, convening seed growers, plant breeders, researchers, and advocates with workshops, demonstrations, farm tours, lightning talks, and networking.
- Regional Seed Summits Regional events including California Organic Seed Summit, Midwest Organic Seed Summit, and Pacific Northwest Organic Seed Summit for community building and education.
- Virtual Open House Quarterly Calls Regular virtual calls bringing together farmers, seed stewards, and industry stakeholders for connectivity and knowledge sharing.
- OSPREY (Organic Seed Production Research on Economics and Yield) Project Multi-year research initiative addressing critical needs in the organic seed sector through replicated trials, economic tools, and participatory research across four model crop categories.
- State of Organic Seed Project monitoring the status of organic seed in the US and providing a roadmap for increasing the diversity, quality, and integrity of organic seed available.
- Seed Cleaning Toolkit Practical how-to guide for beginning and experienced seed growers on seed cleaning techniques and equipment.
- Seed Economics Toolkit Economic decision-making tools and resources for organic seed producers including enterprise budgets and breakeven price calculator.
- Variety Trial Tool Online tool for conducting and analyzing variety trials for organic seed evaluation.
- Organic Seed Producers Directory Online directory connecting organic seed producers with seed companies and wholesale seed buyers.
- Organic Seed Commons Online network platform for seed people to connect, collaborate, and access seed community resources.
Quantifiable outcome
- 413 in-person and 286 virtual attendees from 36 states and internationally at 2025 conference
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Organic Seed Alliance
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Organic Seed Alliance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Organic Seed Alliance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Oregon State UniversitycoreResearch partner in the OSPREY (Organic Seed Production Research on Economics and Yield) project, contributing to multi-location replicated seed yield trials and participatory research.
- University of VermontcoreResearch partner in the OSPREY project conducting replicated trials and developing economic decision-making tools for organic seed producers.
- Cornell UniversitycoreResearch partner in the OSPREY project contributing expertise in seed production research and organic systems.
- Colorado State UniversitycoreResearch partner in the OSPREY project, including hosting field research trials at CSU Extension.
- Carolina Farm Stewardship AssociationcoreRegional partner in the OSPREY project supporting organic seed stakeholders in the Southeast region.
- SeedLinkedcoreTechnology partner providing the SeedLinked platform for participatory variety evaluation during field days and research trials.
- Highland EconomicscorePartner developing seed enterprise budgets and breakeven price calculator tools for the OSPREY project.
- North Carolina State UniversitycoreCollaborating institution for the Organic Seed Growers Conference 2027, co-presented with Organic Seed Alliance in Asheville, NC.
- Nature and Nurture SeedscoreCo-host of Midwest Regional Seed and Plant Breeding Field Day at their farm in Dexter, Michigan. Farm-based seed company offering heirloom vegetable, flower, and herb seeds.
- Seed to Kitchen Collaborative (University of Wisconsin-Madison)coreOngoing partnership with university researchers for collaborative plant breeding projects in the Upper Midwest, including participatory variety trials and breeding programs.
- Finnriver Farm & CiderycoreHost location for OSA's Northwest Research and Education farm at 124 Center Road, Chimacum, WA. Co-hosts field days and community events.
- Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP)majorPartnership with USDA's TOPP program for mentoring seed growers and supporting transition to organic seed production through the Seed Mentor Guidelines program.
- Culinary Breeding NetworkcorePartnership for Variety Showcase events bringing together plant breeders, seed growers, farmers, chefs, and consumers to explore the role of seeds in the food system.
- eOrganiccoreDistribution partner for webinars and educational content on organic agriculture topics through the eOrganic platform.
- College of the RedwoodsminorHost location for OSA's California Research Field at the College of the Redwoods Organic Farm in Pescadero, CA.
- Washington State UniversityminorPartner for seed saving workshops and educational programs through WSU Regional Small Farms.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Organic Seed Alliance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Seed Savers Exchange: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving heirloom seeds and promoting seed saving. Directly comparable to OSA in mission, nonprofit structure, education focus, and community-based model, with a larger collection-based focus and broader consumer membership.
- Organic Farming Research Foundation: A nonprofit that funds organic farming research and advocates for federal organic agriculture policies. Comparable as a small nonprofit combining research funding, policy advocacy, and education for the organic agriculture community, with overlapping grant funder relationships and policy goals.
- Native Seeds/SEARCH: A nonprofit seed conservation organization based in Tucson, Arizona, focused on preserving indigenous and arid-adapted seed varieties. Comparable as a nonprofit seed steward with a regional focus, community education programs, and conservation mission, though specializing in Native American seed traditions.
- Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES): A nonprofit that provides education and resources to organic and sustainable farmers, with a strong focus on the Upper Midwest region. Comparable in nonprofit education model, conference hosting (Organic Farming Conference), and farmer-facing resources, though with broader crop and farming focus beyond seed.
Emerging players
- Open Source Seed Initiative: A nonprofit initiative that develops and releases open-source plant varieties, freeing them from patent restrictions. Comparable in mission to protect seed freedom and counter IP restrictions, though focused specifically on plant breeding and variety release rather than education and research programs.
Others
- Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE): A USDA-funded program that funds sustainable agriculture research and education projects. Comparable as a funder and program partner for organic seed research (OSA receives SARE funding), with overlapping research themes and audience, though operating as a federal program rather than an independent nonprofit.
- The Organic Center: A nonprofit research and education organization that conducts and convenes peer-reviewed research on organic agriculture. Comparable as a research-focused organic agriculture nonprofit with federal relationships and peer-reviewed output, though with broader organic systems focus rather than seed-specific mission.
- eOrganic: An online community of organic agriculture researchers and extension specialists that distributes webinars and educational content. Comparable as a channel partner for organic agriculture education and content distribution, with overlapping content topics and audience, though broader in scope beyond seed.
Broad incumbents
- Crop Trust: An international nonprofit focused on conserving crop diversity through seed bank support and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Comparable as a major seed-focused nonprofit, though operating at global scale with a conservation mandate rather than the farmer education and participatory research model that defines OSA.
- Rodale Institute: A larger, well-established nonprofit focused on organic agriculture research and education. Comparable as a major organic agriculture nonprofit with research farm infrastructure, federal grant relationships, and education programs, though with a broader whole-systems focus rather than seed-specific mission.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Organic Seed Alliance social profiles
Digital presenceOrganic Seed Alliance compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Organic Seed Alliance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Organic Seed Alliance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Organic Seed Alliance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Organic Seed Alliance M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Organic Seed Alliance
What does Organic Seed Alliance do?
Organic Seed Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers education, research, advocacy, and outreach programs to advance organic seed systems. Its offerings include online courses on organic seed production and on-farm plant breeding, the biennial Organic Seed Growers Conference, regional seed summits, the OSPREY research project, the State of Organic Seed monitoring initiative, online toolkits (Variety Trial, Seed Economics, Seed Cleaning), the Organic Seed Producers Directory, the Organic Seed Commons network platform, and policy advocacy resources.
Is Organic Seed Alliance a public or private company?
Organic Seed Alliance is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Organic Seed Alliance founded?
Organic Seed Alliance was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Organic Seed Alliance based?
Organic Seed Alliance is headquartered in Port Townsend, United States, in the North America region.
How does Organic Seed Alliance make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are conference Registration Fees and publication Sales.
Who are Organic Seed Alliance's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Seed Savers Exchange, Organic Farming Research Foundation, Native Seeds/SEARCH and Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES). Open Source Seed Initiative is listed as an emerging player. Others are Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), The Organic Center and eOrganic. Broad incumbents are Crop Trust and Rodale Institute.
Does Organic Seed Alliance have an API?
No public API is recorded for Organic Seed Alliance.
What industry is Organic Seed Alliance in?
Organic Seed Alliance's product category is Agricultural Education and Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGAKAF, Organic Seed Production & Plant Breeding (Certified Organic Seed), with a secondary code of AFAGAIAA, Foundation Seed Production. Its NAICS code is 115112 and its SIC code is 700.