Nordic Seed Alliance Webinar series 2026
Click the titles of each speaker to watch the recordings.
Webinar 1: Learn to save your own seeds – updates on the European laws
Date: Tuesday 28 April 7 PM (CEST) for 2 hours
Explore seed sovereignty in the Nordic region – from policy and GMO/NGT regulations to breeding, conservation, and culture.
19:00: Welcome
19:05: Introduction – Why grow seeds by Marianne Käfer från Sesam
19:10: Safeguarding Europe’s Seed Diversity – Recent developments from the PRM law negotiations
Judit Feher from KVANN will give an update on the latest developments in the EU’s Plant Reproductive Material (PRM) Regulation.
As trialogue discussions move forward, specific rules are being decided that will directly impact cultivated plant diversity and farmers’ rights.
We will discuss the following points:
- exemption of conservation work from commercial marketing rules so landraces and open source varieties can still be grown and shared
- ensuring farmers’ rights, so they can exchange seeds and plant material freely to help crops adapt to climate change and foster local seed and food preparedness
- educing bureaucracy and heavy administrative costs that might force small-scale seed initiatives out of the market
- importance of implementing clear rules for breeding methods and keeping new GMOs/NGTs out of conservation variety category to ensure a fair system for all
- what actions can citizens take to direct the negotiations towards a farmer and agrobiodiversity friendly direction
19:20: Q&A
19:30: GMO-laws in the EU – What is happening to our right to GMO-free seeds and foods?
June Rebekka Bresson from Miljøbevægelsen NOAH will give an update on the latest developments in the EU’s Law Proposal on “plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed”.
We are at the end of a trialogue process in the EU, and specific rules are being decided that will directly impact cultivated plant diversity and farmers’ rights to GMO-free seeds – and consumers’ right to GMO-free foods. Labels are removed from GMO-foods if the current law proposal is adopted.
We will discuss the following points:
- New GMO-techniques are allowed as conventional breeding-like conditions in European food production. What does that mean to you?
- Importance of implementing clear rules for breeding methods and keeping new GMOs/NGTs out of organic farming and non-GMO agriculture, in order to try to prevent that GMO’s spread to the surroundings.
- What does the law proposal propose?
- What are the consequences, if the law proposal about deregulating new GMOs (NGT-1) are adopted in the EU?
- How far has the law proposal gone? A timeline.
19:40: Q&A
19:50: Break
20:00: How to grow seeds on purpose by Vivi Logan, Danish Seed Savers (Frøsamlerne)
How to start when you want to learn the skill of producing seeds true to type. This webinar takes you through the various types of annual vegetables that are easy to start with, the different types of pollination that occur and the pitfalls that can happen. It also touches on how many plants each species requires, the distance between varieties necessary to prevent cross-pollination and what to do if you can’t make the required distance or number. We end with some seed-harvest and how to extract the seeds.
20:45: Q&A
21:00: Ends
Webinar 2: Seeds- Storage, exchange and food
Date: Tuesday 12 May 7 PM (CEST) for 2 hours
19:00: Welcome
19:02: Introduction – How to deal with seeds by Marianne Käfer från Sesam
19:05: Practical Guide to Seed Drying and Storage by Judit Feher from KVANN
In this webinar we will focus on hands-on practices of maintaining seed quality after harvest, addressing the practical challenges of drying and storage, targeting the needs and possibilities of farmers/gardeners and small-scale seed enterprises. 
We will cover:
- seed vigour: understanding how moisture, oxygen, and temperature—in that order—cause seeds to age and decline
- efficient drying: how to dry seeds effectively to secure quality before storage begins
- storage: solutions to keep seeds dry and protect them from oxygen using cost- and time-saving methods
- overcoming barriers: showing examples and cases to help the implementation of these practics even when time and resources are limited
19:20: Q&A
19:30: Libraries as a way to connect/expand the network of seed workers and seed knowledge, both locally and internationally by Aina Jensen from Nes bibliotek in Norway
19:45: Q&A
19:55: Break
20:00: Seed exchange – Seed savers organisations have different styles
Short intro about how different organizations distribute seeds
- Frøsamlere (Denmark) Louise Windfeldt
- KVANN (Norway) Mari Jerstad
- Sesam (Sweden) Marianne Käfer
20:20: Q&A
20:30: Schübeler’s gardens: KVANN’s growing network of vegetable sanctuaries and demonstration gardens across Norway by Andrew McMillion, the plant science coordinator for KVANN
20:50: Q&A
21:00: Ends
Nordic Seed Alliance Webinar series 2025
Webinar 1: Seeds in the bigger picture: politics, GMO, and the future we choose
Monday week – 15 th September
EU legislative proposal on “New Genomic Techniques” and its potential consequences by June Rebekka Bresson
Intensification of agriculture, GMOs, nature and health
‘New’ Genomic Techniques- and old (familiar?) stories by John Martin Pedersen, Permakultur Danmark
Webinar 2 — Breeding the future: developing seeds & plant material
Tuesday – 30 th September
Organic Vegetable Seed Production in Sweden with Matti Leino, Stockholm University
How can we rebuild local seed sovereignty in the Nordic region?
In this talk, Matti Leino presents the ongoing Swedish research and development project Organic Vegetable Seed Production, running from 2022 to 2027. The project, financed by the Swedish Board of Agriculture and the Ekhaga Foundation, aims to make high-quality organic vegetable seed available for commercial growers by 2037 — when only organic seed will be allowed in organic production.
Through participatory research with farmers across Sweden, the team explores practical challenges and solutions for seed production under Nordic conditions:
short growing seasons
overwintering of biennials
mechanized seed handling
seed health and quality
This initiative shows that organic seed production is possible in central Sweden — and that collaboration, innovation, and shared learning are key to success.
Breeding the future – Experiences from Myhrris Agroforestry with Karoline Nolsøe Aaen, Permakulturhaven.dk
At Myrrhis Agroforestry in Denmark, new generations of perennial vegetables, fruit, and nuts are being bred to thrive in a changing Nordic climate. Since 2017, the 4-hectare demonstration site has combined education, agroecological experimentation, and local food production — showing what resilient, regenerative farming can look like in practice.
In this talk, Karoline shares insights from ongoing breeding and selection work, including perennial kale, Good King Henry, and other promising perennial crops for larger-scale production. The presentation explores how every seed represents an adaptation — and how on-farm innovation can help secure future food systems rooted in diversity and care.
Webinar 3 — Guardians of diversity: conservation and seed keeping
Wednesday – 8 th October
Presentation of Danish Seed Savers
Louise Windfeldt gives a short presentation of the work of the Danish Seed Savers
SESAM – Swedish seed savers
Short introduction to the work of the Swedish seed savers by Marianne Kafer
KVANN – Norwegian Seed savers
Guri Bugge gives a short introduction to the work of KVANN – Norwegian Seed Savers
Ove Möller of NordFrö
In this session, Ove Möller of NordFrö / Fröverkstan will present how a distributed network of small growers can revitalize regional seed sovereignty. Drawing on his experience initiating Sweden’s only 100 % Swedish-grown vegetable seed enterprise, he will share insights into how to structure collaboration among small‐scale producers, maintain quality control, manage variability in seed production, and ensure economic viability. He will also discuss how regenerative practices, transparency (labeling origin), and a hub-and-spoke model help link local seed conservation to resilient community ecosystems.
Ove Möller is co-founder of NordFrö, established in 2019, which markets exclusively Swedish-grown vegetable seeds through collaboration with a network of small seed growers. Under his leadership, NordFrö applies regenerative cultivation, traceability, and small‐scale production models, and has also created Fröverkstan, an economic association for seed producers. His work emphasizes that seed systems should be regional, resilient, and grounded in transparent, community‐based infrastructure.
Seeds to the people – Karin Jansson, Holma Folkhögskola
In this session, Karin Jansson from Holma Folkhögskola in southern Sweden shares her experience of weaving seed saving into organic vegetable education.:” In my work as a teacher in organic vegetable gardening at Holma folkhögskola in the south of Sweden I have also started to include seed saving. I have now had several courses in seed saving during the past 8 years and I constantly have to ask myself how seed saving can be interesting and understandable for the broader public. The courses have led to free seeds to all our students and many projects in seed conservation and amateur breeding.”
Karin’s story highlights how education and community practice can become powerful tools for guarding diversity — nurturing both seeds and the relationships that help them thrive.
Webinar 4 — Seeding Culture: Engaging the public and growing a movement
Thursday – 23rd October
Seeding Regeneration: engaging students in living seed culture with Ellen Pernille Posselt (Denmark), The Regenerative School of Agriculture
How can education nurture a living seed culture? Ellen shares her experience from Sct. Hans Have and the Regenerative School of Agriculture, where students learn through hands-on practice in seed work and soil care. Discover how practical learning and mentorship can cultivate new generations of seed stewards.
Storytelling for Seed Culture: From Garden to Social Media with Jasmin Waara (Sweden), Trädgårdstrollet
Jasmin Waara, gardener, pomologist, and chair of Sesam, uses storytelling to engage the public in seed saving and gardening. Through her blog, social media, and newsletters, she combines education and authenticity to grow an active community of followers. Learn practical ways to communicate your work and build meaningful relationships online.
Nordic Seed Alliance – Founding conference 2025
1 – 2 November 2025
Schedule:
Friday, 31 October
19:00 – Dinner (vegetarian, local ingredients)
20:00 – Film screening: Frökriget by Tina-Marie Qwiberg
(premiered in Sweden Oct 2025 – to be shown on SVT in November)
Saturday, 1 November
08:00 – 09:00 – Breakfast
09:00 – Tea & coffee
10:00 – Welcome and framing of the day
10:30 – Short introductions to workshops
11:00–13:00 – Workshops
Political Framework – Seeds in the bigger picture: new EU regulations on seeds and GMOs ˜ June Rebekka Bresson (NOAH), Judit Fehér (KVANN)
Preservation – Guardians of diversity: seed conservation and dynamic management ˜ Jasper Kroon (Solhatt), Ove Møller (NordFrö)
Development – Breeding the future: developing new diverse varieties
˜ Andrew McMillion (KVANN / Permaculture Norway), Stina Persdotter (SESAM / Permaculture Sweden)
Public Engagement – Seeding culture: engaging people and growing a movement
˜ Bjarne Sigvardt Hansen (OriGENaler), Rasmus Dose Sandorff (Frie Bønder levende land, Organic Youth)
13:00 – Lunch
14:00 – Walk & Talk
14:45 – Plenary & “harvest”
15:30 – Coffee break
15:45 – Film screening: “Seeds ” – a new documentary about nordic seeds by Isabelle Denaro 16:15 – Working groups: needs & next steps
18:00– Seed Mandala (optional)
19:00 – Dinner
All day Seed exchange, film clips,
Evening. live music m informal social time & light bar
Sunday, 2 November
08:00–09:30 – Breakfast
09:00 –10:30 – Regional breakfast meetings
11:00–13:00 – Continued work, reflection & evaluation
13:00–14:00 – Lunch & closing session
Meals & thanks
Vegetarian meals prepared from local ingredients
Thanks to OriGENaler, Aurion, Karl Henning Mikkelsen, and Aleksandra Kudjoare’s Permaculture Garden for generous support and ingredients.
Bøgedal Brew for beer brewed on old heritage varieties from nordic gene bank
General information
The Nordic Seed Alliance conference 2025 will take place at Makvärket in Regstrup (Denmark).