COABC Conference and Annual General Meeting 2005

Seeds for the Future Conference and AGM
Mary Winspear Centre at Sancha, Sidney BC
Starting on Friday, February 25, 2005 at 6pm
Ending on Sunday, February 27, 2005 at 3pm


Seeds for the Future

Seeds, carefully selected, saved, and re-planted by generations of farmers, are the key to agriculture. This process is being threatened; by genetic engineering which threatens to change the integrity of the seed supply, and by legislation which threatens to place control of seeds into the hands of transnational corporations.

These issues, which are front and centre at this year's conference, are of critical concern to all of us: farmers, distributors, processors, retailers and eaters. The conference will be an opportunity for all of us to gain information, analysis, and skills to develop a sustainable seed supply -- and a whole lot more.

Highlights include:

• A keynote address on Friday evening by Humberto Rios, the dynamic and articulate head of the participatory seed breeding program in Cuba, focusing on seed development from the ground up. Other sessions on the seed theme include: a presentation on the new Plant Breeders Rights legislation, by Stewart Wells, President of the National Farmers Union, a workshop on Seed Saving, and (getting right down to earth) the Sunday Seed Sale.


• A Friday evening reception, hosted by IOPAⁱ and SIOPAⁱ


• Trade Show and Poster Presentations (open at 6PM Friday): a marketplace of products and ideas to challenge your imagination.


• Practical and interactive workshops throughout Saturday and on Sunday afternoon covering a wide range of topics


• Saturday evening’s banquet and dance with delicious food, convivial drink, can’t- help-but-dance marimba music, and Roma Tomato, our lively MC and auctioneer. Come celebrate with your organic community.

and...


• The auction!! The creative wealth of our community is reflected in the range of items to be auctioned: clothing, books, art, food, wine, tools, SEEDS – endless possibilities. If you would like to donate an auction item, just bring it with you. We’ll have both a silent auction and a live auction Saturday night: auction items will be on display from 6PM Friday evening until auction time.

For information, registration, accomodation, please contact:
Lee Fuge
Conference Coordinator
738 Selkirk Avenue, Victoria BC V9A 2T5
ph: (250) 385-7974
email: leefuge@pacificcoast.net

For schedule and details please see the COABCⁱ page:
http://licensees.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/AGM2005/