In this episode of GermiNation, We explore the seeds that connect us - we’re taking you to the Seed Savers Exchange annual conference and 50th anniversary celebration for conversations with leaders working to preserve and protect seed diversity:

We talk to Bonnetta Adeeb – Founding member of Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance and Ujamaa Seeds, on the importance of African Indigenous seeds. www.ujammaseeds.com

Followed by Nicolas Enjalbert – CEO of SeedLinked, discussing groundbreaking research with USDA NIFA, Seed Savers Exchange, and thousands of farmers. www.seedlinked.com

We finish the show with Linda Black Elk, an American Indigenous seed expert, sharing stories and wisdom about traditional foodways. www.natifs.org

From ancestral knowledge to cutting-edge science, this episode celebrates the seeds that connect us all.

Today, we’re joined by Dr. Scott Heuchelin, the new director of Iowa State University’s Seed Science Center. An ISU alum with over 20 years of experience in seed health and global regulatory policy, Dr. Heuchelin returns to campus after leading international phytosanitary efforts at Corteva Agriscience. Now, he’s guiding the Center into its next chapter of innovation and global agricultural impact.

Music courtesy of Let’s Roll Snowball. Find them on YouTube.