The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security was conceived as a network of organizations working with seed producers to advance agricultural biodiversity across Canada. Officially launched in 2013 with USC Canada (now known as SeedChange) as the national lead organization, Seeds of Diversity as a national partner, and four regional organizations providing on-the-ground support, the network gave an immense boost to Canadian farmers working to increase the quality, quantity, and diversity of seeds they save, adapt, and breed.
The Bauta Initiative has provided training and networking resources for seed growers, support for seed-saving workshops at Seedy Saturdays and Seedy Sundays, and through national research, uncovered the most comprehensive picture yet of the seed and food biodiversity sector in Canada. As a partner with the Bauta Initiative, with funding through the W. Garfield Weston Foundation, Seeds of Diversity has developed its seed conservation and field testing techniques, supported community seed libraries and Seedy Saturday events across Canada, and extended its reach to seed savers in communities from coast to coast to coast.