Grant will help non-GMO seed farmers - News - DailyTidings.com - Ashland, OR

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Grant will help non-GMO seed farmers Thursday Dec 8, 2016 at 12:01 AM Local report Jackson County seed farmers will get a boost with the award of a $55,356 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The grant recipient, Our Family Farms, will research the potential to increase the production and sales of non-genetically engineered (GE or GMO) vegetable seeds grown in Jackson County. Grant funds will be used to assess market opportunities with national and international seed companies and develop a marketing and production plan for area seed farmers. Jackson County voters in 2014 passed a ban on genetically engineered agricultural production. “This grant is an affirmation of the significant economic development potential of Jackson County’s ban on genetically engineered crops,” Our Family Farms Director Elise Higley said in a release. “Jackson County is a Seed Sanctuary. This helps ensure the purity of the food grown by farmers here and enables us to grow seeds for farmers across the U.S. and the world.” Our Family Farms, an advocate for family farms and traditional seed crops, led the campaign to ban genetically engineered crops in 2014.