The Future of Seed - presented by Lisa Mumm + Aabir Dey
Aabir is the Director of the Canadian field program, The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security. Aabir developed his passion for seeds (and an obsession for garlic) while working at Everdale Farm, where he helped Seeds of Diversity Canada grow their Great Canadian Garlic Collection. He completed a Master of Environmental Studies at York University, researching organic seed systems in Ontario, before joining SeedChange. Aabir has been instrumental in shaping and leading the initiative’s training, research, and policy programs. Aabir is thrilled to be working with seed producers and farmers all over Canada to promote seed security coast-to-coast. (he/him, Guelph)
Lisa Mumm was raised on her family’s organic seed and sheep farm and is a fourth-generation farmer. Together with her mother Maggie Mumm, she runs the family farm and business, Mumm’s Sprouting Seeds.
Lisa works actively to strengthen the organic food system Canada. She has worked with the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network in its efforts to stop GM Alfalfa and is a member of the Organic Agriculture Protection Fund Committee of SaskOrganics. She represents COTA on the Seed Regulation Modernization Working Group on the CFIA’s Plant Breeder’s Rights Advisory Committee. She has served on the Organic Connections board since 2012 and spent seven years on COTA’s board of directors.
Lisa also works to empower women entrepreneurs in the food sector through her roles on the Saskatchewan Food Centre’s Advancing Women Entrepreneurs through Skill Development, Opportunity identification, Manufacturing support and Export marketing (AWESOME) program’s advisory committee, and the Small Scale Food Processor
