We are excited to launch our pilot training in Grain Seed Production. Apply by July 1st 2026!
This newly launched course is designed to give participants the skills and confidence to take rare grains from seed into wider production, while gaining a deeper understanding of the politics of grain sovereignty in the UK.
If you are a grower, farmer, baker and/or grain enthusiast wanting to grow diverse grains on a small to medium scale, we would love to hear from you. We will focus on the skills and knowledge needed to grow rare grains for seed.
Online evening sessions will run from September 2026 to September 2027. Initially, these will be held fortnightly – the second and fourth Monday of the month during sowing season – moving to monthly from November onwards.
Sessions will cover a range of related topics and will be taught by a variety of practitioners in the UK diverse grains movement, including Robyn Minogue (South West Grain Network), Chris Maughan (Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience), Lisa Housten (Lauriston Farm) and Fred Price (Gothelney Farm).
In addition to online learning, participants will grow three small-scale grain seed crops* as part of the course. These crops will be grown for learning purposes, with participants recording their experience through a seed journal.
*We will grow two ‘heritage’ / ‘diverse’ wheat crops and one modern-bred wheat. Each crop will be grown in 10m x 1m strips. The suggested sowing times for the selected crops is September 2026, so participants should have an idea of where they will sow before they apply and should prepare the area ahead of the first session if their application is accepted.
There will also be an opportunity to take part in a study trip in summer 2027, looking at grain seed production in the fields. Participants will be responsible for their own travel arrangements.
Course Dates:
Online sessions will take place from 18:00 – 19:30 on Monday evenings on the following dates:
14 September 2026
28 September 2026
12 October 2026
26 October 2026
9 November 2026
14 December 2026
11 January 2027
8 February 2027
8 March 2027
PLUS: Seed journal sharing session in Sept 2027 (date TBC)
Attendance at a minimum of 80% of online sessions is required to pass the course.
Additional in-person visits will be decided with your cohort and coordinator. There will also be an opportunity to take part in a study trip in summer 2027.
Applicant Prerequisites:
Before you apply, please check that you are aware of and can satisfy the following:
You have a desire to grow grain crops for seed, both during and beyond the training period
You can commit to the online sessions listed above. Online learning is delivered via Zoom
You are willing to give feedback on this pilot training at the end of the course
You can commit to becoming/remaining an engaged member of the wider grain and seed sovereignty movement
You have access to land to grow crops, which you will track in your seed journal – 3 x strips of 1m x 10m – and are able to acquire basic protective infrastructure, e.g. bird scarers, netting (more details can be given about this during the course)
You have access to land to expand production to a small to medium scale once the course finishes
You have 3 – 4 years’ experience of growing crops to a professional level (or have on-site support from someone with this level of experience)*
*This is a pilot, and our vision of who the trainees are isn’t completely formed. We welcome a diversity of applicants and applications, even if you are unsure you meet the prerequisites completely. If you feel that these requirements are currently out of reach, we would still like to support you in your learning journey. Please contact seedsovereignty@gaianet.org to discuss alternative options.
Application process:
For the 2026/7 pilot, we can accept 20 participants onto the course. To take part, please fill out this online on the weblink.
Please note that completion of this application form does not constitute an offer of a place. All applications will be reviewed by the Seed Sovereignty team, who may wish to contact you for further information. The application deadline to apply for this pilot training programme is 1 July. You can expect to hear if your application is successful by 1 August.
Course Fees:
Places on the 2026/7 pilot course are available for £200, with half-price subsidised tickets (£100) and full bursaries offered to those who may find these fees a barrier to their attendance. Course fees contribute towards session delivery, speaker remuneration, and the strengthening of this training and the wider grain sovereignty movement.
Successful applicants will receive details with ticket purchasing information by 1 August 2026.