Year of Award
2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
Master of Science (MS)
Degree Name
Environmental Studies
Committee Chair
Caroline Stephens
Commitee Members
Dr. Margiana Petersen-Rockney, Dr. Sarah J. Halvorson, Kiki Hubbard
Keywords
Organic seed systems, Seed sovereignty, Food system resilience, Agricultural cooperatives, Climate adaptation, Agroecology
Subject Categories
Agricultural and Resource Economics
Abstract
This thesis examines the role of small-scale, organic seed growers in Montana and their contributions to the regional food systems. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with members of the Triple Divide Organic Seed Cooperative, Snake River Seed Cooperative, and independent growers across the state, I examine how growers maintain seed diversity and adapt to environmental uncertainty and highlight the collaborative practices that sustain a resilient seed system. While seed is foundational to agricultural production, seed growers themselves are often overlooked in discourse on sustainable food systems. This research brings visibility to the ecological, cultural, and relational labor involved in seed work, from the preservation of genetic lineages and shared knowledge to the cooperative practices that counter homogeneity and consolidation. Montana is a compelling context for this research because of the state’s deep agricultural traditions and strong orientation toward local, sustainable food systems. Situating Montana’s seed growers within broader histories of seed systems and industry consolidation, this study highlights the value of place-based and cooperative seed systems, as well as the challenges of sustaining diversity under contemporary market and environmental pressures.
Recommended Citation
Keynton, Aviva D., "Stewards of Diversity: Seed Growers, Cooperation, & Climate-Adaptive Seed Systems in Montana" (2026). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 12715.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/12715
© Copyright 2026 Aviva D. Keynton