Enhancing resilience through seed system plurality and diversity: challenges and barriers to seed sourcing during (and in spite of) a global pandemic

**Background:** The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted seed supply chains globally due to lockdowns, travel bans, and social distancing measures. In the US, panic-buying and heightened safety precautions overwhelmed the commercial seed sector, particularly affecting non-commercial growers. Despite recognition that informal (farmer-managed) seed systems are critical globally—with 80-90% of farmers in some Global South countries depending on them—these systems remain largely overlooked in the US, where the formal seed sector dominates. This study aimed to examine how Vermont growers navigated seed sourcing challenges during the pandemic and what this reveals about seed system resilience.

**Methods:** A convergent mixed-methods design was used, collecting data in fall/winter 2021-2022. Quantitative data came from two online surveys (n=152 total after merging and removing duplicates) deployed via Qualtrics to commercial producers through UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture listservs and NOFA-VT, and to individuals involved in informal seed networks. Qualitative data came from semi-structured interviews (n=31) with Vermont seed growers, sampled purposefully from survey respondents and through snowball sampling. The interview sample was 65% female, 35% male; 68% home gardeners/homesteaders, 32% seed librarians/seed group members, 26% commercial farmers/seed producers, 13% plant breeders/seed company employees. Average seed saving experience was 16.7 years. Quantitative analysis used McNemar tests and binary logistic regressions; qualitative analysis used emergent coding in NVivo v.16.

**Key Results:** 52% of survey respondents reported some difficulty accessing seed in spring 2020. The most common challenge was "variety unavailable from usual source" (43% before COVID, 39% since COVID—not significant). Only "long wait time for order" (11% before vs. 20% since, p<0.01) and "unable to place order" (7% before vs. 15% since, p<0.01) worsened significantly. "High cost" decreased from 16% to 8% (p<0.05). Non-commercial growers were significantly more likely to face order placement issues (p<0.01) and long wait times (p<0.05) since COVID compared to commercial growers, but had less trouble with high costs (p<0.05). 91% of respondents had used an informal source in the last three years; 59% used both formal and informal sources. Only 5% of growers took no response to challenges. The only significant predictor of adaptation strategy was that individuals who used informal sources were more likely to respond by using their own seed stock (p<0.01). Interview data revealed that growers adapted through early purchasing, seed saving (average 32% of planted stock), and established networks. Community initiatives included free seed baskets, online seed catalogs for low-income Vermonters, and new seed libraries.

**Clinical Implications:** While not a clinical study, this research has implications for public health and food security. The findings demonstrate that reliance on any single seed source increases vulnerability to disruptions. Supporting both formal and informal seed systems—seed system plurality—enhances resilience by providing redundancy and diverse options for growers. The study highlights that systemic challenges (e.g., lack of diverse, locally adapted, organic seeds) predated COVID-19 and persist, suggesting that resilience requires not just stability but also the ability to meet diverse grower preferences. For food system policy, this supports investments in community seed banks, seed libraries, and farmer-to-farmer networks alongside commercial seed infrastructure.