About the Film
From Quebec farms to Cornell field trials, farmers and researchers explore what cultivating a future without neonicotinoid (“neonic”) treated seeds could look like in the United States as bans increasingly take effect on the world’s most widely used insecticide.
The film was directed by Ben Willis, produced by Dr. Alisha Utter, with support from Dr. Samantha Alger, Leslie Spencer, and the One Hive Foundation Advisory Council.
The narration is done by Rusty DeWees and logo artwork is courtesy of Lynocut Print Studio.
Watch the Trailer
Screening Dates
October 13, 2026 | Doors 6PM, show 6:30PM
Marquis Theatre (Middlebury, VT)
Film screening and discussion.
Get TicketsOctober 22, 2026 | 5:30PM
Shelburne Farms (Shelburne, VT)
Film screening and discussion in collaboration with Liberation Ecosystem and Shelburne Farms.
Get TicketsPast Events
Meet the Researchers/Farmers
George Foster
Farmer, Foster Brothers Farm, Middlebury, Vermont
Paul Fouts
Farmer, Fouts Farm, Cortland, New York
Jocelyn Michon
Farmer, Le Ferme Jocelyn Michon Inc., La Présentation, Quebec
Renaud Péloquin
Farmer, Ferme Sainte-Victoire, Sainte-Victoire-de-Sorel, Quebec
Stéphane Pitre
Farmer, Les Fermes B. Pitre et Fils inc., Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec
Francis Quintal
Farmer, Ferme Quiko, Saint-Ignace-de-Stanbridge, Quebec
Louis Robert, MS
Agronomist, Quebec
With Support From
Host a Screening
If you’re interested in hosting a screening event for Seeding Change: Farming Beyond Neonics, please fill out this form and a One Hive Foundation staff member will contact you to discuss next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
This film seeks to share the firsthand accounts of farmers and researchers experimenting with seeds untreated with neonicotinoid pesticides. It was inspired as a follow-up to the 2024 panel discussion with Quebec farmers that was hosted with the Northwest Crops & Soils Program and partner organizations. We hope these stories help inform others as they conduct on-farm trials, whether it be voluntary exploration or to comply with legislation.
While Seeding Change was made with an agricultural audience in mind, it holds relevance to anyone interested in learning more about the food system.
For questions about hosting an event or general film inquiries, contact Alisha Utter at alisha@onehivefoundation.org.
The American Bird Conservancy has compiled a list of seed distributors whom farmers have successfully sourced from which you can find here; for additional assistance, contact Hardy Kern (EHardyKern@abcbirds.org)
Resources
Multi-Year University Studies
Farmer-Led Research
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