Organic farming

In 2002, breeders produced organic multiplied seeds of 530 varieties for the European market. In 2004, the number of varieties is expected to increase by up to twenty per cent. As of 2004, European directives will prescribe organic plant reproduction material for organic cultivation, but it is not yet clear how broadly the definition of organic parent material in the legislation can be interpreted.

Plantum NL seeks organic seed production priorities by:

• Ensuring that sufficient organically produced seed is available to meet the demand for organic parent material.
• Clearer regulations on production of organic parent material at European level,rather than for the individual member states.
• Workable regulations are created without bureaucracy and excessive registration.

Plantum NL will:

• aim for claritication on the obligation the producer will have for making use of organic plantmaterial in organic cultivation.
• actively monitor the developments in European and Dutch legislation by providing input into the development of EU regulations.
• lobby that organic breeding must be oriented towards the quality of organic parent material, not to the techniques used. Plantum NL aims to exclude as few breeding techniques from organic growing as possible (except GMO techniques).
• transfer the rules to its members.