b'SINCE YOU ASKEDBY: NIELS LOUWAARSWHO ARE THE MAJOR SEED SUPPLIERS OF THE ORGANIC SECTOR?A ll farmers need good seed, irre- It is those biodynamic parts of thelessons. But it is to jointly stress the impor-spective of their agronomy or theirorganic sector that are most interested intance of good quality seed and represent the markets. The diversity of companieslocal conservation varieties participatoryfirst link in the value chain in its entirety. in the sector provides almost all the seedspopulation breeding, which both by defi- That there are different views about organic needed by farmers. Organic farmers havenition are geographically restricted in theirbreeding and breeding for organic, different three choices: a) obtain seeds from suppliersvarietal adaptation. It is fine that they getviews about seed companies large and small that are fully organically certified, b) sup- their space in the organic seed regulations,and maybe some other issues, thats all pliers that have a certified organic productbut it should not provide opportunitiesfine, but lets together represent the whole line next to their conventional seeds, or c)for cowboys in the seed market to pro- organic sector in all its diversity.they can produce it themselves or get somevide unidentifiable and poor-quality seedThe goal should be, in my view, to care-from colleagues. If good organically grownto farmers. If there is a strong personalfully balance which rules need to be set by seeds are not available, organic producersconnection in a village between farmerlaw, and which can sufficiently be organised are allowed to use conventionally producedand seed supplier, seed quality problemsin the value chain certification rules of the seed as long as it is not chemically treated.can be dealt with locally, and the law anddifferent organic sub-sectors. The Danish Without having precise data, becausenational seed quality authorities may notorganic sector gave an interesting example the organic certification agency in theneed to step in. The main exception is ofon this thought in the NGT debate. They Netherlands does not keep such records, Icourse seed health, which may also affectclearly said that at this moment they may dare to say that Plantum-members provideall neighbouring fields. However, as soon asnot be ready to use NGTs, but they dont over 95% of the seeds to Dutch organicseed supply is professionalised and distribu- rule out that useful products come out of farmers for all or almost all crops. Plantumtion occurs over longer distances such as inthis research. They thus suggested to leave has a productive collaboration with thelarge conservation networks, then organicthe ban on the use of NGTs in the organic organic value chain organisation Bionext;farmers need to be provided with the samesector out of the EU-law. That view has not on some fields we support each other andprotection that all farmers have. It is thereached the IFOAM view on the issue.on others we need to put energy to under- guarantees for farmers about identity andThe first step is to have the organic standing each others positions.quality that was and still is the basis for theseed producers duly represented in all We dont have direct contacts withPRM regulations. national seed associations, and to voice IFOAM, the global industry organisationI would dare to say that the largetheir wishes and concerns in discussions for organic agriculture and food. Whatmajority of organic producers want, likewith policy makers and politicians. This strikes me is the overriding influence thatany farmer, the best yield of quality prod- may likely lead to constructive discussions they have in various policy debates. Whatuct from their land, given the requirementswith organic value chain organisations like IFOAM seems to be capable of is to effec- of their value chains, and the very best seedIFOAM on the various seed policy issues. tively line up the organic sector behind itsthat delivers these. And if not constructive, then it will at least positions. The only way for them to do thatIt is high time for the seed companiesprovide policy makers with the diverse is to position the voice of the loudest factionthat provide the large majority of varietiesopinions that exist in the organic seed within their very diverse constituency, i.e.and the bulk of seeds to the organic sectorsector on which they can make up their often the biodynamic members, as the posi- to make their voice heard in the politicalmind. We do represent the organic sector tion of the whole sector. Fully organic seedarena. This should not necessarily be toat a very important link of their value chain: companies can be a member of IFOAM;oppose the role of IFOAM; I think thatthe seed! those that have a large market share, butthe organic sector has taught conventional which also serve a significant conventionalagriculture a number of very important seed market, cannot. 52ISEED WORLD EUROPEISEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPE'