b"Prohens experience is that by digging in the germplasm and using appropriate breeding methods accepted in organic breeding, it is possible to obtain high yields under organic con-ditions, at least as high as that of varieties bred for conventional agriculture and used under organic conditions.In some cases, probably yes, but in most cases not, says Cardi. He shares that the productivity gap is not always so impor-tant. It becomes important when it has significant implications in terms of areas that must be used for agriculture or when it is not compensated by higher prices, he adds.ES: DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO ALLOW NEW BREEDING TECHNIQUES INTO ORGANIC PLANT BREEDING?For Prohens, this would depend on the acceptance of the con-sumers and the organic growers community. From the technical point of view, they would provide advantages, but my feeling is that organic consumers and associations would not accept them, as it goes against the organic production philosophy. According to Cardi these techniques should be allowed. Gonzalez also believes they should be allowed, provided that they would not be considered as regulated GMOs. If this requirement is met, plant breeding innovations can make an enormous contri-bution to speed research and development of more tolerant/resist- Csar Gonzalezant varieties, Cardi says. This would be clearly beneficial for organic farming, where use of pesticides is much more limited. identify the producers and distribution actors. Accepting organic ES: DO HETEROGENEOUS PLANT VARIETIES PROVIDE Aproducts with pesticide residues, even if authorized for organic RISK TO THE FARMER? cultivation, would be unacceptable in my view.For Cardi it would depend on the crop, the trait and the market.Cardi says that he thinks it should be mandatory. The qual-Some degree of heterogeneity can help increase crop resilienceity of the final product should be anyhow assessed, independently and farmers' ability to combat plant stresses. It cannot be tol- of the methods used for cultivation. erated, however, when it influences too much the quality of theEFSA already conducts annual reports on pesticide residues final products.in food (which include organic food, as well). Compared to con-Prohens indicates that it would be a risk of less uniformityventionally produced food, the maximum residue level exceed-in the product, which may be essential for certain markets or forance and quantification rates are usually significantly lower in processing in which very specific standards of characteristicsorganic food. However, around 15% of the organic food samples are needed. And of course, heterogeneous varieties although arecontain quantifiable residues2 says Gonzalez.known to provide a greater yield stability, on the long run may be less productive than lite homogeneous varieties, he adds. ES: THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF ORGANIC SEED. IS IT FAIR TO STATE THE MULTIPLICATION OF UNTREATED NON-ES: IN THE EU (AND IN MOST OTHER COUNTRIES IN THEORGANIC SEED, WOULD LEAD TO ORGANIC SEED?WORLD) ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IS ALLOWED TO USEIn my opinion yes, says Cardi. In any case, today I am afraid it PESTICIDES. SHOULD THIS BE ENTIRELY FORBIDDEN? is a necessity, that will last longer depending on the availability Biocontrol products are and should be allowed in organic farmingof reliable organic methods for plant breeding and seed produc-says Gonzalez. However, for synthetic pesticides, there is a bantion, he adds.in place and therefore, only in case of unacceptable impacts onGonzalez mentions Euroseeds is of the opinion that the prin-the environment should be allowed. In line with the transparencyciple of organic production may still be preserved if organic seed commitments, maybe the question should be, should these dero- is multiplied from untreated, non-organic basic seed. And that gations be publicly accessible and/or labelled? he asks. decisions on derogations shall solely be taken based on assess-Prohens says pesticides should not be forbidden becausement of organic seed availability on EU level.there are natural pesticides compatible with organic agricultureBreeding companies have been able to provide enough that can help to manage the incidence of pests and diseases, ide- high-quality seed for a growing demand of seed for organic farm-ally in combination with the use of natural enemies or antagonists. ing, Gonzalez says. However, the type of plant reproductive I think it is not possible to forbid pesticides in organicmaterial provided has changed over the years and this trend is agriculture, says Cardi. It is important, however, even withexpected to continue. pesticides approved for organic agriculture, to have data aboutAccording to Euroseeds own surveys, by type of plant repro-toxicity on humans and animals.ductive material, it is expected that seed propagated under cer-tified organic conditions keeps growing, while conventional ES: SHOULD TESTING FOR PESTICIDE RESIDUES ONuntreated seed remains stable or decreases.ORGANIC PRODUCTS BECOME MANDATORY IN THE EU? Ideally organic seed should be produced under organic One of the main drivers for consumers to buy organic food is thatconditions, but more research should be made to be able to opti-they believe it is free from pesticides but making it mandatory tomize under organic conditions, the production of pathogen-free analyse all organic products could become very expensive, sayshigh-quality seed, says Prohens. I think that generally this is Prohens. I think that they should have the same levels of controlsfeasible, but abusive use of exemptions has delayed the produc-than conventionally produced food and a traceability system totion of seed under organic conditions.1. https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/food-farming-fisheries/farming/documents/market-brief-organic-farming-in-the-eu_mar2019_en.pdf 2. https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2019.5743 26IEUROPEAN SEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM"