The project “Promotion of Organic Plant Breeding” supports ongoing organic plant breeding projects. Its aim is to enhance the availability of more high-quality seeds that are adapted to organic and low-input farming systems and local conditions, and that contribute to a more sustainable food production.
Christine Arncken-Karutz, FiBL
Implemented in
- Europe and Central Asia
- Switzerland
Sectors of activity
Agricultural and Fishery, Food & Beverage, Scientific Research, Development and Innovation
Type of initiative
Capacity Building & Implementation, Education & Awareness Raising, Research, Analysis, Assessment
Start date
01/10/2016
End date
30/04/2021
Submitted on:
15/08/2018Objectives
The availability of high-quality seeds of a wide range of species and cultivars that are adapted to organic and low input farming systems and local growing conditions are key for sustainable and diverse food production. However, organic farmers still have to rely on organic seed derived from cultivars that have been bred for high input conditions lacking resistance to seed or soil-borne diseases, nutrient use efficiency or weed tolerance. The project aims to accelerate the organic plant breeding and seed sector by:
(i) developing novel breeding concepts (participatory breeding, breeding for diversity);
(ii) delivering new breeding tools and screening systems;
(iii) elucidating the biological basis of crop resilience and plant-soil microbe interactions;
(iv) developing resistant breeding material;
(v) testing different seed treatments to improve seedling vigour and
(vi) strengthening small breeding initiatives and stimulating collaboration among actors to close the most urgent breeding gaps.
Activities
As collected through the One Planet Reporting
Output level
Knowledge resource and technical tool
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Organic plant breeding day
Organic plant breeding day
Regions
Europe and Central Asia
Lead organization
FiBL, Switzerland Sativa Rheinau AG Getreidezüchtung Peter Kunz Poma Culta Agroscope
Objective
Networking among conventional and organic plant breeding. Exchange of knowledge on breeding strategies, selection tools and seed treatment among Swiss and German actors and European projects on organic plant breeding. Discussion about consequences of new organic regulation in Europe. Promotion of organic seed and plant breeding.
Achievements
Participants requested to repeat the activity. Meeting received attention of newspaper. We presented examples of participatory plant breeding involving the whole value chain. A challange was to find a good balance between presentations and active involvement of participants.
Outreach and communication for SCP
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Broccoli tasting to improve population varieties and foster market launch
Broccoli tasting to improve population varieties and foster market launch
Regions
Europe and Central Asia
Lead organization
FiBL, ProSpecieRara, Sativa AG
Objective
Testing of boccoli population varieties in comparison to standard F1 hybrids, improvement of breeding methods, inclusion of the entire value chain, foster rapid market launch
Achievements
Population varieties with comparably good results as the standard F1 hybrid. Positive feedback from the producers. Good communication between actors of the value chain. Results can be used to recommend the choice of varieties. A challenge was not to miss the harvest date because certain varieties very quickly form heads with open flowers due to the hot temperatures.
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Webinar on the current status in organic pea and lupin breeding 'Legumes - protein crops of the future'.
Webinar on the current status in organic pea and lupin breeding 'Legumes - protein crops of the future'.
Regions
Europe and Central Asia
Lead organization
Getreidezüchtung Peter Kunz (gzpk)
Objective
The main goal was to inform farmers, researchers and interested people about the ongoing work on organic pea and lupin breeding.
Achievements
To change the format of a field day to an online webinar was challenging. However, the live streaming was a success. Instead of as usual 20 to 40 attendees, more than 300 people participated in the webinar. The new format allowed people from abroad to participate and people who missed it can watch the uploaded broadcast. Today there are more than 1200 views. Organic breeding contributes to agrobiodiversity, reduction of synthetic fertilizer and pesticides, and soil degradation due to more robust cultivars and higher level of diversity. Access to adapted seed is key to combat hunger
Impact and Results
In organic farming, the focus is on self-regulating systems and closed cycles where quickly soluble synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are not used. Organic farming makes a significant contribution to sustainable and environmentally friendly food production. The project intends to raise awareness on activities for organic breeding and its impact on sustainable food systems. The value chain is being communicated by sharing knowledge and spreading information about the need for action from the perspective of producers, market-oriented breeding activities are initiated and supported. At the same time, innovative and practical screening tools are developed, in particular for resistance and quality breeding and latest findings in epigenetics and microbiome research for plant breeding is explored and implemented. Existing synergies are being exploited and new collaborations are being formed among private and public breeders and breeding researchers as well as other key players in the value chain.
Next steps and how to get involved
Email the Research Project lead; Dr. Monika Messmer, FiBL Switzerland with any questions and follow our social media updates on @FiBLBreeding