Organic Plant Breeding and Seed Production: Importance and Challenges

Av Singh, Ph.D.

The National Standard of Canada for Organic Agriculture has recently been revised by the Standards Council of Canada and is available for viewing in its draft form. Significant changes in manure management and livestock welfare are noteworthy, but one area that may have widespread affect on the organic industry as a whole is regulations on seeds and planting stock (Section 6, subsection 6.3). Expectedly, the proposed standard encourages selection of varieties locally adapted with resistance to pests and diseases common to the area. However, new revisions limit the use of non-organically produced seeds. Farmers are required to use certified organic seed, bulbs, tubers, cuttings, annual seedlings, transplants when readily available. The suggested changes parallel a similar regulation in the United States Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program (NOP), but are less restrictive than the European regulation, which states that as of December 31, 2002 (a date which has been pushed back a few times) all propagating materials used in organic farming must be of organic origin.

Few would argue that organic seeds aren't essential to organic farming. It makes logical sense that organic seeds are an integral component in maintaining system integrity and wholeness in organic agriculture. However, organic plant breeding and organic seed production are quite limited in their development.

The Need for Organic Plant Breeding
As yet, organic agriculture still depends strongly on conventional plant breeding. Increasingly conventional plant breeding programs are focused on gene technology (e.g., genetically modified), thereby forcing the organic sectors reliance on conventional breeding. Moreover, conventional breeding efforts in the past have largely developed in response to the demands of intensive agriculture production (i.e., increased yields through dependence on external inputs of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides). Alternatively, organic farming supportive of a philosophy promoting the self-regulating principles of the soil, the plants, and the animals, requires a distinct breeding program. Organic farmers need varieties that adapt well to specific soil and fertility conditions (i.e., robust varieties sensitive to natural variability in farm soils). More than conventional farmers, organic farmers value varieties that grow well at low fertility levels (nutrient efficiency), that contribute substantially to weed reduction, that have a high resistance to disease and pests, and often a unique product quality (e.g., taste, colour).

The different requirements for varietal characteristics clearly highlight the importance of breeding and selecting varieties suitable for organic farming under organic conditions. In several circumstances varieties that perform well in organic systems have different yield rankings than those that do well under conventional management. At the same time, it should be noted that organic breeding should not be limited to propagating varieties that have been produced by the conventional system and selling these on the organic market. The future of organic breeding may in fact include "organic varieties" bred solely for the intent of organic farming. Such programs would restrict, if not ban several breeding techniques including genetic engineering, cytoplasmic male sterility, and induced mutations, which would further limit the use of certain varieties and possibly certain crops.

The Need for Organic Seed Production
The drafted regulation reads, "Non-organically produced, seeds and planting stock, free from prohibited substances may be used when an equivalent organically produced variety is not readily available from within the enterprise or from other sources (i.e., commercially available)." Organic seed that is commercially available is usually significantly more expensive than the same conventionally grown varieties. At present, seed companies producing certified organic seeds are limited and are often producing only regionally adapted varieties. Some organic producers have been disappointed with the seed vigour and quality of organic seed and have invested into on-farm seed propagation.

Traditionally, farmers saved a portion of their crops for their own seeds and occasionally to sell to neighbours. If the drafted regulations do pass, this practice will invariably increase and potentially become a viable source of additional income to many organic farmers. However, there are some important factors that should be considered. First, many of the conventionally bred varieties are patented or protected under the Plant Variety Protection Act and therefore may be propagated and sold only by companies licensed to produce the seed. A farmer may save enough seed of a protected variety for their own use but cannot sell to neighbours. Another restriction to on-farm seed production may be the requirement that seed used for organic production must be certified organic. In the past, organic farmers have often relied on fields in transition to produce "organic" seed, not only as a means towards self-sufficiency but an easy way of documenting that the transitional crop was separate from the organic crop. But, under current wording of the regulation this practice would be prohibited, if a readily available organic seed source was present.

The Role of the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada
At present, OACC research coordinator, Derek Lynch in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researcher, Dr. Hans Nass have initiated an on-farm evaluation of barley varieties under organic conditions. The multi-location trial has sites in all three Maritime Provinces. Conventionally bred varieties are being evaluated for yield and disease (e.g., smut, net and spot blotch, fusarium) resistance similar to provincial variety tests. Regional yield stability and rank performance for all varieties at all on-farm sites will be posted on the OACC website at a later date. The research is a preliminary trial to determine which conventional varieties perform best in the humid climate of eastern Canada.

The OACC is working to coordinate similar research in western Canada with University of Alberta plant breeder, Dr. Dean Spaner, and University of Saskatchewan cropping systems researcher, Dr. Steve Shirtliffe. We also encourage organic farmers to contact the OACC directly to express their research needs, relevant to plant breeding and seed production or some other area of organic agriculture.

Harvesting organic barley at an on-farm research site in Parrsboro, N.S..Conventional varieties were managed under organic conditions.

For more information please call the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada at 902-893-7256 or email oacc@nsac.ca