September 25, 2009

Source: issue III/2009 of the Newsletter on Organic Seeds and Plant Breeding

In November 2008 Demeter Germany passed worldwide the first organic breeding standards. In the recent months about twenty vegetable varieties and three cereal varieties have been already certified.

I Scope and Principles

1. The standard for certified biodynamic plant breeding has been developed largely by the Association of Biodynamic Plant Breeders. It is contained in the contract between the user of the descriptor “Biodynamically Bred Variety” and the respective organisation (e.g. Demeter e.V.). It applies to the breeding enterprise that is active in Biodynamic plant breeding, as well as to the products, the varieties produced by certified Biodynamic plant breeding.
2. Recognizing that not every conceivable case of variety development can be covered by these standards, extrapolation of these standards and the procedures concerning exemptions are to follow the mission-statement which is published by the Association of Biodynamic Plant Breeders (ABDP)
3. Any variety that is offered for sale and which originates from biodynamic breeding must have a full biography of its development published on the internet and freely available. The biography must comply with the template contained in Section 2 of the 'Regulations' as developed by the ABDP and entitled “Steps towards transparency in the development of varieties.”

II Objectives of the plant breeding standards

The aim of this standard is to describe varieties that arise from biodynamic plant breeding using defined criteria in order to differentiate these varieties from others, which are not allowed to use this descriptor. The labelling of varieties in the way this standard foresees as “From Biodynamic Plant Breeding” is intended to make the breeding methods standing behind such products clearly visible. When products carry the Demeter logo, it is clear only that they have been grown on a Biodynamic property, but not however from which seed. Through reference to the breeding, the particular origin of the seed material can be highlighted.

For further information see: http://www.abdp.org/index.php?id=117 or get in contact with
Michael Fleck, (ABDP and Kultursaat e.V.), fon: ++49 (0) 60 35 / 20 80 97
fax: ++49 (0) 60 35 / 20 80 98; URL: http://www.kultursaat.org/

Website: http://www.fibl.ch

Published: September 25, 2009