Organic breeding makes the organic sector better and more independent
The Organic Breeding Hub shows the current state and the central importance of organic breeding.
At the Nuremberg BIOFACH from 12 to 15 February 2020, 12 different organic breeding initiatives will present themselves at the Organic Breeding Hub: It shows what organic breeding has already achieved but also where more development work is needed. Because only plant varieties and animal breeds that are specially tailored to organic farming make organic farming sustainable. This benefits the entire organic sector.
After the great success of the two special exhibitions “Organic right from the start” at the Biofach 2018 and 2019, European organic breeders and market partners, led by bioverita, are once again running the “Organic Breeding Hub”. In Hall 7A of the exhibition center, at Stand 731, visitors get the opportunity to talk to breeders and market partners and learn more about the need for organic breeding. Our central message: Independent organic breeding is a fundamental cornerstone for organic farming and thus also for organic processors and organic traders.
Lots of organic plant breeding for independent organic farming
Most exhibitors work in plant breeding. For example, the Swiss Sativa Rheinau AG provides information on the status of its current breeding projects for kohlrabi, carrots and tomatoes. The plant breeders from various companies present will be happy to personally inform interested parties about their current projects. As Markus Johann, Managing Director of bioverita explains: “Organic farmers rely on robust varieties that produce good results without chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Unfortunately, many crops still lack organic varieties that were bred organically right from the start. And existing varieties are threatened by new genetic engineering methods and the increasing concentration on a few suppliers”. The work of the many regional organic breeders is a counterpoint to the increasing power concentration of the large seed multinationals.
The exhibition also looks at the different stages that various crops are at. Whereas grain breeding pioneers have already launched many established organic varieties on the market, special organic fruit varieties will only reach the market in the next few years. Organic fruit growers like Poma Culta illustrate how laborious their work is. Because organic fruit varieties
