Organic plant breeding: a challenge for practice and science

Summary

This paper gives a short overview of the current practical and scientific challenges of plant breeding programmes for organic agriculture in Europe. Research is challenged to prove that organic plant breeding is more than just conventional plant breeding for another market, and to develop appro-priate concepts and strategies for improving varieties adapted to the principles and needs of organic farm-ing systems. Emphasis is on defining crop ideotypes and selection criteria, and on developing selection strategies, and on socio-economic and legal obstacles.