Breeding for Low Input and Organic systems : stakeholders expectations – French inputs on vegetables

Summary

Adapted varieties are missing for the organic sector. In the framework of an European research programme, the SOLIBAM project (Strategies for Organic and Low Input (LI) Breeding and Management), a survey was undertaken to determine i) the important traits (specific to Organic and LI farming) for cereals including wheat, and horticultural crops including tomatoes, ii) organic stakeholders’ expectations in plant breeding over a wide range of different agro-climatic conditions in Europe and Africa: Ethiopia, France, Germany, Italy, Mali and Portugal. This study aims to provide data where the existing published information remains very low: identification of the varieties currently grown by the organic / LI producers; reasons of their variety choice; producers’ expectations for organic dedicated varieties. Two main market categories have been clearly identified from stakeholders’ answers. These categories and results fit with the hypothesis that the market is a significant factor influencing the choice of seeds and varieties. Expectations and practices of producers selling on a local market (direct sale) differ radically from those of producers selling on the whole market.