Analysing Interventions in the Seed and Breeding System for Organic Carrot Seed Use in Germany - a Multi-Agent Value Chain Approach

Summary

According to the EU organic regulation, organically multiplied seed should be used in organic farming. Due to organic seed shortage, derogations to use non-organic seed can be obtained.
By 2036 the EU plans to phase out these derogations and achieve 100% organic seed for the sector. In order to identify measures to smooth this transition, we developed an ex-ante multi-agent value chain approach based on mathematical programming to evaluate potential strategies to boost the organic seed and breeding sector. We selected the case of organic carrots for the fresh market in Germany for its importance in the organic sector in Germany and in the EU as a whole. The identified measures at seed multiplication level are either a subsidy of at least 50 €/Mio organic seed production or an investment in pest control of organic carrots for seed production. Additionally, a subsidy of 150 to 500 €/ha organic carrot production or a price premium of 5 to 10 €/t organic carrots for the use of organic carrot seed at farm level would be advisable according to our estimations.