Proposed protocols for adjusted DUS and VCU for OVs of selected crop species in the scope of the temporary EU experiment on OV

Summary

The organic sector aims to uphold organic principles across the entire value chain —from the earliest stages of developing new plant varieties to the final steps of food processing. The advancement of organic plant breeding (OPB) and the increased availability of organic varieties (OVs) are crucial for strengthening and keeping pace with the growth of the organic sector. A better resilience to biotic and abiotic factors through more intra-varietal diversity is a valid breeding strategy for OPB and OVs. To support the market access of this variety category, there is a need for a coherent framework for breeding, testing and registration; aligned with the specific needs and standards of the organic sector. While the production and marketing genetically very diverse Organic Heterogeneous Material (OHM) is developing rapidly based on simplified notification in force since 2022 (EU 2018/848; EU 2021/1189), the registration based on the temporary derogation for OV is still lacking behind, despite the fact that in Europe more than 50 organic breeding initiatives have already developed at least 230 OV of 49 species.
Before legally marketed in the EU, all plant varieties must be officially registered. For registration in a National List and/or the EU Common Catalogue, an official two-years’ trial by a national Examination Office (EO) must take place to assess DUS of the variety:
Distinctness (from all other known varieties), Uniformity (in their key characteristics) and Stability (of the characteristics after repeated propagation). The intra-varietal diversity of OVs may not fully meet the level of uniformity required for official plant variety registration. For agricultural crops, an additional Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) test is required, proving the variety’s advantages e.g. in yield, quality, or resistance compared to existing varieties.