Innovations in Organic Seed Systems for diverse seeds and practices

Summary

The European Union has set the objective of achieving full use of organic plant reproductive material in organic farming by 2036 in Regulation (EU) 2018/848. Reaching this objective requires more than increasing the supply of organic seed: it depends on seed systems that can provide high-quality seed across a wide range of cultivars, adapted to different climates, soils, farming practices and uses.
In a context of climate uncertainty, evolving pest and disease dynamics, increasing vulnerability to external supply chains, and growing demands for more sustainable agriculture and greater strategic autonomy in seed supply, organic seed systems face a double challenge. They must provide reliable seed for immediate crop establishment, while also supporting the diversity and adaptive capacity needed for resilient farming systems over time. This means addressing seed quality and health in a broad sense: not only germination and purity, but also diversity, sanitary status, biological interactions and practical conditions for production, storage and use.
To respond to these challenges, LiveSeeding brought together researchers, breeders, seed companies, advisors and other actors involved in organic seed systems across Europe. Through their combined work, the project contributed to improving knowledge, tools and practices related to organic seed quality and health, while taking into account the diversity of actors and contexts in which organic seed is produced and used.
This booklet presents three examples that illustrate the practical impact of LiveSeeding’s work on organic seed systems.