Seed company formed to serve organic sector
Seed company formed to serve organic sector
SEVEN organic growers and Elm Farm Research Station are tackling the shortfall in organic seed in the UK with the formation of the Organic Seed Producers Company.
The move is a key step to ring-fencing organic production from the influence of conventional agriculture, said EFRC director, Lawrence Woodward, at last weeks launch.
"A major flaw in the vision of organic production is that too much of it relies on the unsustainable technology and infrastructure of conventional agriculture. This is especially so with seeds."
That is no longer tenable due to the advance of GM technology and the end of the derogation on use of conventional seed for organic production in Dec 2003, he said.
Organic seed breeding programmes are being developed across Europe and EFRC has set up variety trials in five counties under organic conditions. OSP aims to supply nearly 20% of the UKs organic winter cereal seed next autumn and more thereafter.
"We have about 150ha of organic seed crops and are committed to increasing our production in future years. Our initial objective is to make available a good percentage of the most commonly grown crops," said managing director, Roger Wyartt.
Seed crops include Hereward wheat, Solva oats, Clipper and Silver spring beans and Paragon and Axona spring wheat. Spring bean and oat varieties are still to be finalised.
Ownership of the firm is split between EFRC, Mr Wyartt and the growers, which include FW Farmer Focus writer Mike Rowland.
"Profit is not the first purpose of the organisation; we plan to make a profit but the major aim is to break the cycle of lack of organic seed and growers reliance on conventional stocks," stressed Mr Wyartt
Organic cereal seed price this autumn will be £400-£500/t, he estimated. *
ORGANIC SEED MOVES
• New seed company launched.
• European breeding programme.
• Training and testing for FSS.
• Ring-fence industry from GM.