b"thanks to technological seed research and development we havefor the sector. Nonetheless, we have had good discussions on this high confidence in the quality and strength of our seeds resultingspecific topic, and we are hopeful that the legislation is moving in in less damping-off diseases and much better resilience of crops.the right direction.A great plus of vegetable crops is that they are a rich source ofApart from that, we also feel that current EU regulations for vitamins and minerals and they make a huge contribution to people'sre-export are quite cumbersome. It should be easier to import seeds health. On a global scale, the impact of the vegetable seed sectorfrom outside the EU, to be processed, cleaned and/or packaged in cannot be underestimated. In developing countries, where micro- the EU, and then exported again to countries outside of Europe. The nutrient malnutrition is chronic and debilitating, the imbalancedre-export rules need to be conducive to enable efficient international diets lead to the death of millions of people each year. Vegetablestrade and in the new PRM this needs to be fully acknowledged.are important sources of micronutrients such as vitamin A, iron andIt is a well-known fact that plant pathogens continue to mutate other phytochemicals that are essential to good health. In short, weand eventually break through the genetic resistances, and we are can say that the vegetable seed sector is a very dynamic, and quiteexperiencing a stronger development of new disease strains. Recent complex sector and plays an important role in human nutrition.examples in spinach and tomatoes (on ToBRFV), show how breed-ers have been able to respond fast and effectively helping growers to SWE: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TYPICAL DYNAMICS OF THEsecure food supply. It is of vital importance that breeders maintain VEGETABLE SEED SECTOR? their responsiveness. All the more so because regulations on the MVDV: The vegetable seed sector is about many crops. Across thedevelopment, approval and the use of crop protection products are main vegetable seed companies breeding is done on more than 50becoming very restrictive. vegetable species. And these species, each with many different varie-ties, have their own characteristics, suitable for different climate and growing conditions, soil conditions, disease pressures, harvesting preferences, storability, or consumer preferences. There are also huge differences in cultivation time. For example, spinach is harvested as complete crop in a couple of weeks. As the season progresses and the growing conditions change, a spinach grower will need more spinach varieties in one year. In contrast, one single Asparagus plant produces a harvestable product for about eight years. A large part of all vegetable seeds is travelling across borders during the process of seed production, seed processing and sales of seeds, so we can easily say that the vegetable seed sector is a very international activity.Another interesting aspect is the resistance breeding in the var-ious vegetable crops. In lettuce, one of the main pathogens, downy mildew (Bremia lactucae), mutates rapidly and breaks through the genetic resistance. Luckily, lettuce is a crop with a short growing season allowing the breeder to build in a new Bremia resistance in about two years, whereas the process of adding a new resistance in a biennial crop like onion is considerably longer. The vegetable seed sector has a unique approach to the whole value chain, as seed companies basically develop end-products for consumers, rather than for food processing. In general, a vegetableThe vegetable seed sector is about many crops. Across the main vegetable seed is directly transformed into the vegetable on a consumers plate.seed companies, breeding is done on more than 50 vegetable species.As a result, there is a very direct relationship with the retailers and consumer organizations. And this obviously leads to different discussions and emotions on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs)The breeding of new varieties is often a rat race to produce new and GMOs. resistant varieties in the shortest time possible. Wed like to get the Its very important that we all understand these dynamics toseeds of these new varieties as soon as possible to the growers so remain effective. Because the dynamics will never change. On thethey can continue to produce their vegetables in the most sustainable contrary: we should be able to become more responsive to changingmanner. However, the latest version of the PRM proposal contains situations such as climate change, urbanization and the strong wishrestrictions on the production and marketing of such varieties before towards more sustainability. All these challenges put a lot of addi- the registration is approved, and these restrictions will lead to major tional pressure on introducing new vegetable varieties. delays in product development. Eventually this will cause significant problems for growers resulting in supply problems to consumers.SWE: WHERE DO YOU SEE CHALLENGES FOR THEAnother challenge are the exemptions that have been proposed EUROPEAN VEGETABLE SEED SECTOR? for the informal seed markets. Bejo is very supportive of the organic MVDV: Looking at the diversity within the vegetable seed sector,sector in general. We offer an extensive assortment and invest in it is clear that the EU regulations on Plant Reproductive Materialsolutions to help cultivation organically. However, as it comes to (PRM) must take this diversity into account. Otherwise seed breed- loosening the phytosanitary rules for certain niche sectors, we are ingproduction, processing and saleswill become unworkablevery concerned that it may lead to the introduction of dangerous in Europe.pathogens, which till now we were able to keep out of the EU with One of the concerns lies with the proposed EU regulations onthe current strict rules. We need to secure the entire EU against Value for Sustainable Cultivation and Use (VSCU). These regu- uncontrolled plant health risks and not allow such exemptions.lations introduce a sustainability component in the VCU process,The EU is seeking to regulate new genomic techniques (NGTs). which is new for vegetables. And this will present quite a burdenThese techniques contribute to sustainably providing a sufficient and MAY 2025|SEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPEISEED WORLD EUROPE I 11"