b'field. Forty per cent of our assortment canto growing societal demands for quality be used by organic growers, says Bos. Thefoodstuffs produced according to high companys organic assortment is growing,standards in terms of the environment, because of increased market (grower &biodiversity and animal welfare.consumer) interest, and it therefore intro- This dynamic should continue duced high quality seeds specifically forsince the European Commission set the the organic food market. All these varie- target of 25 per cent of agricultural land ties have in common that they have strongin organic farming by 2030 as part of its resistances combined with a good yield.Green Deal. This mode of production can And in addition, the organic varieties havehelp ensure the sustainability of food pro-been bred for a broad spectrum of localduction and consumption, while helping farming situations, attracting consumers,to protect nature and halt ecosystem deg-thanks to their distinctive shape, visualradation, she adds.appeal and/or flavour, she adds.At Vitalis we have the highest-rank-Bayer has a long history of servinging seed quality, and our germination customers who seek to participate in thelevels are at the highest standards, com-organics market. Today, many of ourparable to the conventional sector says untreated, conventional vegetable seedvan Diemen. He underlines that in this varieties and biological crop protectionway, farmers can be sure that they are products are critical tools for organicgetting seeds with the highest germina- Paul Degreef. Source KWS Vegetables growers around the world, says Williams.tion levels. This shows in the ever-grow-The consumer market for organic produceing number of farmers that keeps coming is growing rapidly and globally.back for more seeds of his company.Some of our best customers areWilliams mentions that her company organic growers. As their markets growserves growers in the EU and all over and organic standards continue to requirethe world and believes they should have increased use of organic seed, we havethe freedom to choose the tools or the invested in delivering an organic portfoliopractices that best suit the needs of theirTHE COVID CRISIS to support them, she adds. farms and the needs of their customers.HAS REINFORCED Vitalis main breeding activities lieAcross everything we do, we remain in the open field crops: pumpkin, lettuce,committed to being a partner of choice,THE WILL AMONG endive, leek, spinach, fennel, cauliflower,providing best-in-class varieties and and several other species. But our maintailored solutions to support our cus- EU CONSUMERS, TO crop is pumpkin, where we have a largetomers and partners in growing healthyCONSUME MORE diversity in both species as well as inbusinesses and a healthy world, says types, says van Diemen.Williams. ORGANIC PRODUCTS.At Bejo, organic and conventional NEW BREEDING TECHNIQUES INprograms share the same breeding pro-ORGANIC BREEDING gram, such as the selection of parent lines If it were up to Weijland, all permittedand all the trial crosses. From the start breeding methods should be allowed inour breeders include specific organic organic breeding because this fits in atraits or potential organic variety selec-sustainable intensification strategy that istions in their conventional program, preferred for high potential organic farms.says Weijland. Then, at the earliest stage New Breeding Techniques are increasingpossible the Bejo breeders start selecting the reach of resistance breeding, whichfor their organic program under organic has an important role in organic plantgrowing conditions. We strongly believe breeding, he says. that the success of our organic program is tightly linked to the strong cooperation MORE ATTENTION TO EUbetween conventional and organic breed-ORGANICS ing efforts. Very often the selected organic Our company is engaged to developtraits are also very welcome for use in organic plant breeding programs to pro- conventional farm-systems in the future. vide solutions for the development of moreAtRijkZwaan,Bossaystheir sustainable agriculture and healthy food,organic vegetable portfolio enables says Fargier-Puech. organic growers to profitably capitalise She underlines that the COVID crisison the growing demand for organic vege-has reinforced the will among EU con- tables (at retail and consumer level), with sumers, to consume more organic prod- strong, resistant crops that always meetsPauline Fargier-Puech. Source Gautier Semencesucts. And that organic farming respondstheir requirements.EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEAN SEED I 25'