b'SINCE YOU ASKEDBY: NIELS LOUWAARSPURITANS AND BLENDERSD iscussions are ongoing in OECD strip cropping where different crops areing to perform; and thus, commercially a with regard to the certification ofgrown in one field, harbouring insects indisaster. But gene editing could promise variety mixtures in more cropsone crop that eat pests in the other. It isa quick way to achieve the same. A more than just the grasses and maize mixturesall ecologically intricate to prove benefitsrecent example is mixing snap-tolerant (such as for refuge in the bag). It is aand practically complex to integrate intoand -resistant maize hybrids so that the discussion with several angles and takingthe farming system, but increasingly pos- resistant ones keep their neighbours a position seems on the one hand easy,sible for farmers to apply, given - in manyupright. Well-designed mixtures could but after further deliberation it may becases - government financial support. Socreate yield stability now that seasons more complex. far fine for us, since these measures dontappear to increasingly differ given the Our gut reaction is no way. We havetouch the seed sector significantly, theycurrent experiences of climate change. been taught to carefully guard the iden- even open up markets for flower seeds.So, some visionaries have already tity of our varieties and hybrids and beThe next level debate does affect usstarted, but for most breeders the selec-very tough on off types and admixtures.more directly though: diversity withintion towards combining ability in this Furtherwe have selected our varietiesthe crop! There arenotably in thesense is likely a new challenge. It might to optimally perform as pure stand, soorganic sectorpeople that say thatfurthermore be a daring issue for the why mix them? diversity per se is functional, withoutseed production planners and marketeers And from a business point of view,needing any proof. Such ideas also takeas well. Of course, the agronomic and we are wary of the risks when merchantsroot in the context of evolutionary breed- processing/consumption qualities such start mixing our seeds with other varie- ing, where populations are created thatas maturity period, brewing quality and ties. After opening our bagswho willcan re-shape themselves in the particularproduct uniformity of vegetables need to be liable for any performance problems?environment where they are grown. Evenbe guaranteed. Despite these many com-What will happen with our reputation inthough promoted by some scientists withplexities, it may be worth to look into cre-the market when the name of the mer- a real breeding background, I cannotating blends. chant features big on the bag, and theunderstand that this could work towardsIn the political reality that all biodi-variety names of the components some- an acceptable yield level. We have for soversity is good, arguing against varietal where small in the corner? long been breeding against the forces ofmixtures is a fight against windmills. There are some lobby challengesnatural selection, which in the end pro- And in the ecological reality that resil-though in this development. Biodiversityduces only weedy ecotypes, that allow- ience may be hard to breed for in one and nature conservation have been buzz- ing natural selection to do the job seemsgenotype, I wonder whether arable crop words for several decades now and hassenseless. Their simple message is thatbreeders should learn from their forage been encroaching on the agriculturalbiodiversity is always good. Such simplecolleagues who do select for mixing diver-areas as well. It starts with landscapemessages can easily stick with policysity in the bag, sell it under their own level complaints about billiard stylemakers without specific agro-ecologicalresponsibility and brand name and thus Lolium grasslands, cereal deserts with- knowledge. keep a good grip on the market.out any red, white and blue of poppies,There are examples though of func- Because in the end, it could produce chamomile and corn flowers, and milestional diversity within a crop. One relatesa better product for your customers and and miles of boring maize. The nextto multiline breeding in cereals whereeven support from agricultural policy step is more scientific: the functionaldifferent near-isogenic lines differing inmakers. biodiversity in agricultural lands, focus- rust resistance genes are grown together,Dare to blend but blend wisely!ing on serving pollinators, and as waysproviding functional benefits in a wheat to reduce crop protection chemicals. Itfield, that may provide easier resistanceNiels Louwaars is the Managing translates in policies towards floweringmanagement than a stack of the sameDirector at Plantum. This article does field margins, landscape elements suchgenes. This was tried a long time ago; itnot necessarily reflect the views of all as hedges andincreasingly researchedwas extremely costly and time consum- Plantum members.38IEUROPEAN SEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM'