b'fertile, and the climate representative of the environment in the targeted farming area. The unique combination of these factors is not easily found and often not found at all elsewhere.Additionally, seed production areas are often located around seed companies sitesi.e., breeding stations, research centers, seed production sites, etc.which cannot be moved in a short timeframe and not without severe economic consequences for companies and related jobs. Seed companies have been estab-lished in those areas historically and in association with special-ized, technically qualified multiplier farmers. Sensitive AreasOne may ask why breeders activities, such as breeding nurs-eries, stations, seed multiplication, etc., are often located in sensitive areas? As more and more areas are being considered sensitive areas, seed companies and breeding sites are often already located in sensitive areas, not because they were moved there intentionally but because they have been in those places for years before the areas were deemed sensitive. In fact, sensitive areas often naturally match ideal seed-breeding and seed-production areas It is necessary then to keep operating within these areas in order to keep the capacity of breeding and seed production. Especially for seed production and breeding nurseries, distance criteria need to be considered in order to avoid mixing and/or purity contamination of seed lots by unwanted cross-pollination of plant varieties or breeding lines. In some areas, there is high grade seed production and it is not possible to find new areas with sufficient distance to existing seed production lots. For example, for spinach seed production in Denmark, no Amalia Kafka is Technical Manager Sustainable SeedTechnologiesnew, sufficiently isolated areas for production are available to be at Euroseeds found.Seed companies perform strict external field inspections to get phytosanitary certificates. Consequently, they need to make sure there is no failure in terms of seed health. Therefore, control The use of treated seeds can also be considered a precisionof diseases is necessary, and the use of pesticides must be pos-farming technique of plant protection products. Being a tar- sible when needed.geted, onetime application on seed, seed treatment effectivelyRegulation also often requires seed production areas to reduces the proportion of soil that comes into direct contactbe free from pests and diseases and commercial seed to be with the active ingredient(s). Additionally, seed treatment limitsfree from weed seeds. For example, seed potato production the potential exposure for operators, bystanders and non-targetis mainly confined to windy coastal areas of Europe, and such species. areas are now considered sensitive areas. In these areas, there is low aphid pressure and therefore less chance of virus transmis-Severe Impact for Seed Sector sion. Consequently, there is a higher chance to produce healthy Nevertheless, the seed sector is expected to be severelystarter material. In addition, variety testing locations are selected impacted by this SUR proposal, since a significant amount ofto be as representative as possible compared to farmers activi-seed production in the EU, as well as plant breeding activities,ties. These locations need be in same areas, as otherwise breed-occurs in sensitive areas. To produce clean and healthy seedsers cannot meet their customers and consumers needs. and plant breeding, farmers need access to plant protection products that have a high level of pest/ disease control.Lets Talk Percentages!Seed breeders and seed companies choose production areasA considerable percentage of agricultural landwhich is for a number of factors important for breeding and seed pro- considered sensitive areasis used for seed production, plant duction, incuding a specific and unique combination of soil andbreeding and variety testing. As shown in the examples below, climatic conditions, isolation from other producers, as well asplant breeding and seed production take place in small but geographic properties such as access to water. The soil must bestrategic locations. Seeds are the starting point of the whole 92/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2023'