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July 7, 2006
Source:
The European Consortium for
Organic Plant Breeding (ECO-PB)
International meeting on the
use of organic seeds in vegetable production
(improvement of the seed offer – harmonisation of regulation
management)
Date: 28-29 September
2006
Location:
Bejo Zaden
Trambaan 1
1749 CZ Warmenhuizen
The Netherlands
Background for the meeting
In Denmark, as in other EU
countries the experience of many growers shows an inconsistent
management of the organic seed legislation and possibilities for
derogation, especially concerning vegetable varieties.
Differences concerning the interpretation of implementation of
the European Organic Farming Regulation (concerning seeds)
between countries lead to unfair competition among growers, for
instance on export markets. This, in turn, may hinder the
further development in the production and use of organic seeds
in European countries.
To ensure that there is compliance
with the rules in the individual European countries, we consider
it worthwhile to arrange a joint meeting for growers,
scientists, advisors and representatives from the official
bodies/departments administering the rules in the individual
countries.
To attain as large a participation
as possible, we have welcomed the offer of the seed company Bejo
Zaden to host the meeting during their "open day's event".
The meeting will also give the
participants a possibility to meet colleagues from abroad and to
visit Bejo's organic test plots in the field showing their
assortment of varieties from organic seeds together with some
organic varieties from other seed companies.
Participants
- Farmers and vegetable
growers (especially those who represent regional or national
groups/organisations)
- Seed companies involved in
organic seed production
- Advisors/scientists
- The official control
bodies/departments managing the derogation system
- Representatives from the
National Ministries
- Representatives from the
EU Commission
Invitation and registration
All EU and EFTA countries are
invited, but to be able to discuss matters we have set a limit
to the number of participants (80). The responsibility and
coordination for the invitations per country lies nationally by
the national contact persons mentioned in attached list. If you
are interested to participate, please contact the contact
person.
Participants of the same country will be asked to give a joint
presentation concerning the aims of the meeting.
Ambition for the meeting
- To identify realistic
opportunities to use organic seed in the production of
vegetables
- To identify the
reasons for the difficulties in using organic seeds and
making suggestions on how to solve them
- To secure compliance
in managing the rules, hereby also the way in which
derogations are given in the different countries
- The possibility to
meet colleagues from other countries
- To create a common
focus for all players involved in this area
Organisation
The meeting is jointly organised
by :
Language
The official meeting language will
be English.
Location and time
Bejo Zaden has offered to host the
meeting at their Bejo head office in Warmenhuizen. This is 45
minutes from Amsterdam/Schiphol airport.
The meeting starts the 28.
September 2006 13.00 o’clock and ends at 13.00 o’clock on the
29. September 2006. The program includes a visit to the Bejo
organic variety trial fields.
Accommodation (single rooms) are
reserved at a local hotel for approx. 85 euro, including
breakfast. There is also a possibility to camp at a local
organic farm.
Costs
Details on costs will be
communicated as soon as possible. Participants are requested to
cover their own travel and accommodation expenses.
Registration
Registration will soon be possible
on-line, see www.eco-pb.org. Deadline for registration: 1
September 2006.
Extra excursion: on Friday 29 September afternoon there is a
possibility to visit the organic seed company Vitalis Organic
Seeds in Voorst, The Netherlands (www.vitalis.eu). More details
will follow.
Preliminary Program
Thursday 28
September
13.00 - 15.30 Welcome, introduction and field
visit to the variety trials at Bejo Zaden
–Warmenhuizen
16.00- 19.30
Presentations on:
- How are the rules complied in the different
countries?
- Presentation on the Danish project - by Inger
Bertelsen/DK
- Presentation on the evaluation of the
Nationals Reports 2004/5 by Andy Thommen/FiBL-CH
(Organic Revision project)
- Presentations by seed companies (to be
invited)
o What is the additional price for organic seed
in the main vegetable crops?
o In which quality is organic seed delivered
(e.g. germination percent, germination power,
seed-diseases)
o Security of supply – can suppliers deliver
every year
o How fast is the newest variety available as
organic seeds?
o How do seed companies divide the individual
seed lots between countries
o issues related to availability of the seeds
over EU Regions
- Teamwork with 8 -10 participants in each
group. Each group is given a chairman and a
speaker. The following questions have to be
discussed within the working groups:
o How do you as growers experience the
management of the rules in your countries?
o What condition should be fulfilled to make you
use organic seeds?
o Your suggestions and ideas to how the future
managing of organic seed should be? Prioritize
your suggestions.
20.00 common diner
Friday 29
September
8.30 – 12.00
- Presentation from the EU Commission (to be
invited)
- Continued group discussion and plenary
discussion on the arrangements for future steps
to be realised on EU and national level.
12.00 -13.00 Conclusions and further
steps/actions.
List of national
contact persons (PDF):
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2006/pdf/16259.pdf
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