Crop breeding for organic agriculture

Werner Vogt-Kaute, Naturland e.V., Kleinhadenerweg 1, 82166 Gräfelfing, 3.6.2001,

Tel.0049 9357 99952 Fax:0049 9357 99953 e-mail w.vogt-kaute@naturland.de

Edited by Professor Carlo Leifert

1. Introduction
Organic agriculture is regulated by standards at different levels. In the EU there is the Council
Regulation on organic agriculture #2092/91/EEC, which also includes livestock standards since 1999.
Some countries have published additional governmential standards. Furthermore there are organic
farming standards produced by organic farming sector bodies (e.g. Naturland, Bioland, Soil
Association etc.) which prescribe an even higher level of farming standards in many countries. All
these standards do not include specific regulations about plant breeding and seed production. EU
Council Regulation prescribes the use of seed which have been propagated one year under organic
management . This regulation will come into effect on the 1.1.2004 , until then organically produced
seed only have to be used if they are available. All organic farming standards (as defined by IFOAM,
EU, national governments or sector bodies ) insist on the the exclusion of genetic modified organism.
As there is an increasing interest in the selection and/or plant breeding of crop varieties which are
suitable for sustainable and organic production systems, it is expected that organic standards
regulating seed production and crop breeding will be developed over the next 2-3 years.

Until recently discussions about “organic plant breeding standards“ mainly involved bio-dynamic
farmers and their sector body representives However, they often described their “biodynamic“
approach under the theme „plant breeding for an organic agriculture“. In some publications topics
such as the neccessity of organic propagation from 2003, the impact of organic seed propagation
methods on with organic breeding and/or the prohibition on genetic engeneering were combined with
a the call for the prohibition on the use of hybrid seed. Before starting a discussion on „“breeding for
organic and sustainable production“ it is therefore essential to separate and define these different
topics.

2. Definitions:
The terms: “organic plant breeding“, “plant breeding for the organic agriculture“ and “organic
propagation“ describe different topic areas. They need to be exactly defined and must not be used as
synonyms in discussion. It is also important to ensure that political and commercial agendas cannot
influence the development of sensible breeding targets, strategies and methodologies, which are
focused on the production of crop varieties adapted for organic production systems.

1. Conventional breeding – organic propagation

Legal basis: EU – regulation, national regulations, international and sector body standards.
Restrictions in the breeding methods: Exclusion of genetic modifications.

2. Conventional breeding – organic conservation breeding and propagation (planned 3 years

including conservation breeding). Interesting for older varieties which should be conserved as a gene-
pool for future breeding effords and to provide varieties for use and to provide diversity in organic
farming practice.
Legal basis: so fare none, but a draft directive of the AGÖL and Naturland exists

3. Organic breeding and propagation

The main principle of organic agriculture which is to establish a holistic approach to food production
will inevitably require a similar approach for crop breeding . The discussion about the definition of
“organic plant breeding“ and what the criteria are to separate conventional from organic plant
breeding is not finished yet. Based on the current discussions (which took place mainly among
biodynamic farming groups and organisations) the following hirarchy for different breeding
tools/methods has been developed (see table 1):
- are prefered
- are allowed, but in a period of approx. 5 years to check (in other countries: provisionally certified)
- are not suitable
Legal basis: so fare none, draft directives under private law in different countries.

The appendix describes criteria proposed for use by plant breeders who want to lable their breeding
programmes and/or resulting varieties as „organically bred“

However, in order to guarantee breeding progress and success for all crops „plant breeding for
the organic agriculture“, may have to involve all 3 areas at least for some crop species.

3. Common misconceptions about the choice of varieties in organic farming

When considering the seed/variety requirements of the organic farming industry one has to first
discuss a range of commonly made statements:

- „The conventional varieties are unsuitable for the ecological agriculture“

The importance of selecting and/or breeding of varieteies for characteristics important for organic
farming (e.g. resistance against pests and diseases, ability to compete with weeds, nutrient use
efficiency) is undisputed. Also because many of the inputs used in conventional farming (e.g. water
soluble N and P fertilizers and KCL) are not permitted, the priorities for variety selection may be
different (e.g. competitiveness against weeds is unimportant in conventional farming when effective
selective herbicides are available), but is a main selection criterion in organic systems where
herbicides are not permitted and mechanical, flame and/or hand weeding represent the main variable
cost factor. However, many selection criteria (e.g. resistance to many pests and diseases and abiotic
stress factors) have similar importance in both organic and conventional systems and general
statement such as: “The conventional varieties are unsuitable for the ecological agriculture“ are
clearly incorrect. At present varieties suitable for organic prodcution systems are
available/certified.for nearly all crop species (with the exception of barley varieties of poor soils).
However, for some other crops breeders have more recently selected for specific characteristics,
which may not be not suitable for organic production systems (short straw in some cereals).
It is therefore currently difficult to assess, whether there is potential for special breeding and selection
programmes to develop varieties specifically for organic farming systems. But it is sure that more
suitable varieties will be developed step by step.

- „The organic agriculture wants to cultivate old varieties“

This is very much amisconception and very much the opposite is true. Ecological agriculture wants to
share in the progress of breeding, because organic farmers also have to pay attention to productivity
and profibiltiy.
However, organic farmers may favour varieties that have resulted from “conventional“ breeding
programmes some 10 to 30 years ago. This may be because of:
a) more recent varieties lack specific charcteristics (e.g. better organoleptic characteristics; in cereals
longer straw, which is valued because it increases the competitiveness against weeds and provides
more bedding material for livestock)
b) organic farmers have to consider the resource requirements of crops within the framework of their
entire production system (e.g. a higher yield and/or a higher nutrient uptake efficiencyof one crop
may be detrimental to successive crops, and benefits of specific varieties always habe to be
calculated within the whole rotation).
c) there are insufficient research data on the performance of newer varieties under organic
management practices,
d) there is a lack of non-treated and/or organically produced seed of older varieties

However a sufficient profibility of the cultivation of old varieties must be made possible by additional
govermentional money (like already intended in some state programmes).

- „The number of the varieties for the organic agriculture decreases.“

Indeed varieties which were highly suitable for organic production systems have been removed from
national variety-lists again and again and were not always replaced with equivalents (eg. this
happened with baking quality-wheat or high organoleptic quality ware potato varieteies). Nevertheless
the choice of varieties available to organic farmers is higher now than it was 10 years agao, which is
mainly due better access to interesting varieties from other EU-countries. However, in the future, the
choice of varities available to organic farmers may become more restricted, if genetically modified
crop varieties can be grown on a commercial scale in the EU.

- „Eecological agriculture needs regionally adapted varieties.“

Adaptation of crops to regional soil, climate and production systems is an important variety
characteristic. However, agronomic benefits of selecting/breeding local adaptation varies and the
definition of a “region“ varies between crop species. Regions can be divided into different groups
respecting their location-factors. For example there are not too many regions in Germany: Dry and
moist regions, good and bad soils, mild winter with longer time for growing and shorter time of
vegetation.

Breeding companies will always have to consider the additional benefit but also costs associated with
developing a wide range of varieties which are adapted to very specific conditions and the seed
production economies associated with varieties which can be used for a wide range of locations.
Because of the need for profitability for the relatively smaller (organic) segment of seed market,
breeding programmes for organic agriculture should initially focus on the development of varitieties
suitable for many locations.

- „organic farmers are looking for varieties to propagate and save them on their farms“
You need a conservation breeding to keep a variety in its quality. This can be done by farmers on their
farms theoretically. But most of the farmers are not ecucated to do that and also don’t want to do that.
„The best varieties for conventional farmers are the best varieties for the organic farmers, too“
This statement is also not generally true. There are traits associated with conventional varieties which
are unsuitable for organic production systems and certain traits required in organc farming systems are
not present in recently developed “conventional“ varieteies. . This includes
a) Ability to compete with weeds. The ability to supress weeds is an important trait in both cereals
and non-cereals (eg peas).
b) Longer straw. Cereal varieties with longer straw often have got more mass of roots, so they have
got a higher ability for adaption of nutrients (important under conditions of lower concentration of
nutrients).
c) However, for other traits which address problems found in both organic and conventional
production modern conventional varieties may be the most suitable. In cereals this for example
applies resistances to diseases which have similar importance in both organic and conventional
farming such as necrothrophic/opportunistic pathogens (eg Helmintosporium, Rynchosproium),
but also some biothrophic pathogens (e.g. rusts)

4. Variety traits for organic agriculture

Many variety traits in varieties bred for conventional agriculture are also required in organic farming,
but the the priority given to individual traits is often different. A high level of disease resistance is
necessary especially with respect to Fusarium, Helmintosporium, Septoria, Claviceps and viruses. An
intermediate level of resistiance is sufficient for many biothrophic fungal diseases eg mildew, which
decrease in importance in organic management systems. It is important to identify the exact balance of
characterstics required and not to miss out specific traits altogether. Important regional requirements,
eg resistance to rust, must be considerated just like in conventional agriculture.

Specific variety traits required for “organic“ cereal varieties:

- resistance or tolerance against bunt (tilletia tritici) and other seed borne diseases. If we want to
establish organic seed production and conservation breeding systems, problems with seed borne
diseases are likely to increase. For the near future we may be able to develop organically
acceptable seed treatment methods, but in the longer term there is pressure to replace treatments
with resistence breeding.
- ability to supress weeds, longer straw
- stability of yield and quality under different conditions (nutrient use efficiency, resistance to
abiotic stress factors)
- high quality and stability of quality characteristics under extensive conditions

Variety traits for leguminoses (combined varieties)

- The existing diseases of leguminoses are a higher problem because of the higher frequency in
organic agriculture

Variety traits for potatoes

- Phytophtora infestans (late blight). Phytophtora causes variable yields. Considering the pending
prohibition on the use of copper fungicides and the increased aggressiveness of the Phytophthora
pathovar spectrum present in the EU this is the most important problem for the increasing organic
potato market.. Althugh there are some new varieties with higher resistance levels, many have
low organoleptic (taste) quality, poor visual appearance and/or limited storability.
- Rhizoctonia

Variety traits for sugar beats, maize, sunflower and oil seed rape
No results of organic variety trails available.. The suitability of the currently available varieties can
therefore not be assessed.
- Sugar beet: Because of the great demand for organic sugar (especially from food processors) sugar
beet would be a commercially interesting crop for farmers in areas where casual labout is
available. Rapid growth during the early growth stages is thought to be important in areas with
high abundance of young plant pests. However, there are no processors available for organic sugar
beet in several EU-countries This is disappointing since sugar beats is an excellent break crop
(providing both agronomic and economic benefits) for organic arable rotations especially in
regions with fertile soils.
- Maize: There are already interesting breeding programmes focusing on the development of
varieties for low-input conditions. Again the ability to establish/grow rapidly during the early
growth stages is thought to be a desired characteristic for „organic varieties“.
- Sunflower:There is currently no difference between the characteristics desired for organic and
conventional production systems. High straw strength and early maturing being important
selection criteria as well as high yield.
- Oil seed rape: It would be very desirable to have an alternative oil/animal feed protein crop to
sunflower available in Germany. In Germany organic rape is attacked by several animal pests with
resulting in yields of under 10 dt per ha. Another problem with winter rape are weeds and the high
fertility demand. It is therefore necessary to carry out fundamental research in the development of
organic rape varieties and agronomic strategies use to produce oil seed rape crops in Germany.

5. Short term and middle term tasks

If goverments want to increase number of organic farms, there has to be an increase in research
underpinning organic agriculture.We propose the following objectives/tasks for the next 5 years:
- Evaluation of existing varieties/breeding lines (both older and newer ones) for characteristics/traits
required in organic farming systems
- Organic variety trials for varieties of crops which were not yet widely tested for their performance
under organic management practices: maize, sunflower, rape, gras, clover. In some countries also
cereals, peas, beans, soja, lupins.
- Research and developement of seed production, processing and conservation breeding for the
organic agricultureSelection of breeding material under organic conditions. Evaluation and
development of variety mixtures
- Evaluation of breeding methods for organic breeding. Developing alternatives to not suitable
breeding methods.

6. Longer term perspectives and outlook

Longer term perspectives will depend on developments in arange of areas and is currently very
difficult to predict:
- If genetic modified varieties will be grown on a large scale within the EU – will there be breeding
of non-genetic modified varieties? Can organic agriculture only react and conserve old varieties?
Will the increase in organic agriculture make it commercially interesting to breed specifically for
organic agriculture?
- How can we create a balance between a breeding for the organic agriculture and an organic
breeding, so that the organic farmers will harvest the greatest benefit? Organic agriculture cannot
(and doesn’t have to) work on all the crops (especially not on the less important), but nevertheless
the share of organcially bred varieties should increase.
- List of recommendations regarding breeding techniques and their suitability for an organic plant breeding system

Variation induction techniques Selection techniques Maintenance and propagation Substances

Suitable for • combination breeding • mass selection ! generative propagation

organic plant
breeding • crossing varieties • pedigree selection ! vegetative proopagation
• partitioned tubers
• bridge crossing • site-determined selection
• scales, husks, partitioned bulbs,
• temperature treating • change in surroundings brood buds, bulbils

• grafting style • change in sowing time • offset bulbs, etc

• cutting style • ear bed method • layer, cut and graft shoots

• untreated mentor pollen • test crosses • rhizomes

• indirect selection

Admissable for • embryo culture • in vitro selection • anther culture • silver thiosulfate
organic plant • hybrides with fertile F 1
breeding, but • ovary culture • DNA diagnostic methods • microspores culture • silver nitrate
need further • in vitro pollination
proof • meristem culture • growth stimulants

• micro-propagation • colchicine (and related

substances)
• somatic embryogenesis
Not suitable for • cms hybrids without restorer
organic plant genes
breeding • protoplast fusion
• radiated mentor pollen for
mutation induction
• mutations induction with
radiation or chemical substances
• genetic modification
AGÖL standards – draft paper, 2001, originally from Edith Lammerts van Bueren (changed)
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