Category Archives: News

Shaping the future of organic breeding & farming: BRESOV position paper published

BRESOV, a sister project of LIVESEED focusing on breeding for resilient, efficient and sustainable organic vegetable production, has recently published a Position Paper “What do bean, broccoli and tomatoes have in common? Breeding for Resilient, Efficient and Sustainable Organic Vegetable production (BRESOV)” European Seed Magazine, edition February 2019 (pp.10-11). The consumption of organically grown vegetables is increasing to the extent that in the European Union, demand for organic produce currently outstrips supply. Yet, most of the varieties used in organic farming in Europe have not been specifically developed for organic farming systems. Therefore, BRESOV will explore solutions for organic producers

National Workshop in Hungary on Organic Seed Production and Use Brings Stakeholders Together

by Judit Fehér (ÖMKi) on the National Workshop in Hungary, 12th March 2019: Organic seed is the basis for organic farming. In spite of this fact, the organic seed supply of organic farmers is quite problematic in the whole EU and also in Hungary both regarding quantity and variety assortment. Currently, Hungary – being an internationally acknowledged leading seed producer country – sells organic seeds primarily to European export markets at an amount exceeding several times the needs of the Hungarian farmers. There is a huge potential in the sector both regarding the development of the Hungarian market and increasing

First LIVESEED booklet and 2 videos published

The first LIVESEED booklet, “How to implement the organic regulation to increase production & use of organic seed”, has been published. It is divided into 3 main sections: Policy measures (from incentives to organic seed production & use, to practical implementation of organic regulation) Organic Seed Databases (national databases & EU Router Database) Alternative sources of organic seed (from farm-saved seed to Organic Heterogeneous Material) Practical examples from various EU countries help to illustrate how the organic regulation or measures to increase organic seed production and use have been successfully implemented. You find the booklet in the Publications section of

Take part in the LIVESEED farmer survey

The LIVESEED farmer survey is investigating farmers’ experiences with organic seed. The data obtained will serve as a basis to conduct further research on organic plant breeding and seed production. As a farmer, you are invited to respond to the online survey on your experience and opinion on organic seed / propagation material and plant breeding. By completing it, you will have a say on research and policy needs in this field. The survey, drafted by the Organic Research Centre (ORC) in the UK in cooperation with a large number of partners in different countries and carried out within the LIVESEED project.

Cross-visit France – video & report published

For 3 days (4-7 June 2018), participants of the LIVESEED cross-visit exchanged knowledge about organic seed production in Maisse, France. The organic seed producer UBIOS opened its doors to 20 participants from all over Europe. ITAB invited seed producers from Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece who had the chance to visit the seed cleaning station. A short report was now published on this website, introducing the concept of cross-visits within LIVESEED, coordinated by IFOAM EU to demonstrate and promote smart practices in organic seed production. The report covers impressions of the participants, proposed topics to be

Participate in seed supplier & breeder survey

As a seed supplier or breeder you are invited to participate in a survey on the status quo of organic seed production in Europe. LIVESEED is aiming to reach seed producer, trader and breeder of organic and conventional seed in Europe and Switzerland, to get a better idea of the current status and motivations in seed produciton. Information on the survey: The survey is divided in two parts. In the first part we are interested in your evaluation on opportunities, risks and challenges towards organic seed production and breeding. In the second part we are aiming to collect missing data

Apply for call for Organic Innovations, before September 15

Like in the past years, TP Organics launches a Call for Organic Innovations to collect solutions that contribute to the transformation of European food & farming systems, based on organic and agroecological principles. Such solutions should contribute to one of the following goals that TP Organics wants to see achieved by 2030: 50% of European farmland managed according to organic and agroecological principles; 75% pesticide reduction; Increase in (on-farm) biodiversity; 100% animal welfare; 50% food waste reduction and 100% sustainalbe diets. These goals are part of the Mission, that TP Organics has proposed to be funded by Horizon Europe, the EU’s Framework

Visit for fruit experts at PomaCulta breeding station in Hessigkofen (CH), 5 September 2018

Fruit experts are invited to the breeding station of PomaCulta in Hessigkofen, Switzerland. on Wednesday 5th September from 14 -16.30 h. The apple plantation with the different selections will be visited and explained. Please register beforehand, more information can be found in the invitation. The event is planned in German language but on demand translation into English or French will be possible.

Participate in Survey: State of Organic Apple Breeding

For the purpose of networking and information exchange we initiated  an online survey which you are invited to respond. This survey will be a major input to the state of art of organic apple breeding in Europe and your views will be highly valuable. During the first year of LIVESEED project, we started to build an Apple Breeders’ Network in order to disseminate and share related  information. We tried to  collect and share knowledge about the  priorities of apple breeding in each country, methodologies used, cultivar testing protocols, cultivars and rootstocks been tested and any results or succesful examples existed

Start of the ECOBREED project

PRESS RELEASE from ECOBREED consortium: JUNE 2018  With the kick-off meeting held from 27 to 28 June 2018 in Ljubljana, the five year project ECOBREED funded by Horizon 2020 programme, has been officially launched. The project will develop (a) methods, strategies and infrastructures for organic breeding, (b) varieties with improved stress resistance, resource use efficiency and quality and (c) improved methods for the production of high quality organic seed. Activities will focus on four crop species i.e. wheat (both common Triticum aestivum L. and durum Triticum aestivum L., T. durum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), soybean (Glycine max (L). Merr),