Page 216 - Breeding and regulatory opportunities, Renaud

Chapter 6

General Discussion

6.1 Introduction

The overall objective of the research reported in this thesis was to analyse inter-

related regulatory and technical challenges in the organic seed and breeding

sector, using broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) as a model crop and the US

as the location. The research aimed to understand and analyse the tensions

between farmers’ and seed companies’ interests that have been created by

evolving organic seed regulations, and identify ways to develop a domestic

and international organic seed regulation to better support organic agriculture

in general and crop improvement in particular. However, in order to be able

to translate the diverse crop requirements identiied for stakeholders in the

broccoli seed chain in the US into a strategy for plant breeders, the horticultural

and phytochemical performance of commercially available broccoli cultivars

had to be established. The research thus also studied the performance of

broccoli cultivars grown under organic and conventional farming conditions in

two contrasting broccoli producing areas (Maine and Oregon, US).

This chapter summarizes the main indings of the four component studies that

address the objective. Then, by combining the indings of the organic seed

regulatory studies and the ield trials, a synthesis and discussion is provided

based on the following ive propositions: (1) Regulatory clarity is the foundation

for organic seed sector development, (2) Organic management systems inluence

horticultural and phytochemical trait performance, (3) A crop ideotype can

serve as a communication tool to arrive at an appropriate variety assortment,

(4) Genetic variation is a requirement to develop optimized cultivars, and (5)

Multiple seed system models contribute to organic sector growth.

6.2 Main indings

The current organic seed regulatory structure in the US does not optimally

support organic seed sector development (Chapter 2). In the US case, the

regulators are waiting for the non-governmental stakeholders to organize the

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