Page 239 - Breeding and regulatory opportunities, Renaud

General Discussion

The 100% organic seed companies indicated as Model 3 in Figure 6.1 are fully

dedicated organic seed companies servicing only the organic market. They are

not as large as the average conventional companies. They fulil all steps in the

seed production process (from basic seed to commercial seed) under organic

conditions. In this model, the companies breed, produce and distribute organic

seed with a value-based message compliant with organic principles. Often, they

are performing all functions along the seed development chain, but with limited

resources compared to a conventional breeding company. Their strength lies in

their knowledge of the organic production system and market, and that they

can provide a clear message to their customer. Their values resonate with those

of their customer base, and their customer can comprehend the scale of their

business model. The relationship is more personal in that the owner/founder

is typically highly proiled in advertising and promotion (instead of seed

technology). They are driven also by a concern for genetic diversity and farmer

diversity and therefore they aim to ofer a broad assortment of all crops to a

range of grower types (but predominantly small). They supply the marketplace

typically, but not exclusively, with improved and older open pollinated varieties

cultivars or hybrids typically that are often developed in collaboration with

university public breeding programs or purchased from company Model 2

(indicated with dotted line to breeding). Their weakness can lie in the overall

seed quality of their varieties due to limited genetic and inancial resources

for breeding and reproducing seed. If the seed regulation was enforced, these

companies would continue to grow in their contribution to the sector.

The Farmer-led organic seed breeder and producer, indicated as Model 4 in

Figure 6.1 is representative of a more grassroots approach to organic seed sector

development where independent grower or non-proit organizations dedicate

themselves to breeding and producing organic seed independent of corporate

ailiation. As described in Chapter 2, individual growers are producing their

own seed and performing on-farm selection to develop cultivars selected for

their speciic environment. The seed they produce is either for individual use

or for sale to growers typically within their own bioregion. These initiatives are

typically motivated by a desire by these growers and organizations to develop a

seed sector independent of corporate control, sustain biodiversity (genetic and

cultivar), and that function outside the realm of patents that confer exclusive

controls and proprietary rights.

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