Page 60 - Breeding and regulatory opportunities, Renaud

Chapter 2

Table 2.2b Summary of organic seed system stakeholders’ shift in concerns, by category, based on a

stakeholder typology, 2013

Stakeholder Shifts in Stakeholder Concerns by 2013
Category

Organic Certiiers Lack of a timely evaluation and quantiication process for organic seed usage
(n=8)
Improvement in appropriate tools to interpret organic seed usage had been

achieved
Lack of varietal knowledge persisted
Do not want to limit the variety assortment available to growers

Costs have been incurred for the development of tools to determine an organic
growers attempts at sourcing organic seed

Small-Scale Concern that enforced regulation will narrow genetic diversity persists
Organic Growers Recognize that organic seed availability is increasing year over year

(n=26)
Quality of organic seed available in the market has improved
Do not want big companies to control the organic seed market
Fear of GMO contamination persists

Large-Scale Concern about seed price persists
Organic Growers Recognize that they must use some organic seed to reach minimum
(n=14)
certiication requirements

Continued lack of interpretative regulatory guidelines perpetuates non-organic
seed use
Acknowledge that there is an increase in organic seed availability

Acknowledge that the quality of organic seed has improved
Acknowledge that there are now several organic seed treatment options on the
market

Organic Food Desire to know more about organic seed varieties available

Buyers
Continued lack of knowledge concerning speciic varieties
(n=5)
Enforcing grower compliance with use of permitted non-seed farm inputs

Formal Seed Interpretive organic seed regulatory guidelines for enforcement are required

Companies for investment
(n=10)
Diicult to determine which varieties to produce organically Proitability
Loss of conventional seed sales when varieties are produced organically as well
Need for increased acres in organic seed production and develop capacity to

be successful
Organic seed quality (seed borne diseases) has improved, but still a risk

Non-Proit Lack of breeding programs for better adapted varieties

Organizations Limits to on-farm genetic diversity if growers are required to use organic seed only
(n=6)
Optimization of tools to identify organic seed availability such as the AOSCA
database

Reluctance to the corporate seed industry controlling organic seed sector
development
GMO contamination

Desire to have growers involved in the seed production, varietal trialling and
breeding processes, not just the seed industry controlling the development of
the organic seed sector

Policy & Legislative Finalization of NOP interpretive guidelines for enforcement imminent and will

Bodies
guide process
(n=5)
Seed availability and quality has improved
Appropriate allocation of roles and responsibilities within the chain have

evolved over time
Grower alienation due to seed availability, price and limits to diversity persist
Harmonization of organic standards with major trading partners is being

achieved

Sources: Stakeholder category (column 1, 2007); content analysis of documents reviewed and participant
observation in key meetings informed the data in column 2, 2007-2013.

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