Alternative Methods – RAPID´Chromogenic Media
Bio-Rad
The pressure group said that the decision, which comes against a backdrop of a booming organic market and a continuing need for the development of organic seeds, represents a potential threat to the sector.
It claims that the trials have run since 1991 and are the only formal way the industry can access data on the performance of organic seed varieties in Britain.
"Choice of seeds is of fundamental importance to growing," said Ben Raskin, Soil Association supply chain and technical team manager.
"Organic growers are already at a disadvantage to non-organic growers with a smaller choice of seeds. A lack of trials could lead growers to lose confidence in organic seed varieties and potentially lead to an increase derogations to use non-organic seeds."
Pressure is now being put on Defra (department for the environment food and rural affairs) to reverse the decision.
The National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) and Delfland Nurseries Limited, a leading supplier of organic plants, has joined the Soil Association in trying to raise awareness.
"If an organic grower picks a seed variety lacking in vigour or disease resistance there is no 'fire-brigade' option of sprays or artificial fertilisers to fall back on," said Jill Vaughan of Delfland Nurseries Limited.
"The trials are a vital source of independent and reliable information."
Paul Temple, NFU vice president, said that in order for growers to have the confidence in new seed varieties information must be made available on their yields and performance.
"This can only be achieved through trials as we have at the moment," he said.
"It must be understood that new varieties are being developed and appearing on the market all the time. For the organic sector to continue to develop as we have seen over the past few years, growers must be able to select varieties based upon a range of factors - how they perform in changing or restrictive environmental conditions, as well as what sort of economic returns they provide."
Global organic food and drink sales have continued to soar. A recent report of The Global Market for Organic Food & Drink by British consultancy Organic Monitor projected that revenues would approach US$40 bn (€31bn) in 2006.
Countries where consumers have high disposable incomes are said to be driving the demand, with Switzerland, the US and Singapore leading the way. Indeed, according to Organic Monitor, the G7 countries account for over 80 per cent of total sales, despite only having 12 per cent of international organic farmland.
The Horticulture Research International (HRI) department at the University of Warwick and NIAB are in discussion with Defra as to the future of the trials.
