The CTPS Inter-Section Commission for Organic Agriculture (CISAB)

The CTPS Intersection Commission dedicated to Organic Agriculture (AB) met on 25 September. This committee, made up of numerous partners from the organic farming sector (researchers, development managers, seed companies, etc.), provides an opportunity to discuss current developments in the sector (regulatory changes, results of research projects, etc.) in order to promote varieties suitable for organic agriculture and support the various CTPS sections in this area.

With the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2018/848, heterogeneous biological material can be registered in the EU from 1 January 2022. A total of 28 files have already been notified by 5 member countries for 12 species, with others to follow. Currently, France has notified only one soft wheat MHB, Pop Orvilliers, for 2024.

In the case of organic varieties suitable for organic production, temporary trials began on 1 July 2023 for Barley, Corn, Rye and Wheat for agricultural plant species, and for Carrot and Kohlrabi for vegetable species. Four applications are currently being studied in Europe (Common Wheat, Barley, Carrot).

Through the European LIVESEEDING project, in which GEVES is a partner, work is also underway on other species, particularly vegetables (zucchini, for example), in an attempt to adapt the DUS protocols to these varieties, which are selected organically and may be more heterogeneous.

Aware that the current definition raises many questions, the ECO-PB association proposed a number of supplements to clarify the situation at the 3rd general meeting of the LIVESEEDING project, held in Italy in September 2024.

So, if these proposals are accepted by the official European bodies, an organic variety suitable for organic production will have to have been selected for a minimum of 5 generations and 5 years for a self-pollinating species, or 4 generations and 8 years for a cross-pollinating species.

For the 22 varieties of common wheat and 2 varieties of durum wheat already tested in AB and registered in the French Official Catalogue, it would be advisable to identify those which could correspond to this scenario. To be continued…

There is also something new in the CTPS protein crop species section, as faba bean can now have up to 2 AB trials in its national trial network. Results for the 2024 harvest are currently being analysed.

Lastly, the meeting provided an opportunity to thank Sylvie HUBIN DEDENYS, President of CISAB, who is retiring, and to welcome Marie-Lise MOLINIER (CGAAER, also President of the CTPS fruit species section), who has been approached to succeed her.