Seed
Organic is a 'whole systems' approach to farming and food production. Organic seed is a vital component of organic systems and is the point from which everything begins.
Organic standards require organic farmers and growers to use organic seed and plant material where a suitable variety is available. Where organic seed is not available, organic certification bodies can give farmers and growers permission to use non-organic seed to produce organic crops, provided it is untreated and non-GM.
Soil Association involvement in organic seed
The Soil Association is funded through Defra to manage a project on organic seed. The purpose of this project is:
- Monitor, collect data and provide statistics and advice concerning derogations for non-organic seed use by organic farmers in the UK
- Facilitate discussion and research within the UK organic seed industry to increase production of tried and tested organic seed in sufficient quantities and varieties to meet demand
- Ensure UK compliance with European regulations
Organic x seeds
Organic x seeds is an online database for farmers, growers, seed breeders, retailers and wholesalers - and certification bodies. Seed industry can register - and update - details of the availability of organic seed and plant material; producers can search for suppliers of suitable organic crops and varieties for their use
Organic x seeds is funded by Defra and managed by the Soil Association [in partnership with the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (FiBL) in Germany].