Organic farms need their own bred varieties, and more diversity
Crop Improvement
The seed packet you pick for an organic bed likely holds a variety bred for conventional fertilizer-heavy fields, so choosing organically bred or locally adapted cultivars can mean sturdier plants with less fuss.
Most crop varieties were bred to thrive with synthetic fertilizer and pesticides, which isn't how organic growers work. This booklet argues for breeding plants specifically for organic farms and growing a wider mix of crops and varieties. A broader mix gives growers plants that handle disease, poor soil, and odd weather better.
Key Findings
Organic farming benefits from cultivars bred specifically for low-input, organic conditions rather than conventional systems.
Increasing crop and cultivar diversity is presented as a way to improve resilience on organic farms.
The booklet is a work package (WP1) output that frames organic plant breeding priorities for farmers and breeders.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Organic farms need crop varieties bred for organic conditions, and this booklet makes the case for growing a wider range of crops and cultivars. More variety gives farmers and gardeners plants that cope better with low-input soil, pests, and changing weather.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Organic plant breeding: Increasing crop and cultivar diversity in organic farming
WP1 BOOKLET - Organic plant breeding: Increasing crop and cultivar diversity in organic farming
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
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