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Can the Market Deliver 100% Organic Seed and Varieties in Europe?

Author

Listed:
  • Susanne Padel

    (Thünen Institute for Farm Economics, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Stefano Orsini

    (Organic Research Centre, Trent Lodge, Stroud Road, Cirencester GL7 6JN, UK)

  • Francesco Solfanelli

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences (D3A), Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy)

  • Raffaele Zanoli

    (Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences (D3A), Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy)

Abstract

This paper considers European organic seed as a market in the sense of economic theory and explores factors impacting seed supply and demand. Under the organic regulation, farmers have to use seed multiplied in organic farming or apply for a derogation. We evaluated the functioning of the organic seed market, based on case studies of seed supply chains for arable, vegetable and forage crops; a farmer survey; and a status-quo analysis of the organic seed sector from the European LIVESEED project. The organic seed market is characterised by small size, great diversity of crops grown, unsolved technical problems for some crops and limited capacity of breeding varieties adapted to organic farming conditions. Demand vastly outstrips supply for most crops, but strong regional and sector differences were observed. A lack of information about availability and price for organic seed is likely to act as barrier to investment. Full enforcement of the regulation to use only organic seed might have unforeseen consequences, such as a reduction of agrobiodiversity in organic farming, rather than supporting an increase in supply. We conclude that the market alone is not likely to deliver 100% organic seed and government intervention is justified.

Suggested Citation

  • Susanne Padel & Stefano Orsini & Francesco Solfanelli & Raffaele Zanoli, 2021. "Can the Market Deliver 100% Organic Seed and Varieties in Europe?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:18:p:10305-:d:636196
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Erica N.C. Renaud & Edith T. Lammerts van Bueren & Janice Jiggins, 2016. "The meta-governance of organic seed regulation in the USA, European Union and Mexico," International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 12(3), pages 262-291.
    6. Stefano Orsini & Ambrogio Costanzo & Francesco Solfanelli & Raffaele Zanoli & Susanne Padel & Monika M. Messmer & Eva Winter & Freya Schaefer, 2020. "Factors Affecting the Use of Organic Seed by Organic Farmers in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-16, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Francesco Solfanelli & Emel Ozturk & Emilia Cubero Dudinskaya & Serena Mandolesi & Stefano Orsini & Monika Messmer & Simona Naspetti & Freya Schaefer & Eva Winter & Raffaele Zanoli, 2022. "Estimating Supply and Demand of Organic Seeds in Europe Using Survey Data and MI Techniques," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-23, August.
    2. Eva Winter & Christian Grovermann & Stefano Orsini & Francesco Solfanelli & Joachim Aurbacher, 2021. "The Effects of Interventions Targeting Increased Organic Seed Use—The Cases of Perennial Ryegrass in England and Durum Wheat in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-26, December.
    3. Freya Schäfer & Kaja Gutzen & Maaike Raaijmakers & Katharina Meyer & Xenia Gatzert & Martin Sommer & Ágnes Bruszik & Monika M. Messmer, 2022. "Securing Commitments from Stakeholders in 10 EU Member States—The Organic Seed Declaration to Foster Stakeholder Involvement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-13, July.

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