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Concepts and Strategies of Organic Plant Breeding in Light of Novel Breeding Techniques

Author

Listed:
  • Edwin Nuijten

    (Louis Bolk Institute, Hoofdstraat 24, 3972 LA Driebergen, The Netherlands)

  • Monika M. Messmer

    (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Department of Crop Sciences, Ackerstrasse 113, CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland)

  • Edith T. Lammerts van Bueren

    (Louis Bolk Institute, Hoofdstraat 24, 3972 LA Driebergen, The Netherlands
    Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen UR Plant Breeding, P.O. Box 386, 6700 AJ Wageningen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

In this paper, we describe the development of a set of guiding principles for the evaluation of breeding techniques by the organic sector over time. The worldwide standards of organic agriculture (OA) do not allow genetic engineering (GE) or any products derived from genetic engineering. The standards in OA are an expression of the underlying principles of health, ecology, fairness and care. The derived norms are process and not product oriented. As breeding is considered part of the process in agriculture, GE is not a neutral tool for the organic sector. The incompatibility between OA and GE is analyzed, including the “novel breeding techniques”. Instead, alternative breeding approaches are pursued based on the norms and values of organic agriculture not only on the technical level but also on the social and organizational level by including other value chain players and consumers. The status and future perspectives of the alternative directions for organic breeding are described and discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Edwin Nuijten & Monika M. Messmer & Edith T. Lammerts van Bueren, 2016. "Concepts and Strategies of Organic Plant Breeding in Light of Novel Breeding Techniques," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-19, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2016:i:1:p:18-:d:86016
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Gilles Grolleau & Alain Marciano & Naoufel Mzoughi, 2021. "Scandals : a ‘reset button’ to drive change?," Post-Print hal-02921614, HAL.
    3. Estela Gimenez & Maria Salinas & Francisco Manzano-Agugliaro, 2018. "Worldwide Research on Plant Defense against Biotic Stresses as Improvement for Sustainable Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-19, February.
    4. Agnieszka Szparaga & Maciej Kuboń & Sławomir Kocira & Ewa Czerwińska & Anna Pawłowska & Patryk Hara & Zbigniew Kobus & Dariusz Kwaśniewski, 2019. "Towards Sustainable Agriculture—Agronomic and Economic Effects of Biostimulant Use in Common Bean Cultivation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-21, August.

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