LiveSeeding has published a policy brief on the definition of organic plant breeding for registration of organic varieties suitable for organic production.
The organic sector needs to access a broad genetic base to develop high-quality cultivars, varieties and populations. Varieties can be develop through different breeding strategies, but the definitions and details of these strategies are not always clear.
Read here: LS Policy Brief September 2025
Key Policy Recommendations
- Organic farmers need access to a large portfolio of cultivar types that are well-adapted and suitable for organic conditions and diverse local contexts. Suitable varieties for the organic sector can be developed through different breeding strategies, such as “conventional plant breeding”, “breeding for organic”
and “organic plant breeding”. - “Organic Varieties suitable for organic production” (OV), as defined in the Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848, may have higher phenotypic or genetic diversity than common varieties. The current adapted protocols for variety registration created by Implementing Directives (EU) 2022/1647 & 2022/1648 [1st July 2023 – 31st Dec 2030] must be perpetuated and expanded to all species to facilitate OV registration and integrated in the new EU Plant Reproductive Material (PRM) Regulation.
- The possibility to notify Organic Heterogeneous Material (OHM), which by definition does not qualify as a plant variety, must be ensured for all species across EU Member States.
- Adopting a clear, consistent definition of organic plant breeding is essential to distinguish it from other breeding strategies. This will help ensure the unambiguous implementation of Implementing directives (EU) 2022/1647 and 2022/1648, which concerns the registration of “Organic Varieties suitable for organic production” (OV) derived from organic breeding activities (EU 2018/848, Annex II 1.8.4).
- The definition shall recognise organic plant breeding as an approach conducted exclusively under organic farming conditions, producing cultivars well-suited for organic farming systems. By respecting natural crossing barriers and fostering manifold interactions between plants and living soil, this approach is fully in line with the general organic principles and makes a substantial contribution to expanding the organic sector and facilitating the broader transition towards sustainable food systems.
