Practice Abstract No.2 (LiveSeeding project)
This practice abstract explains what Organic Heterogeneous Material (OHM) is and how it can be notified under the EU Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848. OHM describes plant material of a species that shares key phenotypic traits while retaining high genetic and phenotypic diversity, dynamic evolution and local adaptation—features that make standard DUS (distinctness, uniformity and stability) protocols inapplicable. OHM is neither a conventional variety nor a mixture of varieties and therefore is not entered in the variety register; instead it can be placed on the market through a simpler, faster and cheaper notification procedure available to organic operators. The brief highlights that many farmers are not yet informed about OHM and its notification route, which limits uptake. It recommends promoting the simplified notification to breeders, farmers and seed producers to support marketing, foster agrobiodiversity and improve resilience to climate change. The document lists information required for notification to competent national authorities (applicant contact details; species and denomination; description of parental material, breeding methods, main agronomic and phenotypic properties and test results; applicant declaration of truthfulness; and a representative sample) and notes formal submission requirements (registered letter or other accepted channel with confirmation of delivery). The abstract also points to related resources including webinars and a booklet and provides author contact details and project/funding attribution to the LiveSeeding Horizon Innovation Actions (2022–2026).
Key topics: organic heterogeneous material, OHM, EU Organic Regulation 2018/848, seed marketing, notification procedure, agrobiodiversity, participatory breeding
