BRUSSELS, 19 MARCH 2024 – The European organic movement considers today’s vote on the Plant Reproductive Material Regulation (PRM) legislation an important contribution to a balanced regulation and a conducive environment for organic plant breeding. It is important that Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (COMAGRI) acknowledge the important role seeds and seeds diversity play for a healthy food and farming system. 
  
According to Eric Gall, deputy director: “This review of the EU seed legislation has potential to re-introduce much needed genetic diversity into European fields. Preserving agrobiodiversity and ensuring that plant genetic resources are not concentrated in the hands of only a few big actors, are essential for the resilience and future of our food system. Organic breeders and farmers want to work with plant biodiversity, so seed variety registration rules need to be adapted to allow for this diversity”.   
   
Organic farmers need access to Plant Reproductive Material (PRM), such as seeds and seedlings, that has been specifically bred to perform well under organic conditions – as organic farmers do not use synthetic pesticides and only a limited amount of fertilisers. At the same time, organic breeders and seed multipliers contribute to maintaining and fostering agrobiodiversity, making sure farmers have access to a wide range of PRM. 
 
The regulation on production and marketing of plant reproductive material is an important piece of legislation within the EU Green Deal. It is specifically important for the Farm to Fork Strategy’s objective to boost organic production and to reach 25% of the EU’s agricultural land under organic management by 2030.  
  
Ends. 

Eva Berckmans, Communications Manager
+32 2 416 27 62, eva.berckmans@organicseurope.bio
or visit www.organicseurope.bio

European Union official documents

• Plant Reproductive Material Regulation (PRM) legislation
• The European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development’s opinion will be available on its website

European organic movement’s official position 

• Position paper on the review of EU rules on Plant Reproductive Material (2022) 
• Plant Reproductive Material in the new Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848 (2019) 

Other

• Sustainability in organic breeding. Improving the entire system or adjusting some genes? 
• IFOAM Organics Europe’s work on organic seeds 
• Infographic: New genomic techniques & patents, a ticking time bomb 
• Video: Organic plant breeding and its contribution to food production
• Research project: LIVESEEDing, promoting growth of organic seed and plant breeding for the transition to more sustainable local food systems 
   
  

© IFOAM Organics Europe 2024

IFOAM Organics Europe is the European umbrella organisation for organic food and farming. With almost 200 members in 34 European countries, our work spans the entire organic food chain and beyond: from farmers and processors organisations, retailers, certifiers, consultants, traders and researchers to environmental and consumer advocacy bodies.

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