Biodynamic Seed Project
Biodynamic Seed Project
Biodynamic seed companies in Europe
Seed companies supplying and producing Biodynamic Vegetable, Herb and Flower seeds. The Sativa company also supply agricultural seeds of cereals and legumes.
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Stormy Hall Demeter Seeds, Botton Village, Danby, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 2NJ, England Tel: 01287-661368 Fax: 01287-661369 Email: stormy.hall.botton@camphill.org.uk |
Sativa Seeds, Sativa Rheinau AG,Klosterplatz, CH-8462 Rheinau, Switzerland Tel:0041-(0) 52 304 91 60 Fax: 0041-(0) 52 304 91 61 Email: sativa@sativa-rheinau.ch |
Bingenheimer Saatgut AG, Kronstrasse 24, 61209 Echzell-Bingenheim, Germany Tel;0049-(0) 6035/1899-0 Fax: 0049-(0) 6035/1899-40 Email: info@oekoseeds.de Web: www.oekoseeds.de |
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Reinsaat A-3572St.Leonhard am Hornerwald, Austria Tel; 0043- (0) 2987 2347 Fax: 0043- (0) 2987 23474 Email: reinsaat@reinsaat.co.at Web: www.reinsaat.co.at |
Arcoiris srl Via De' Sudenti 11- 41100, Modena, Italy Tel: 0039 (0) 59 822691 Fax 0039 (0) 59 3366102 Email: sementibio@arcoiris.it Web: www.arcoiris.it |
De Bolster seeds Pieter Venemakade 9605 PL, Kielwindeweer, Holland Tel: 0031 (0) 598 491534 Fax: 0031 (0) 598 491623 Email: bdzaden@bolster.nl Web: www.bolster.nl |
Report from Seed workshop (February 2006)
Download report as pdf file here
CMS Hybrids are prohibited
No hybrid seeds created using protoplast or cytoplast fusion techniques may be used on Demeter certified (biodynamic) farms and gardens
For the reasoning behind the decision agreed by Demeter International in July 2005 read Seeds of Concern written for the BDAA Newsheet by Peter Brinch.
Although Demeter producers are required to use biodynamic or organic seeds, it may happen that no organic seeds are available for a particular variety.When this occurs a derogation may be given by the organic certification body. This allows a producer to buy untreated but conventionally grown seeds.
Unfortunately there are fewer and fewer open pollinated varieties available and conventional plant breeders almost exclusively produce hybrids which today are CMS hybrids.
For those growers who are granted a derogation to use non-organic seed, it is often difficult to avoid CMS hybrids since they are not always labelled as such. The following list has therefore been put together by the Forschungsring (the biodynamic research association in Germany) so that growers can know which vegetable varieties to avoid.CLICK HERE FOR LIST - Pdf File
Biodynamic Seed Development Project
The Biodynamic Seed Development Project has been set up to establish a sustainable on-farm plant breeding programme involving a network of farmers and gardeners in the development and maintenance of Demeter certified organic plant varieties, to supply the growing organic seed market with high quality biodynamically grown and certified seeds and to increase public awareness for their importance.
The Seed Development Fund aims to support biodynamic seed development work across the country. It is contributing towards maintaining a Fieldsperson, encouraging the involvement of gardeners and farmers in growing and maintaining high quality seeds and supporting the establishment of a biodynamic plant breeding programme in this country. This is intended eventually to include all kinds of farm crops, cereals and forage as well as vegetables, herbs and flowers.
In contrast to the modern laboratory techniques used in the production of hybrid varieties, biodynamic plant breeders work with the open pollinated (non-hybrid) varieties which propagate themselves freely under natural conditions and whose seed can be saved and grown on by farmers and gardeners year after year. Maintaining them and developing new strains requires skill and perseverance. This is especially important if they are to be sold on through the catalogue and be used by farmers and growers to grow reliable crops.
Completely new varieties suited to specific organic and biodynamic growing conditions or with improved flavour and vitality are often required too. Biodynamic plant breeding pioneered for many years in Germany, Switzerland and elsewhere offers unique possibilities in this regard. In addition to careful selection, essential for any form of plant breeding, desired characteristics (flavour, vitality, disease resistance etc) can be enhanced and developed further by making use of a number of simple measures. Based on an exact and careful observation of plant growth, growth patterns within individual species and the influences impressed on them by their environment, biodynamic plant breeders are able to work with what is natural and intrinsic to plant nature.
Making use of differing climatic and soil conditions, intensive applications of the biodynamic Preparations, planting and cultivating according to certain specific lunar and planetary constellations as well as selective soil and composting treatments, are all essential tools for the biodynamic plant breeder. For seeds that are to achieve enhanced vitality and produce food of high quality, it is crucial that they evolve and develop in the context of a whole farm organism. Practising biodynamic farmers and gardeners must therefore be party to and fully involved with plant breeding. A strain of carrot bred and maintained for many years on a well established biodynamic farm in Germany has recently been officially registered as a distinct new European variety. In this way seed production and plant breeding become an integral part of land culture and do not become separated off from life in artificial laboratory conditions.
The project primarily involves training and advising farmers and growers in how to produce seed crops, select plant stock and maintain chosen plant varieties. It requires regular farm visits, individual coaching and the arrangement of informative workshops and other events to promote the work. The establishment of an ongoing plant breeding programme is a core intention requiring regular inputs from skilled plant breeders both here and abroad. Increased involvement in this plant breeding programme will serve as an indication of the level of its success as will the increase in numbers of farmers and growers producing Demeter certified seed crops. Experiences and outcomes are shared and made available to others via the Associations publications and website.
The project aims to compliment the work already being undertaken by organisations in the organic sector such as the Henry Doubleday Research Association (HDRA) with its seed saving work and the Elm Farm Research Centre as well as with agricultural and horticultural research establishments around the country concerned with organic production.
Further documents:
Progress report 2002-2003 Biodynamic Seed Development Project
Biodynamic Seed Development Project Progress report 2001-2002
Food Plant diversity, Sustainable Plant Breeding Seminars 2001