GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

Strong involvement from public and private actors, novel governance and financing models for breeding, variety testing and seed production, are needed. Proposals should develop governance and financial models to support organic plant breeding that include all actors in the value chain. Proposals should conceive marketing and value chain development strategies to introduce improved varieties for seed multiplication and treatment, ensuring quality and transparency in the organic seed market.

Proposals must implement the ‘multi-actor approach’ and ensure a value chain approach with adequate involvement of the farming sector. The topic is open to all types of organic farming systems in various geographical and pedo-climatic conditions. Proposals should develop measures to support the preservation of genetic resources and increase the availability of plant reproductive material for the organic sector, including through pre-breeding and breeding activities and new approaches to seed sourcing. Proposals should develop measures that contribute to the development of organic heterogeneous material and varieties suitable for organic cultivation for an increasing range of crops, including arable, forage and horticultural crops as well as develop specific protocols for testing new organic varieties. Αdaptability of OHM and organic varieties to different climatic, edaphic conditions, resistance to pests and diseases. The proposals must use the multi-actor approach.