| Property | Value |
| Name | On visions and new approaches. Case studies of organisational forms in organic plant breeding and... |
| Description | Almekinders, C., and J. Jongerden. 2002. On visions and new approaches. Case studies of organisational forms in organic plant breeding and seed production. Working Paper Technology and Agrarian Development, Wageningen University, Netherlands. pp. 30This report is based on an exploratory study of the social, financial and legal organisation, and technology applied in five initiatives in the sector of biological seed production and plant breeding in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. The study is carried out by researchers of the Chairgroup Technologie en Agrarische Ontwikkeling (TAO) of the Wageningen University and Researchcentre (WUR), and was comissioned by Louis Bolk Institute and Platform Biologica. The report is an exploratory study of the social, financial and legal organisation, and technology applied in five initiatives in the sector of biological seed production and plant breeding in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. The experiences of the studied initiatives are relevant in a period in which interest for organic seed and plant breeding is increasing. A number of the actors in the organic sector consider organic breeding a guarantee the availability of suitable seeds and varieties for the organic sector in terms of agronomic and quality traits. An important requirement is that seeds are produced and developed with technologies that are accepted in the organic sector. In addition, the organic sector is interested in breeding strategies that aim not only at economic, but also at social sustainability. The analysis of the five initiatives concentrates on the limitations and the choices by the involved actors made in the course of their development. The main conclusion of the study is that the social and financial organisation, and technologies used in the initiatives show functional coherence. Two circuits are distinguished in the study, i.e. the bio-dynamic circuit and the bio-classic circuit. Each of the circuits shows its own characteristics and coherence. The perspective of the actors on the mission and function of plant breeding is an important factor in their choices. Choices of sources of capital for financing the initiatives play a crucial role. Those that opt for capital from donations and legates (biodynamic circuit) seem to have a different development path of breeding and seed production than those that use conventional capital arrangements (bio-classic circuit). The use from the two distinctive sources of funding corresponds, respectively, to organisations that develop a network structure and a more classical organised one. Both types of organisations can be seen as initiatives that have to conform to the principles of capital providers in the use of technology and marketing strategies. At the same time, however, they are both innovative. Summarising, it is concluded that the diversity of the perspectives of the actors in the organic sector provides opportunities to explore new pathways in breeding and seed supply for the organic sector. Over time, as their improved materials become available, the viability of the different approaches will become clear. |
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