Abstract
Plant varieties are subject to trialling and testing (for statutory National Lists by Defra, and for Recommended Lists by industry/levy bodies). However, many of the characters that would be most beneficial in the context of a future farming industry - making a net positive contribution to the environment by reducing input requirements and associated pollution or energy use, or benefiting biodiversity - are not considered in this process. Also, without some incentive or market return, plant breeders direct their efforts to meeting the criteria assessed in these tests (mainly yield, quality, processing efficiency etc) and new varieties have to show improvement over existing ones in these attributes even if they have other strengths agronomically or environmentally. This has been particularly apparent in the restriction of choice for organic systems; varieties adapted to perform efficiently with e.g low inputs have potential wider use. Current ‘testing’ of new varieties can prevent farmers and growers from accessing the potential benefits of genetics (i.e. varieties for low input production) much of which is currently being developed under other Defra funded projects. Defra PVS is interested in exploring ways of facilitating breeders' and farming industry direct involvement with the selection and recommendation of varieties with improved environmental profiles. This pilot project will feed into policy development in this area. This project aims to promote breeders' involvement in reducing agriculture and horticulture’s environmental footprint by breeding varieties suited to lower input production systems. To do this it is necessary to: 1) define quantifiable targets; 2) create appropriate market signals/incentives; 3) align variety testing systems with this. We will address 1 and 3 by carrying out desk studies to identify variety characters that could lead to the development of more sustainable low input systems for both arable and horticultural crops and propose test methods for the assessment of these characters and how the results from the tests might be analysed and reported in a meaningful way for decision making purposes. We will then carry out some pilot trials to determine the practicality of assessing ‘traits for low input production’ in a trialling system. Varieties suited to specific "local" markets are an example of creating a market incentive (2 above) that may be particularly suited to vegetables. ‘Regional’ vegetable varieties existed in the past; however, these older varieties are often no longer appropriate for current market requirements and there is a potential need to produce regional varieties which meet modern market requirements but also fulfil current policy ambitions for lowering inputs. Production of regional varieties does not fit within the strategic aims of most, larger international breeding companies while small regional/local companies may have difficulties finding the time or resources to address the demands of a National Listing system geared for the needs of larger companies producing ‘global’ varieties. We will assess the constraints imposed by the current National Listing trialling system on the development of vegetable varieties for sustainable and/or ‘regional’ production by carrying out a case study of a small ‘regional’ UK breeding company based in Lancashire.
United Kingdom