Demeter-Breeding-Standards

Standards for certified Biodynamic plant breeding

I Scope and Principles

1) The standard for certified Biodynamic plant breeding has been developed largely by the Association of Biodynamic Plant Breeders. This standard is contained in the contract between the user of the descriptor “Biodynamically Bred Variety” and the respective organisation (e.g. Demeter e.V.). It applies to the breeding enterprise that is active in Biodynamic plant breeding, as well as to the products, the varieties produced by certified Biodynamic plant breeding.

2) Recognizing that not every conceivable case of variety development can be covered by these standards, extrapolation of these standards and the procedures concerning exemptions are to follow the mission-statement which is published by the Association of Biodynamic Plant Breeders (ABDP)

3) Any variety that is offered for sale and which originates from Biodynamic breeding must have a full biography of its development published on the internet and freely available. The biography must comply with the template contained in Section 2 of the 'Regulations' as developed by the ABDP and entitled “Steps towards transparency in the development of varieties.”

II Objectives of the plant breeding standards
The aim of this standard is to describe varieties that arise from Biodynamic plant breeding using defined criteria in order to differentiate these varieties from others, which are not allowed to use this descriptor. The labelling of varieties in the way this standard foresees as “From Biodynamic Plant Breeding” is intended to make the breeding methods standing behind such products clearly visible. When products carry the Demeter logo, it is clear only that they have been grown on a Biodynamic property, but not however from which seed. Through reference to the breeding, the particular origin of the seed material can be highlighted.

III General requirements for breeding new varieties

1) Breeding should take place on certified Biodynamic fields, or equivalent breeding grounds. Where this is not possible, breeding can be carried out as described in point two below.

2) If breeding activities do take place on organically certified, but not certified Biodynamic fields, it must be guaranteed that the Biodynamic preparations are used in such a fashion that their influence can be expected to reach the plants and the soil. This shall be regulated in writing with the certified organic farm in question using for example a contract which ensures the required production parameters.

3) The breeding enterprise, as well as the all aspects of the breeding activity itself, must be accessible for Demeter inspection at any time.

4) Breeding a new variety begins with accidental or intentionally initiated cross pollination or a mutation in the sense of an inheritable alteration, with a subsequent selection procedure. A minimum of four years subject to Biodynamic conditions as described in number one and two of this section are required. This applies to both labelling forms:
”From Biodynamic Breeding”
”From Biodynamic Seed Variety Maintenance”

5) The following breeding methods are prohibited:

- All plant breeding methods prohibited by IFOAM
- Hybrid breeding irrespective of the hybridization method
- Production of double haploid varieties or polyploidisation
- Varieties bred using protoplasm or cytoplasm fusion techniques

6) The use of hybrid or double haploid varieties as parents for a Biodynamically bred variety is allowed.

7) New Biodynamic varieties must be recognized as such (for example by registration at the respective plant variety registration office) if the seed is to be sold to third parties in an area with a valid seed marketing law.

8) If official registration of a new variety is not required due to its production and use within a closed system, application can be made to Demeter e.V. for recognition of the variety as “From Biodynamic Breeding”. This is only possible if the varietal descriptor leads to the expectation that the seed meets the legal seed variety requirements of distinctiveness.

IV Requirements of a variety maintenance-breeding programme
Breeding to maintain a variety should in principle take place on certified Biodynamic enterprises, but in any case on enterprises conforming to number two of the section III.

V Labelling

1) Labelling as a “Biodynamically Bred Variety” may be used in marketing of seed for sowing or products for consumption if production meets recognised Biodynamic production standards. If a variety from Biodynamic breeding is sown on a certified organic farm for the purposes of seed production, the resulting seed may not be labelled as, or implied to be from Biodynamic breeding. If this organic seed is subsequently used on a Demeter enterprise, there shall be no disadvantage. The next harvest can be labelled as having originated from Biodynamic Breeding.

2) Labelling as a “Biodynamically Bred Variety” or other similar phrasing such as “ from a Biodynamically Bred Variety” or “ From Biodynamic Breeding” may be written on labels or packaging according to the Demeter labelling standards in the product description text or used in the same fashion as the Demeter product description.

VI Subsequent recognition of a variety as “From Biodynamic Breeding”
Varieties which had been bred before these standards were implemented may be retrospectively certified as being “From Biodynamic breeding” if proof that the breeding methods meet section II number 2 can be supplied. If documentary proof is incomplete, the certifying body (e.g. in Germany Demeter e.V.) can issue an individual approval for the variety if a well founded application is made.

Regulations applying to the standards for certified Biodynamic plant breeding

1 Documentation requirements

1) The initial entry of a seed sample into the breeding enterprise has to be documented (delivery note, entry voucher, supplier, quantity, state of treatment, Genetic Engineering risk)

2) Every seed sowing must be recorded on a field plan, which shows the area from which the harvest was taken for further selection. It must be possible to trace plants growing on this area back to the generation before from documentation on file. Documentation templates have not yet been developed. The easier the documentation system the better, for example, year followed by plant or plot number. Every plant or plot number must be used only once in each year.

3) Handing over of seed has to be documented according to variety, seed lot, quantity, treatment, recipient, with a copy of the delivery note as officially required for organic certification. These vouchers provide a method for following the biography through generations or over successive vegetation periods.

2 Steps towards transparency in the development of varieties

The declarations made in the description of a variety's biography will be inspected by an inspection body appointed by the respective organisation (e.g. Demeter eV). The respective Demeter certification body will grant certification of a variety as “From Biodynamic Breeding”. Outside specialists maybe consulted if necessary. In principle, the clearer the declarations are about a variety's biography of development, the trustworthier they are!

A biography of develepment needs declarations relating to the following questions:

1. What plant it is, and who has prepared the biographical text on which date?
For example: Species, culture, name of variety, name of breeder, date of declaration.

2. Where the starting material originates?
Name, supplier, year of first cultivation, what was crossed with whom.

3. Under which circumstances the breeding line was cultivated and selected?
Location, special methods of cultivation, particular aspects (people, enterprise structure, fertilisers used). Was there a personal concern/request (philosophy, intention, motivation, purpose)?

4. Which method of selection was used?
- Mass selection (positv/negativ), how many individuals have were chosen out of a population of how many?
- In case of single plant selection was cultivation and testing done with seperated single plant descendants as pedigree selection or with bulked populations?
- Was the method of selection changed or varied over the generations or were special selection criteria used only in specified selection periods?
- Were special test methods used with the results then influencing decisions?
- Under which circumstances were additional tests carried out?
- Were there particular criteria, which had to be fulfilled before introduction into usage?

5. When was the variety released by the authorities?

6. How was the seed multiplied through to its delivery quantities?

7. How can the variety be described today? Typical varietal characteristics, recommendations for cultivation, practical results from the field, results from quality tests and if a description of the formative forces or the result from a picture forming quality assessment method (e.g. copper-chloride-crystallisation) is available, its publication is desirable.