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>Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 14:47:36 -0600
>Subject: [seedsofchange] why organic seed
>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
>
>The subject came up the other day on the e-group as to why one should use
>organically grown seed rather than conventional seed that is produced with
>chemical inputs. The following are a few of the primary reasons why
>we at Seeds
>Of Change believe that organic seeds are the superior choice.
>
>1) Organically-grown seed is better for the environment.
>Conventional seed crops are grown with the entire arsenal of insecticides,
>fungicides, and herbicides. Since the end product (i.e. the seed) is not for
>human consumption, farmers can apply these poisons right up until the day of
>harvest, and they tend to apply heavier rates than when a crop is grown for
>food. Therefore, conventional seed production is even more
>chemically intensive
>than conventional food production. In contrast, organic seed growers use much
>more benign techniques such as mechanical cultivation, beneficial insect
>release, and crop rotation to manage weeds, insect pests, and
>diseases. The same
>principal applies to fertilizer amendments. Conventional inputs such as
>anhydrous ammonia, ammonium nitrate, and di-ammonium phosphate are highly
>soluble and disruptive to the carbon cycle, and to the soil biota including
>microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes), nematodes, beetles, worms,
>etc.. Organic growers use slow-release amendments such as compost, green
>manures, greensand and colloidal rock phosphate, which all have
>positive effects
>on the soil biological community, and whose nutrients (particularly nitrogen)
>are much less likely to be leached out into the groundwater.
>
>2) Organically-grown seed is better adapted for organic soil/farm
>environments.
>There are several fundamental differences between organic and
>conventional farm
>environments. In the organic environment there are 1) more raw plant residues
>mixed in the soil, 2) a greater diversity of insects (both beneficial and
>harmful). 3) a more active and diverse soil biological community, 4) more weed
>growth, and 5) nutrients are more slowly available to the crop plants. A crop
>grown under these organic conditions will produce seed that generally will be
>better adapted to grow under similar conditions in subsequent
>generations. This
>statement is strongly supported by the success of seed varieties produced by
>third world farmers under low-input farming conditions versus the lack of
>success of high-input (chemical/conventional) seed varieties grown
>on these same
>low-input farms.
>
>3) Purchasing organically-grown seed supports organic farmers throughout the
>world.
>Organic farming is now widely recognized as an exceptional way of
>producing high
>quality food while protecting our natural resource base. Organic farming,
>however, does not end once the food is harvested. A small but select
>proportion
>of every plant variety must continue growing so that seed can be harvested and
>food production will continue in all future generations. Therefore, using
>organically-grown seed completes the agricultural cycle and ensures a
>sustainable future for all farmers.
>
>At Seeds Of Change we continually strive to develop superior varieties of
>organically produced seed. We grow out our varieties each year at our research
>farm to evaluate them first hand for a wide array of characteristics
>including:
>vigor, trueness to type, flavor, hardiness, and time to maturity. We also work
>to improve our varieties through field selections and breeding
>efforts conducted
>at both our research farm and in the fields of our network of
>certified organic
>growers. This year we are improving several lines of carrots,
>including a novel
>variety collected in China. The carrot roots are grown at the
>research farm and
>hand selected for an ideal shape, smooth sides, strong tops, and
>cold hardiness
>before they are re-planted for a seed crop. Similarly, our growers, in
>collaboration with our research team, scrutinize each variety grown in their
>fields. By working directly with organic farmers we know that our seed is not
>only produced organically, but in a sustainable manner, and we are able to
>evaluate our varieties' performance in an organic production system. In
>addition, we are conducting replicated field trials on commercial
>organic farms
>against standard conventional varieties. We believe that this level of
>involvement is necessary to produce the best organic seed.
>
>Have a great season.
>Best Regards,
>Steve Peters
>Seeds Of Change
>
>
>
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