Research by Plant Research International has shown that the Netherlands will have adequate levels of starting material available for all major organic arable and vegetable crops in 2004. The only crop for which demand will exceed supply is alfalfa. Although insufficient data was collected to give a definitive report on minor crops, the expectation is that scant supplies of starting material will be available for these crops.
The starting material used for organic cultivation, such as seeds and seed material, must also be of organic origin. Due to the fact that the organic starting material sector has only recently got off the ground, a general pardon applies until the end of 2003. From 1 January 2004, there will be no exemptions for those crops for which it can be established that sufficient organic starting material is available.
Plant Research International conducted a study into the demand and supply of organic starting material in the Netherlands. The demand for organically produced starting material was calculated based upon the acreage of organically cultivated crops. In addition, a survey was held among 40 organic growers. The availability of organically produced starting material was estimated using data from the producers.
A significant amount of organically produced starting material is already being used for the major crops. The study showed that sufficient organically produced starting material will be available for all of the most important arable and vegetable crops in 2004. The only crop for which a shortfall is expected is alfalfa. The situation for clover is unclear because of a lack of proper data over the available acreage: there may be a bottleneck occurring here. Insufficient data was accessible on minor crops, and limited supplies of starting material are likely to become available.
List of press releases for 2003