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Organic

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  • Co-Existence in the Seed Industry
  • Organic Seed Availability and Compliance
  • Trade

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Co-existence

The practice of growing, reproducing and handling seed products with different characteristics or intended markets with the goal of successfully achieving intended product integrity and maintaining the economic value of such products.

ASTA’s Principles: The Practice of Coexistence in the Seed Industry

Existing US Seed Industry Production Practices that Address Coexistence


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Organic Seed Availability and Compliance

Compared to the growth of the overall organic sector, organic seed is still an underdeveloped area. Organic growers largely depend on conventionally produced seed because the organic seed sector is still in development. In 2002, the USDA developed the NOP, a domestic organic regulatory standard, to govern the U.S. organic sector. The regulation includes a clause governing organic seed usage in certified organic farming systems (Section 205.204(a)) – prescribes the use of organic seed in an organic production system whenever such seed is commercially available (USDA-AMS, 2002). Interpretations of the organic seed clause and the development of monitoring tools for compliance have evolved since 2002, and the NOP recently publicized a final Guidance (NOP 5029) on Seeds, Annual Seedlings, and Planting Stock in Organic Crop Production.


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Trade

As the organic sector grows globally, trade of organic seeds has been on the increase. The NOP has trade agreements with multiple countries that include both equivalency agreements and recognition agreements. For example the NOP has equivalency agreements with both the Canada Organic Regime and most recently the European Union (EU) organic system. An equivalency agreement allows for products that are produced and certified according to one country’s organic standards to be sold and represented as organic in the other country.

Overview of current trade agreements | Specific details by nation

U.S.-EU Organic Equivalence Arrangement

Resources

USDA-National Organic Program (NOP)

The mission of the NOP is to ensure the integrity of USDA organic products in the U.S. and throughout the world.

National Organic Standards Board (NOSB)

Appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, the NOSB is a Federal Advisory Committee comprised of the following members of the organic community. Recommendations made by the NOSB are not official policy until they are approved and adopted by USDA

AOSCA Organic Seed Finder

Hosted by the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA). The purpose of this site is to allow organic seed vendors and potential customers to find one another.

Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)

OMRI supports organic integrity by developing clear information and guidance about materials, so that producers know which products are appropriate for organic operations.

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