THE WORD OF THE PRESIDENT - Breton Organization of Selection

The advantage of OBS is the constant dialogue that exists with producers

Over time, the OBS, first seed producer, became the heart of the genetic independence of Breton vegetable producers.
Jean-Marc Roué is a producer in Plougoulm and president of the OBS.

He gives us here below an overview of the activities and species worked:

We have put tools in place to build our genetic independence. But we must remain realistic and vigilant: let us still try, as long as possible, not to depend totally on the outside. Small structures like the OBS are rare, most of the plant genetics market is concentrated in the hands of two large groups. We can not count on them to take into account all the interests of a very small part of agricultural Brittany. The advantage of our structure is the dialogue that exists between the producers and the OBS. It has been installed for a long time in cauliflower, but the approach is the same for the other species worked.

CAULIFLOWER: SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

In cauliflower, the OBS must work on all the precocities, on all the niches of production. In the face of competition, the OBS must be competitive in terms of price, genetic quality and seed quantity.

Another duty of the OBS is to secure the supply. This is why the OBS has its own seed production tool, unlike the large groups that relocate to China, India or Chile.

OBS accounts for more than 80% of the total seed supply on certain precocities. Securing seed availability is a major issue.

TRADITIONAL SCALOT: NEW CHALLENGES

The region had been well supplied, in terms of traditional shallots, with Arvro and Longor We thought the problem of varietal creation was settled forever.But the traditional shallot was confronted with the competition of the sowing products, and therefore with new issues. The sector has thus obtained a procurement contract with the OBS. Main objective: to reduce production costs. Thus, the OBS has created the variety Molène which has the main advantage of being highly resistant to mildew.

ARTICHOKE: AN ENRICHED RANGE

The convention passed between Cérafel and the OBS has revived the creation of varietal. The Prince de Bretagne range has been enriched with the creation of the Cardinal variety. This is a first step because the current work on a Petit Violet artichoke better adapted to the region is about to be completed. An improved Camus type, with good post-harvest conservation and good behavior against late blight remains a major focus of the program.

COCO DE PAIMPOL : PRODUCERS INVOLVED

This section, which had no previous relationship with the OBS, was the first to sign a convention. I consider that the OBS and the section have succeeded in this: to prove the interest of a process of varietal creation for a very specific production, very isolated compared to the national section. </ P>

As in shallot, the OBS produces the basic seeds, and the producers themselves multiply the seeds. So there is no question here of self-financing the plants breeding through the sale of seeds. The producers and their section took on their responsibilities and were able to set up and finance this agreement. Three varieties were selected, the program continues.

THE ORGANIC SECTOR: STRONG ACCOMPANYING

Since 1995, the OBS has organized its development in the production of AB certified seeds.
In the AB production regulations (Organic Agriculture), it is specified that the organic producers must provide AB seeds and seedlings. However there is the possibility, in a derogatory way, to provide conventional untreated (non-organic) seeds. The Cerafel’s organic producers immediately declared that they could not base their development on a derogatory system. </ P>

Our goal is to produce quality seeds at an acceptable price in sufficient quantity.