Government revises mandatory use of organic seeds due to shortage

Criado em 05/12/13 18h04 e atualizado em 09/12/13 11h38
Por Mariana Branco Fonte:Agência Brasil

Brasília – Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply will revise the ban on the use of conventional seeds and seedlings in organic agriculture. The prohibition was to be brought into force on Dec. 19.

The change was called for by the Chamber of Organic Agriculture, an organization connected with Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture. According to the Ministry, the decision was fostered by a public assembly attended by representatives from the production sector, related associations, research centers and certifying agencies.

Also according to the Ministry, the organic seeds currently available are not enough to meet the demand of the production chain. The solution proposed to the generalized obligation problem is that, as of 2016, every state should henceforth compile a list with the species and varieties that will have to be organic.

In the view of Caio Rocha, Secretary of the Agricultural Development and Cooperative Department, research and development must be fostered, so that the conditions necessary to organic production can be brought about: “As long as these conditions don’t exist, we need a simplified set of laws.” The Ministry further announced that it strongly encourages the adoption of organic seeds, and that it has issued a public tender in order to hire professionals in charge of classifying suitable species.

Edited by José Romildo / Lícia Marques
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira