Formation of organic seed exchange by means of subordinate legislation

The aim of each country is to preserve its variety of seeds because they represent the wealth of every country. In that way, herbal and genetic resources of a country are preserved. This is, among the rest, pointed out at the meeting of the Group for Organic Production of the Association for Agriculture, Food and Tobacco Industry and Water Power Engineering within the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (SCC).

Preservation and exchange of seeds of various vegetable plants with the aim of improving organic production in the world was discussed by the founders of non-government non-profitable organization Seed Savers from Australia, Jude and Michael Fanton, in association with the Serbian Biodynamic Agriculture Organization, which was represented by its secretary Zoran Petrov.

They presented the world's experiences in an educational programme for preservation of non-hybrid seeds and genetic variety of vegetative species, non-profitable seed exchange programmes, creation of seed bank for non-hybrid vegetative species, provision of seed reserves for individuals, groups and communities.

Nada Miskovic, the President of the Group for Organic Production of the Agrarian Association of SCC, pointed out that adoption of a series of bylaws was expected in Serbia, which would enable formation of the seed exchange and trading in organic seeds.

It was underlined in the discussion that the aim was preservation of as large number of seeds as possible because the nature was abundant with diversities and establishment of standards in it was impossible. Also an information was presented that, for instance, about 5,000 different seeds exist only in Sombor and its surroundings...

The best method to save these different seed varieties is to enable exchange, that is, trading in organic seeds between manufacturers, i.e. farmers.