18/12/2020

They make it happen! Enriching plant genetic diversity by bringing landrace varieties back into people’s gardens and plates

Are you a researcher, producer, breeder or simply interested in organic seeds? Get inspired by the Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (ÖMKi)’s project on Hungarian tomato landraces on organic farms.

Due to industrialized agriculture, which mainly uses modern breeds and hybrids, all tomato landraces had disappeared from public production in Hungary by 2012. ÖMKi’s participatory research project reintroduces landraces most suitable for organic production and enriches genetic biodiversity of Hungarian farmed plants farmed and preserves the country’s valuable agricultural heritage.

Credits: ÖMKi

Over the past two years, more than 16,000 ‘Landrace Tomato seedlings’ have been sold. To keep up with the growing demand, about 20,000 seedlings will be supplied in spring 2021, bringing landrace varieties back into people’s gardens and onto their plates.

Read more about this initiative on euorganic2030.bio, and share it on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Find out what other initiatives are transforming food and farming in Europe on social media using #EUorganic2030. 

Learn more about this and other initiatives that are transforming food and farming in Europe and get inspired on euorganic2030.bio.  

The work of IFOAM Organics Europe on this topic is co-financed by the LIFE programme of the European Union, under the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME). This page only reflects the views of the authors and its sole responsibility lies with IFOAM Organics Europe. The EASME is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information provided.

 
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