Speaking at the First Turkish Organic Farming Conference held at Bahcesehir University in Istanbul on 19-20 October 2007, Hasan Celen of the Directorate of Health and Consumer Protection gave a paper on the certification of local crop varieties and their importance for organic farming. Çelen explained that a variety is defined in three ways: 1) Distinctiveness - that it vary from other varieties in at least one characteristic; 2) Uniformity – that when propagated it produce a homogeneous crop true to the parent stock, apart from variations that can be attributed to propagation techniques; 3) Stability – that all its characteristics remain constant over repeated plantings.
Known as DUS, these three criteria are required for certification. In addition, proof must be given that the seed/fruit represents a real agronomic or technological advance over current varieties. The main obstacle facing local varieties is that they are unable to compete with commercial varieties in these respects. Yet on the other hand it is essential that they be certified, so as to preserve biodiversity and genetic resources. Traditional varieties are notable for their resistance to disease and pests, and their adaptation to local climatic conditions. In November 2007 Turkey will sign up to the International Union for the protection of new varieties of plants (UPOV) and we will be compelled to pay royalties to the seed companies for all varieties that we did not develop ourselves. Certification is an importance process and the system works well in the developed countries. While the level of certified seeds in the European Union is 70%, in Turkey this is only 30%.


 
© 2008 FRUIT HERITAGE, Mugla's Local Fruit Varieties, Cultural Heritage, Database and Conservation Project