The organic seed market and computer vision guidance systems for agriculture

Abstract

Canterbury is an increasingly important area for the multiplication of vegetable seed for European seed houses (breeding and multiplication companies). Such crops are a useful addition to the typical Canterbury farmer’s crop rotation and are also a potentially high value crop. Due to the implementation of The EU Regulation 2092/1991 and the USA NOP (National Organics Program) requiring the use of organically produced seed in organic production systems, there is increasing demand for organic seed. New Zealand seed multiplication companies have been approached by EU seed houses wanting organic vegetable and pasture seed and have been offered considerable premiums over conventional prices, in some cases guaranteed for multi-year periods. Considerable interest in organic vegetable and pasture seed multiplication has therefore been stimulated in the Canterbury area. Charles Merfield and Tim Chamberlain were given a Lincoln Foundation grant to travel to the EU to study organic vegetable seed production and computer vision guidance for agriculture. The focus of the trip was to: • Attend the first scientific conference on organic seed production, jointly organised by IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations) and ISF (International Seed Federation); • To discuss the organic vegetable seed market with key industry organisations in the UK to understand their positions and form an impression of where the market is heading; • To meet and form linkages with scientists conducting research relating to organic vegetable seed production; • To view and meet with the manufactures of interrow hoe companies and computer vision guidance systems (CVGS) to review current technology.