Organic Seed Production in the Republic of Serbia

Over the past few years, organic agricultural production has increased globally. This type of production is regulated by numerous laws and concomitant regulations, whereas the basic principles of organic production development are prescribed by the IFOAM standards and the European Union. Seed production is of immense importance to organic agricultural systems as the use of certified seed is crucial in preserving organic production. Prior to 2009, certified organic seed had not been produced in the Republic of Serbia, and producers had used either landrace seeds or chemically untreated conventional seeds. Of the total area devoted to organic farming in the Republic of Serbia (14,357.96 ha), seed production accounts for only 8.4 ha, with uneven distribution over regions. The highest organic seed production (5.2 ha) has been recorded in the region of Vojvodina. However, there is still a lack of certified organic seed in the country, emphasizing the need for organic seed breeding and production in the future.