April 15th, 2015
Native Seed Conference
Bridging the gap between academia and industry
Using current regulations
and practices to develop a
certification scheme for
native plant species in
Europe
Holly Abbandonato
Supervisor: Costantino Bonomi
Co-Supervisors: Giles Laverack & Hugh Pritchard
Photo courtesy of Patrizia Ferrari
1
Interdisciplinary approach to promote a sustainable and
dynamic European native seed industry
7 full partners
• Academic institutions
• NGOs
• Public land governance
bodies
• Private companies
2
Grassland Restoration using Native Seeds
(A) Species selection
Stephanie Frischie
(B) Seed biology
characterization
(C) Seed production
& deployment
Laura Lopez del Egido
Holly Abbandonato
University of Pavia, Italy
3
Native Seed Grassland Restoration in Europe
Regulations
Seed Quality
http://www.niab.com/pages/id/103/Certification_Requirements
Certification
4
Objective 1 - Regulations
Review the current state of regulations and
practices across Europe
UN Convention on Biological Diversity
Global Strategy for Plant Conservation
Aichi Biodiversity Targets
EU Commission - Environment
EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy
Natura 2000 – Habitats and Birds Directive
5
Objective 1 - Regulations
COP 11 Decision XI/16
Ecosystem Restoration
Aichi Biodiversity Targets
14 “… ecosystems that provide essential services … are restored and
safeguarded...”
15 “… ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity… through
conservation and restoration, including restoration of at least 15 per
cent of degraded ecosystems...”
Global Strategy for Plant Conservation Targets
4 “At least 15 per cent of each ecological region or vegetation type secured
through effective management and/or restoration. ”
8 “… at least 20 per cent available for recovery and restoration
programmes. ”
GSPC Vision
“The Strategy seeks to halt the continuing loss of plant
diversity”
6
Objective 1 - Regulations
EU Commission – Environmental Council
EU Biodiversity Strategy
2 “By 2020, ecosystems and their services are maintained and
enhanced by … restoring at least 15% of degraded ecosystems.”
Natura 2000 Network
Designate protected sites (SPAs and SACs) under the Birds and
Habitat Directives to conserve biodiversity
7
Objective 1 - Regulations
EU Commission Directives – Native Seeds
Specific legislation: Fruit,
vegetables, oil and fibres,
cereal, vines, ornamental,
forestry, and fodder
66/401/EEC - Marketing of
fodder plants
2010/60/EC – Fodder plant
seed mixtures used for
preservation of the natural
environment
8
Objective 1 - Regulations
Case-study on UK Native Seed Market
UK Native Seed Hub (Kew)
• 70-120 tons in weight and £3-6 million
in value
• Habitat type: 75-85% species rich
grasslands
• Seed use/funding: 40-75% government
funding
• Expected to grow by 12-13% each year
by 2020
Photo courtesy of E. Ladouceur
9
Objective 2 – Seed Quality
Identify quality requirements for genetic
conservation and plant establishment
Seed Quality
1. Species and end use (Hampton 2002)
2. Genotype and pre-storage environment (Baskins &
Baskins 2014)
Define ‘seed quality’ in terms of seed production
for grassland restoration
10
Objective 2 – Seed Quality
Harvesting
-Provenance
-Maturity
-Cleaning
Restoration
-Germination
-Establishment
-Site preparation
-Packaged
Storage
-Drying
-Longevity
-Viability
(Tischew et al. 2011)
11
Objective 2 – Seed Quality
Current seed quality resources
ISTA
ENSCONET
EU Salvere Project
Seed Information Database
(Kew)
Evaluate current protocols
Communicate to users
• Online Database
12
Objective 2 – Seed Quality
Establishing quality control in UK
wildflower production
Germination (%)
Create awareness
-Public, producers and users
13
Objective 3 - Certification
Develop a certification scheme for European
native species
To Certify
• To say in a formal or official
way, usually in writing, that
something is true or
correct (Cambridge Dictionary)
• Who and how?
http://www.niab.com/pages/id/103/Certification_Requirements
Certification is adaptable and always evolving
(Seed Science and Technology 4th edition)
14
Objective 3 - Certification
Possible recommendations for future
certification
Bottom-up implementation
-> best practice
Survey producers/users
- Preliminary survey
Labelling
– Bio-banking
http://cipotato.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/7.jpg
15
Bridging the gap between academia and
industry
• Networking
• Collaboration
• NASSTEC Panel
Science Museum in Trento, Italy
Email
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.nasstec.eu
http://www.anms.it/soci/dettaglio_socio/82
16
The preceding presentation was delivered at the
2015 National Native Seed Conference
Santa Fe, New Mexico April 13-16, 2015
This and additional presentations available at
http://nativeseed.info