Unlocking New Potential from Traditional Vegetable Varieties

Agriculture is facing a worrying decline in biodiversity. Causes include, among others, the standardisation of cropping systems, production standards, and the homogenisation of cultivated varieties. Genetic diversity within cultivated species forms the essential basis that enables farmers and breeders to respond to new social and ecological challenges. One approach to counteract the loss of this genetic diversity is the on-farm conservation of old or traditional varieties. Linked to this is the concept of “conservation through utilisation” — the protection of old varieties through their marketing, which in turn requires increased consumer demand.

The overarching goal of this project is to unlock new breeding potential from old vegetable varieties no longer available on the European seed market. In doing so, these traditional varieties are to be conserved on-farm — that is, on agricultural holdings — and made accessible again to both breeding programmes and consumers.

During the first project phase (12/2017 – 11/2020), the HNEE developed and tested a targeted communication concept to support the marketing of old varieties in the organic retail sector. This concept effectively conveys the value of old varieties while taking consumer preferences into account. The second project phase (12/2020 – 11/2022) expands on this by establishing an online platform to serve as an information and networking hub for breeding, conservation, and propagation of old varieties.

Early findings from the first phase revealed limited consumer willingness to pay a premium for old varieties. To build sustainable long-term funding for conservation breeding—and thereby develop an economically viable concept for preserving old varieties—additional financing models must be developed. Accordingly, in the second project phase (12/2020-11/2022), HNEE is investigating the suitability of citizen funding models to co-finance breeding, conservation, and propagation activities. This involves seed producers, conservation organisations, and consumers as potential funders.

A key outcome of the project is the website of the SaatGut-Erhalter-Netzwerks-Ost (Seed Conservation Network East).