Genetic improvements can boost crop yields up to 150kg per hectare

TILLAGE farmers can improve their yields for some crops by 100kg- 150kg per hectare per year by following genetic enhancement measures detailed in a new manual, Certified Seed, launched by Teagasc.

Prof Jimmy Burke of Teagasc’s National Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, Carlow, said genetic improvement is proven to deliver productivity benefits which are key to enhancing the competitive- ness of Irish farming.

Prof Burke said: “Plant breeding techniques are continuously evolving and contribute 1.0% to 1.5% yield improvement per annum. Yields, lodging resistance, plant health, and overall grain quality have improved massively in recent decades.

“A substantial part of the rise in average cereal yields over the past 25 years can be attributed to innovations in plant breeding,” he said.

“We must continue to facilitate the development and commercial introduction of better plant genetics into Irish farming systems, thus improving and safeguarding our competitiveness in an evolving globalised market. We have the highest cereal yields in the world; we need to maintain that position to remain competitive,” Prof Burke added.

Each new variety of seed introduced to the market is protected by Plant Breeders Rights (a form of Intellectual Property rights) which ensures a return on investment to the parent breeding company.

Certified seed is the principal mechanism by which IP income is returned to the plant breeders to fund develop- ment of new varieties.

It is illegal to trade in un-certified seed under EU and Irish law, and growers using their own farm- saved seed are obliged to pay a royalty to the breeder of the seed used.

Irish Seed Trade Association president, Donal Fitzgerald, said: “Plant breeding and the commercial introduction of a new variety is an expensive and time-consuming operation and on average takes 10 years before a new variety is ready for the market.

“This process has to be continually funded to ensure viability, and if not, then the introduction of newer and better varieties ceases to be a reality.

“Such an eventuality would have very serious long-term effects on the viability of cereal growing in this country,” he said.

“Applying the genetic improvement associated with certified seed to a 10 tonne per hectare crop of winter wheat, results in an additional return of 100kgs to 150kgs per hectare per year to the grower.”

The producers of the new booklet said Irish certified seed is produced to the highest standards, providing growers with guaranteed spec on varietal purity, germin- ation, and phyto-sanitary status.

The Irish seed certification scheme is under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture.

* For more information: www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmingsectors/crops/seedcertification.