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The mother of organic vegetables

Shortly before St. Leonhard in the southern Waldviertel a rare, reverential shower comes over me. What awaits me is of fundamental importance - but this only becomes clear when one thinks about it a little: beyond the public perception limit, ReinSaat here lays the foundation for the fact that there can even be regional organic vegetables in Austria in great variety. Here, organic and Demeter seeds are produced. For a healthy, ecological diet. Without that genetic engineering. And especially to preserve the diversity of those crops that have always enabled human survival.
"We almost forgot what feeds us," ReinSaat CEO Reinhild Frech-Emmelmann points out our loss of a fundamental understanding of nature. The seed farmer and breeder keeps it for us - out of conviction: "As a breeder one bears responsibility. To provide for the food and also for the well-being of humans. Because if it tastes, it's good. "

Protests against genetic engineering

Change of venue Philippines: Here, XENTUM small farmers are using GM plants for large-scale cultivation. But not all are excited. Already 415.000 were destroyed in protest genetic engineering test fields. While 2013 attracts Canadian lobbyists for the genetically modified "golden rice" in the spring, farmers' temperaments are once again heating up. The miracle rice is to stop the worldwide malnutrition, since it has been changed so that it produces more beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body. But this is completely over the target, says Chito Medina from the rural seed network Masipag: "Micronutrient deficiency occurs mostly in children from poor families who can not afford a balanced diet. Golden Rice is therefore not a solution, instead, these people need access to resources. "The key point: The companies of GM seeds ensure their customers, that from the harvested crops no useful seeds can emerge. Therefore, new seeds have to be bought annually and patent fees have to be paid annually. Lots of money for poor Filipino peasants.

Dependency & Power

"Genetic engineering is dependency at its best. It's about a right of self-determination. Genetic engineering was officially prescribed in the Philippines. Almost 100 percent of the indigenous varieties (without human influence, natural and regionally developed plants, note d. Red.) Have been lost, "explains Frech-Emmelmann the true danger of genetic engineering - away from unexplained health concerns.
Nevertheless, the areas cultivated with genetically modified plants are increasing. 2014, they have increased worldwide by three percent to now 181 million hectares, compared to 2013 once again a plus of six million hectares. Another current concern: New biotechnology will introduce genetic engineering that is no longer detectable.

ReinSaat: Thousands of years of know-how

Almost unnoticed, one of mankind's earliest achievements threatens to be forgotten: Thousands of years ago, humans acquired the knowledge of cultivating and cultivating plants in an amazing pioneering effort. "The potential was there, it only had to be elicited from nature," explains ReinSaat's expert. Example salad: "We have these soft, sweet leaves from a rosette of a plant. She was bred so that she forms bracts and does not immediately cast out. A halt in a juvenile stage of the plant. Only that allows nutritional production. Samenbauer or breeder was previously a profession with relevant training and was even taught at the universities. Unfortunately, that is not the case anymore. "
Technology, cities, consumer society - Many factors have alienated us from nature. But there are good reasons why seeds are produced naturally, biologically and regionally. Through plant generations, selected traits are passed on from the parent to the daughter plant. This allowed varieties to adapt to environmental conditions and become more stable. Corresponding seed is called "seed-proof".

“The consumer doesn't even know what organic vegetables he is getting. Vegetables from hybrid seeds are not labeled. ”, Reinhild Frech-Emmelmann, ReinSaat, about organic vegetables.

ReinSaat boss Reinhild Frech-Emmelmann on her round 70 Paradeiser varieties.
ReinSaat boss Reinhild Frech-Emmelmann on her round 70 Paradeiser varieties.

Organic seed vs. Hybrid

This is completely different with hybrids (identification F1). Without genetic mixing these plants are crossed in inbred to achieve the so-called heterosis effect: a rearing of the breeding components, resulting in a significantly better crop yield. The fatal consequence: The genetic information in the resulting seeds disintegrate chaotically and lose the characteristics of the mother plant. In many crops such as rapeseed or rye, the hybrid share in German-speaking countries already exceeds 50 percent.
Variety diversity is in danger, confirms Reinschaat's Frech-Emmelmann: "If we breed varieties that need less water, or varieties that develop a long root system, then that's an improvement. But if hybrids are produced every year, there is no progress in the development of the plants. Seed-proof seed may not provide a record harvest, but the much more important yield security. "
Given this, a conscious consumer would certainly avoid hybrid vegetables - if it were possible. But on the contrary: Some hybrid goods are sold as cheeky organic vegetables. "The consumer does not know what he is receiving. Vegetables from hybrid seeds are not labeled, "criticizes the ReinSaat boss.

Organic vegetables: 80 proprietary varieties

Variety in the truest sense enables organic seed producers - also through new breeding successes. Reinhild Frech-Emmelmann proudly presents her "Jessica", the result of participatory breeding in collaboration with a farmer from Eferding. He had discovered under his chard breeding a particularly suitable for his purposes plant and commissioned ReinSaat with the breeding. Meanwhile, Jessica is "grown up" and a small variety of chard with leathery leaves, great taste and white stems. It looks like a big Pak Choi and is very good transportable compared to other cut mangold. For ten years Frech-Emmelmann bred and nurtured the young strain: "You have to love the plants - the beauty of the plant. Working with the essence of the plant means taking back completely as a human being. "

 

About pure sowing:

In the year 1992, the initiative group for vegetable seeds from biodynamic cultivation was founded in Austria on the model of Switzerland and Germany. Initially, on a small scale, a dedicated circle dealt with biodynamic breeding.
1998 then took the next step: The founding of the company ReinSaat as a breeder and producer of organic and Demeter seeds for large organic vegetable producers, direct marketers (farm shop and market drivers with their own cultivation) and hobby gardeners. In the meantime, 30 farms in various regions of Austria and the EU are increasing seed, partly biodynamic and partly organically organic.
The farm of the breeder Reinhild Frech-Emmelmann, the heart of the company ReinSaat is located in the southern Waldviertel - in St. Leonhard am Hornerwald. From here, the seeds are shipped, but also the treatment and cleaning and the verification of germination.
The ReinSaat range includes organic vegetables, flowers, herbs and green manures and has grown steadily in recent years. In addition to its own new breedings, ReinSaat also sells biologically dynamic new breeds from Germany and Switzerland, and has set up its own range of rarities in cooperation with Noah's Ark. Around 450 varieties of cultivated vegetables are preserved and produced, with paradeisers alone 70 varieties are in the catalog.
Many Demeter and organic vegetables on the market are produced from pure seed seeds, including Hofer (mixed peppers and Paradeiser) and Ja Natürlich (Rewe).

Photo / Video: Shutterstock.

Written by Helmut Melzer

As a long-time journalist, I asked myself what would actually make sense from a journalistic point of view. You can see my answer here: Option. Showing alternatives in an idealistic way - for positive developments in our society.
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