Use of varieties and seeds of cereal crops to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33730/2310-4678.3.2025.342528

Keywords:

food security, crop production, registration, certification, recommendation lists, post-registration research

Abstract

The development of varietal plant resources is a priority for Ukraine on its path toward integration not only into the European Union but also into the global economy, as well as for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ukraine is among the first countries to have supported the European Green Deal and incorporated its key provisions into the Strategy for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas in Ukraine for the period until 2030. This article presents the results of an analysis of the regulatory and legal framework of the European Community and its member states (Poland, Germany, and Netherlands) regarding the current practices of variety registration through inclusion in national catalogues, the Common Catalogue, and post-registration variety studies aimed at achieving the SDGs. It was found that EU legislation (Council Directive 2002/53/EC) and the laws of individual member states — such as Poland (Seed Act, 2013), Germany (Seed Marketing Act — Saatgutverkehrsgesetz (SaatG), 2004, as amended in 2022), and the Netherlands (Seeds and Planting Materials Act — Zaaizaaden plantgoedwet, as amended in 2016) — provide for the distribution of a variety within a defined territory in accordance with EU directives and regulations, while national specificities exist in each country. The findings provide valuable insights into the experience of European countries in the assessment and use of plant varieties for achieving the SDGs, particularly within integrated production systems. To establish an effective variety assessment system in Ukraine and to inform farmers about the most adapted varieties for diverse agro-production conditions and processing industries, it is essential to adapt variety testing and evaluation to the market economy and to EU norms and standards. As part of this effort, the establishment of a nationwide post-registration research system should be regulated at the legislative level, with the implementation of corresponding measures to ensure its operation.

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Published

2025-08-22

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No. 3 (2025)

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