VALENCIA, March 30. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Universitat Politècnica de València, through its COMAV Institute, and within the framework of the European Liveseeding project, has launched two Living Labs, one in Villena (Alicante) and another in València, to develop new “ultra-resilient” and ecological seeds of white pepper, purple carrot and cauliflower adapted to climate change.
In the Villena laboratory they are valuing and improving local ecotypes of white pepper and purple carrot with the collaboration of producers and consumers of the region for the efficient multiplication of organic seeds, and in the València laboratory, researchers participatively select the best traditional varieties of cauliflower (‘Brassica oleracea var. botrytis’) adapted to the new conditions of climate change, as reported by the UPV in a statement.
This project will make it possible to obtain organic seeds of high-quality traditional varieties that are better adapted to current climatic demands, after promoting the genetic diversification of the agri-food system and making them more resilient. In this way, the COMAV researcher and project leader at the UPV, Adrian Rodidriguez, has indicated that, to achieve this, “the work being carried out with farmers, cooperatives, and consumers is fundamental.”
Likewise, in these laboratories they will be able to efficiently select, improve and multiply the seed from associations of small and medium farmers, to local community seed banks. In addition, they will allow the most conventional seed companies to connect with organic producers.
The COMAV team, together with farmers linked to the two Living Labs, will work in the coming months on the selection of ecotypes of white pepper, purple carrot and cauliflower, adapted to low inputs and will also analyze different methodologies for disinfecting horticultural seeds according to the demands of organic production.
The Liveseeding project is led by FiBL Europe and funded by the European Commission, through the Horizon Europe programme, which involves a total of 37 partners from 14 EU countries, Switzerland and the United Kingdom and will conclude in 2026.