While there is no single, specific seed policy within the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), plant breeding is one field of activity within the recently adopted overall crop cultivation strategy of the Ministry. However, the BMEL has delegated the task of overseeing the regulatory framework for the seed sector to its main agency, the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) and its subordinated Federal Plant Variety Office.
This brief examines the structure of the German seed sector, its main stakeholders from business to policymaking to research, and assesses the various strategies with which the German government seeks to strengthen domestic seed breeding.
Author: Andreas Hansen (DCZ)
