5 research outputs found
A proposal for enhanced EU herbage VCU and DUS testing procedures
International audienceHerbage production is regarded as having environmentâfriendly credentials. However, as the ruminant production it supports is facing major challenges on sustainability, environmental footprint and human health concerns, EU herbage cultivar testing must contribute to the solutions. Before new cultivars can be sold in a member state (MS) and gain EUâwide marketing, they must pass official tests to prove they are both novel (distinct, uniform and stable, DUS) with improved value for cultivation and use (VCU). Herbage species present specific challenges, as their allogamy imposes a wide withinâcultivar variation that adds complexity to DUS tests and their âvalueâ is only realized in ruminant produce. Current VCU systems measure production, chemical composition and disease/stress tolerances, often on large numbers of candidate cultivars, but prohibitive labour costs and logistics mean that animal intake, ruminant output or environmental benefits cannot be measured directly. Furthermore, some candidate cultivars with proven superior VCU fail DUS even though the nonâdistinct comparison is with a significantly lower performing registered cultivar. To resolve these problem cases, a âvmDUSâ distinctness tool is proposed, which uses molecular markers but conforms to UPOVâdeclared principles. A short overview of current grassland research shows smart proxy measures of animal value can easily and quickly be adopted into an integrated panâEuropean (EUâVCU) test network. The proposed EUâVCU scheme will reallocate test resources to conduct these additional tests by placing MS in data sharing collaborations, while retaining their national listing authority. The benefits to all stakeholders from adopting these new testing procedures are considered