We have been offering our customers certified organic sugar beet seed for organic farming since 2007. At that time, Strube was the only supplier of organic sugar beet varieties on the market. Even though the certification of organic sugar beet is carried out under strict conditions, we have consistently worked to further expand and serve this market segment. Our subcontractors who are associated with or distribute the organic goods must also be certified organic. This includes Strube Italia, for example.
Successful seed production, certification, and approval
The same strict standards apply to the production, certification, and approval of organic seed as to organic farming and the production of organic food. We make sure that our partner farmers are not only organic professionals, but also have special expertise in the multiplication of sugar beet seed. Every step of the process is documented, and all organic farmers, companies and forwarders involved are certified according to EU guidelines. Steckling production and the seed multiplication take place on purely organic farms that manage their land 100% organically. We also produce our organic seeds in northern Italy, west of Venice, and with organic farmers in western France, south of Bordeaux, because in both regions the climatic conditions and infrastructure are ideal for seed multiplication.
In an annual audit, it is checked whether all requirements have been met so that the seed may also be offered as organic seed. The entire production chain is traced and checked against the respective certificates. Subsequently, each of our organic sugar beet varieties receives its own certificate. There is also a check of the seed documents (delivery notes, labels, invoices, internet presence, advertising material), which are checked for the correct designation of the articles and the presence of the inspection body code (For Germany: DE-ÖKO-003).
The right variety
The ideal varieties should be vigorous and can be harvested early. It is also helpful to have a lower susceptibility to leaf diseases and a tolerance to rhizomania. Early and good leaf development is also important, combined with rapid canopy closure.
