Poster 4:Production of wild native plants seeds in Belgium and social activities

To limit the introduction of foreign wild seeds, or even the propagation of exotic species or horticultural varieties that are presently commercialised as so-called "wild" flowers mixtures, the Laboratory of Grassland Ecology (UCL) develops, with two other university centres, a programme for the multiplication of local ecotypes in view to commercialising seeds and plants certified "of local origin". This programme is financially supported by the Ministry of the Walloon Region (DGRNE - DNF). For each phytogeographic areas we collect " mother" ecotypes. In 2002, it concerns more than sixty herbaceous dicots and about fifteen ligneous plants chosen according to their ecological or aesthetic interest. The cultivation of reference crops has been carried out on a small area. Since 2001, a private society "ECOSEM sprl' develops, with some farmers, the production of seeds on wider surfaces (+/- 4 ha). This society has also undertaken a collaboration with a social association to produce wild plants in pots. Now, these products are recognized under the name of "Semences & Plantes du Terroir". These seeds could be utilized in mixture to create wild gardens, to sow railway slopes or road slopes, to rehabilitate old industrial areas, to favour biological struggle in orchards, etc.