Sordivaliku

Sordivaliku is a term used in Estonian agriculture to describe the process of selecting plant varieties for cultivation. It refers to evaluating and choosing cultivars or strains that are best suited to a given environment, farming system, and end-use requirements.

The practice is undertaken by farmers, seed companies, breeders, and researchers. Key criteria include yield potential and stability, disease and pest resistance, tolerance to abiotic stress (such as drought or cold), and quality attributes relevant to the product (for example, grain quality, taste, or processing characteristics). Choices are often location-specific and aligned with local climate, soil, management practices, and market demand.

Evaluation relies on field and on-farm trials, across multiple sites and seasons. Data collection covers agronomic performance, quality measurements, and, increasingly, farmer and processor feedback. Participatory variety selection integrates user experience into the process to ensure varieties meet practical needs.

Regulatory and seed-certification systems underpin sordivaliku by ensuring that released varieties maintain true-to-type characteristics and are legally available for multiplication and sale. The approach supports agricultural resilience and biodiversity by balancing high-performing varieties with adaptation to changing conditions and regional preferences.