Agricultural Biodiversitypromoting adaptive capacity within

production systems

Paola De Santis, Devra Jarvis

How we work

� A Research Agency for development

� With partners (NGOs, IGOs, Universities, local communities and others)

� No laboratories or field sites

� Through networks

Where we workA staff of over 300 operating from 30

locations around the world

What we do

� Bioversity seeks to provide evidence of the benefits of agricultural biodiversity for:• Improved productivity, resilience and resistance in farming systems• Better human health through improved nutrition & diversified diets• Enhanced options for income generation

� Benefits are secured through:• Informed policies, public awareness, increased

capacities to manage biodiversity

� Upscale benefits through:• Widely applicable methods based on greater

understanding of benefits

Building Better Use of Agricultural Biodiversity

� Build strong scientific evidence base

to convince the major development actors� Adopt different development models

• Combining multi-functional benefits of diversity• Based on better use of the adaptive

capacity of local diversity• Taking into consideration cultural values

� Document and conserve traditional knowledge

� Ensure Awareness

maize, beans, chili, squash

maize, chili, casava, cotton, peanuts

maize, beans,

sorghum, cowpea, millet, okra

durum wheat, faba bean, barley

sorghum, durum wheat

rice, taro

rice, barley, finger millet, taro, sponge gourd, pigeon pea

Morocco Hungary

PeruEthiopia

Mexico

VietnamBurkina Faso

Nepal

Simple globally applicable diversity measures: Richness , evenness, and divergenceevenness ,

Are

a pl

ante

d

Crop variety

and divergence

The “on-farm project” (Jarvis et al., PNAS, 2008)

Agricultural diversity is managed and maintained by small scale farmers in the developing world.

4-5 traditional sorghum varieties per farm ( 1.2 ha) and 23 per

community with any two plants drawn at random within a farm

differed in 69% (within a community 91%) Burkina faso

Jarvis et al. 2008

2-3 traditional rice varieties per farm ( 0.2 ha), 34 per community,

with any two plants drawn at random within a farm differed in 25% (within a community 77%)

Nepal and Vietnam

2-5 traditional apple varieties per farm, 8-10 per community, + wild apple for

rootstock, seedlings and fruits Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

Traditional varieties of Phaseolus lunatus in Cuban home gardens

cover the diversity of the entire national ex-situ

collection.

30 home gardens per agroecosystem - a

sampling strategy. Cuba and Guatemala

The Importance of Agrobiodiversity

� Conventional view

• As a source of traits for crop improvement at global level

Country inter-dependence, simplification and vulnera bility

X Data

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

MaizeWheatAppleRice

SorghumBeans

52

0.6

1.9

2.2

2.313

US$ Billions

2007 Value of US Production

• As a source of traits for crop improvement at global lev el

USDA stat.

0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00

Rice

Apples

MaizeWheatMaize

Sorghum

Apples

Potatoes

Rice

2008 Value of France Production

US$ Billions

10.4

4.4

1.5

1.3

0.03

0.05

FAOSTAT.

0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00

Rice

Apples

MaizeWheatMaize

Sorghum

Apples

Potatoes

Rice

2008 Value of France Production

US$ Billions

10.4

4.4

1.5

1.3

0.03

0.05

FAOSTAT.

The Importance of Agrobiodiversity

� Conventional view• As a source of traits for crop improvement at global level

� Unconventional: more sustainable agriculture

• As a source of traits for participatory crop improvement through PPB/PVS

In 2006, Jethobudho rice is formally released through the Nepalese Seed system as Nepal’s first farmer bred registered variety

Community institutions with the capacity to access, conserve and benefit from diversity

JBT1

JBT2

JBT4

JBT5

JBT6

JBT7

PB1RBN

AZU

JBT3IR36

0.28 0.46 0.64 0.82 1.00

Aromatic

Non-aromatic

JBT1

JBT2

JBT4

JBT5

JBT6

JBT7

PB1RBN

AZU

JBT3IR36

0.28 0.46 0.64 0.82 1.00

JBT1

JBT2

JBT4

JBT5

JBT6

JBT7

PB1RBN

AZU

JBT3IR36

0.28 0.46 0.64 0.82 1.00

Aromatic

Non-aromatic

The Importance of Agrobiodiversity

� Conventional view• As a source of traits for crop improvement at global level

� Unconventional: more sustainable agriculture• As a source of traits for crop improvement through PPB

• As a source of increased income and improved livelihoods, especially in marginal areas

Better marketing of local crops (case of leafy vegetables in Kenya with >1,100 % rise of sales over 2 years)

Major constraints to consumption of indigenous leafy vegetables were the cost, lack of time and knowledg e in food preparation

Options for income generation

Local food sources: shorter, more equitable, more transparent market chains

300 farming families monitored increased their production from 31 to 400 tons a month

The Importance of Agrobiodiversity

� Conventional view• As a source of traits for crop improvement at global level

� Unconventional: more sustainable agriculture• As a source of traits for crop improvement through PPB• As a source of increased income and improved

livelihoods, especially in marginal areas

• As a source of better nutrition

� Traditional leafy vegetables for nutrition• More than 200 species in Kenya• Much more nutritious

� Source of improved family nutrition

Indigenous fruit and leaf vegetables –suppliers of ascorbic acid, micronutrients (minerals & vitamins), anti-oxidants

The Importance of Agrobiodiversity

� Conventional view• As a source of traits for crop improvement at global level

� Unconventional: more sustainable agriculture• As a source of traits for crop improvement through PPB• As a source of increased income and improved

livelihoods, especially in marginal areas• As a source of better nutrition

• As a valuable contribution to sustaining cultural, ethnic traditions and identity

Sustaining cultural, ethnic traditions and identity

“Such is the Happenings of a Village”

�Diversity field fora and seed fairsto promote traditional know-how

Diversity Field Fora

� Empower small farmers to develop more effective livelihoods strategies

� Enhance identification and promotion of local genetic resources

� Enhance exchange of knowledge and local genetic resources

� Technical knowledge of famers strengthened through specific training and field visits and observations

� Promote multi partnership (farmers, extension services, researchers, local decision makers, private sector)

� Best traditional seed conservation practices documented, and disseminated to other villages

Diversity Field Fora

Seed fairs

� Value farmers’ contribution to conservation and development of crop genetic diversity

� Exchange of information at different levels (Villagers, local Decision makers, Researchers etc.)

� Favour exchange of practices (management and conservation) among farmers from different villages.

� Favour exchange of varieties among farmers, and between farmers and researchers

Agricultural Biodiversity and Protected Areas

� (i) linking agricultural and natural landscapes� (ii) linking protected area conservation to development� (iii) linking quality production and cultural diversity to

healthy ecosystems

The Importance of Agrobiodiversity

� Conventional view• As a source of traits for crop improvement at global level

� Unconventional: more sustainable agriculture• As a source of traits for crop improvement through PPB• As a source of increased income and improved

livelihoods, especially in marginal areas• As a source of better nutrition• As a valuable contribution to sustaining cultural, ethnic

traditions and identity

• As a source of resilience and stability against abiotic and biotic threats

Abiotic: Diverse sets of varieties for unpredictabl e environmental conditions

Site 2

Site 3

Site1 Site 2

Site 3

Site1

Unpredicatable rainfall = Variety diversity

Farmers’ management of genetic diversity prevents dilution of the stress resistance characteristics of local varieties

Sawadogo et. , 2006

� One third of global harvest lost to pests and diseases

� Hypothesis of project: intra-specific diversity in farmers’fields reduces vulnerability and damage to crop• Diversity to improve resistance

and resilience• Morocco, Ecuador, China,

Uganda

Biotic: Diverse sets of varieties for managing pests and diseases

Determining when and where intra-specific diversity is the answer (and when it is not)

� Participatory Diagnostics:

• Focus Group Discussion; Household Survey;

� Technical Evaluation (laboratory and field analysis)

• Field assessment; On farm trials; Collection of path ogen variati on; On station trials; Glass house experiments.

Local mixture of 3 barley landraces (Shangrila)

• Diverse sets of varieties within a crop with:– Non-uniform resistance– Less probability that migrations of new

pathogens or mutations of existing pathogens will damage the crop

Intra-specific diversity in farmers’ fields reduces vulnerability and damage to the crop (reducing the

probability of crop loss in the future )

Results (Cont.)

Maize and N. Leaf Blight

damage

Richness x Disease Index

Variety Richness

0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5

Dis

ease

Dam

age

for

Mai

ze N

Lea

f Blig

ht

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

HH Richness vs HH Disease Damage for Maize N Le

Peng et al., 2010, unpublished dataDa

ma

ge

In

de

x =

Cro

p l

oss

(h

ou

seh

old

)

Indicators to compared to diversity to damage at household level – monitoring system resilience

Maize- Northern Leaf Blight

GPS

Higher variety richness - less variance in

damage - a risk minimizing argument for

diversity

Crop variety richness at household level

How to support and promote agrobiodiversity

Meta-populations – Rice seed networks in Nepal

� Custodians of diversity

� Population size, geneflow, migration, selection

Seed flows, seed access and seed production: A key element for communities to buffer and adapt t o change

53

26OS

182

181

81 115

48

OSOS

Madhese

PurchaseEklePurchase

Ratoanadi

Gift

Jeth

obu

dho

Gif

tPakhe

Gift

Gurdi

Purchase

EklePurchase

Mansara

Purchase

Dud

hean

adi

Gift

Kat

hegu

rdi

Purc

hase

173

172

Ekle, anadi

ExchangeMadhese

Exchange

47151

23

152

67

199

125

126

EkleGiftGurdi

Exchagne

Kat

hegu

rdi

Exc

hang

e

Mad

hese

Purc

hase

Kathe gurdi

ExchangePanhele

Exchange

K. g

urdi

Exc

hang

e

Seto

gurd

i

Exc

hang

e

37110

389

144

Sano madhesePurchase

Man

s ul i

Ex c

h an g

e

Madhese

Exchange

Man

am

uri

Exc

hang

e

Rad

haEx

chan

ge

156

157

158

159

90

RadhaExchangeMixed grainExchangeMadhese

Exchange

Radha

Exchange

Thulo madhese

Gift

Man

suli

Gif

t

Pakh

eja

rnel

i

Purc

hase

78

8

206

207 OS

Pakhe jarneli

Exchange

MansuliExchange

Naltumme

Gift

Naltum

meGift

MansuliGift

16

41

76

40

165

164

205

204

OS

OS

OS OS

111

167

Radha 9Exchange Radha 9Exchange

Radha 9Exchange

Radha

9Exch

ange

RadhaExchange

Thul

om

ansu

liEx

chan

ge

Radha 9Exchange

Radha

Exchange

Radha

9

Gift

Exchange

Food grain

ExchangeFood grain

Exchange

Radha 9

Exchange

Rad

ha9

Gif

t

Mad

heGift

Khumal 4

GiftSabitri

Gift

53

26OS

182

181

81 115

48

OSOS

Madhese

PurchaseEklePurchase

Ratoanadi

Gift

Jeth

obu

dho

Gif

tPakhe

Gift

Gurdi

Purchase

EklePurchase

Mansara

Purchase

Dud

hean

adi

Gift

Kat

hegu

rdi

Purc

hase

173

172

Ekle, anadi

ExchangeMadhese

Exchange

47151

23

152

67

199

125

126

EkleGiftGurdi

Exchagne

Kat

hegu

rdi

Exc

hang

e

Mad

hese

Purc

hase

Kathe gurdi

ExchangePanhele

Exchange

K. g

urdi

Exc

hang

e

Seto

gurd

i

Exc

hang

e

37110

389

144

Sano madhesePurchase

Man

s ul i

Ex c

h an g

e

Madhese

Exchange

Man

am

uri

Exc

hang

e

Rad

haEx

chan

ge

156

157

158

159

90

RadhaExchangeMixed grainExchangeMadhese

Exchange

Radha

Exchange

Thulo madhese

Gift

Man

suli

Gif

t

Pakh

eja

rnel

i

Purc

hase

78

8

206

207 OS

Pakhe jarneli

Exchange

MansuliExchange

Naltumme

Gift

Naltum

me

Gift

MansuliGift

16

41

76

40

165

164

205

204

OS

OS

OS OS

111

167

Radha 9Exchange Radha 9Exchange

Radha 9Exchange

Radha

9Exch

ange

RadhaExchange

Thul

om

ansu

liEx

chan

ge

Radha 9Exchange

Radha

Exchange

Radha

9

Gift

Exchange

Food grain

ExchangeFood grain

Exchange

Radha 9

Exchange

Rad

ha9

Gif

t

Mad

heGift

Khumal 4

GiftSabitri

Gift

Subedi et al., 2003

0

20

40

60

80

100%

de

Agr

icul

tore

s

Yuca Maíz Frijol Maní algodón Ají

No intercambia

Intercambio con la comunidad

Intercambio entre y con la comunidad

Collado et al., 2005Isolation and seed source – Amazonian Peru

Community Biodiversity Registry• Documentation• Monitoring• Marketing• Exchange• Biopiracy• Ownership

• Supporting seed systems in low heritability environments

• Participatory varietal evaluation• Fora for learning and exchange• Building trust in seed systems

Diversity Field Fora

Community institutions with the capacity to access, conserve and benefit from diversity

69133515 (43)14 (40)6 (17)2004

197238733 (38)37 (42)17 (20)2005

80216432 (50)25 (39)7 (11)2006

1032810245 (44)34 (33)23 (23)2007

TotalPoorMediumRich

Seed (Kg)

No. of landrace

s

Number of farmers of different socio-economic

Year

69133515 (43)14 (40)6 (17)2004

197238733 (38)37 (42)17 (20)2005

80216432 (50)25 (39)7 (11)2006

1032810245 (44)34 (33)23 (23)2007

TotalPoorMediumRich

Seed (Kg)

No. of landrace

s

Number of farmers of different socio-economic

Year

Access to landraces from Community Seed Bank increases particularly for the very poor

Acknowledgements and thanks: Participating farmers, local, national and internat ional institutes organisations and partners, SDC, D GIS,

FAO, UNEP/GEF, WSU, Ford Foundation, IFAD, IDRC, GT Z/BMZ, JICAS, National Government Funding

The Future

Thank you for your attention