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Continued growth of the aquaculture sector will rely on the availability of fish with traits that respond to the needs and preferences of these users along the value chain. Such trait responsiveness requires that fish breeding programmes have reliable knowledge of these users’ trait preferences. The present study found from a non‐systematic literature review, that no fish breeding programme had reported user preference in their product‐profile design. A systematic literature review was then carried out to identify studies which have assessed fish trait preferences of different users, categorized by market segment and gender. This identified relatively few such studies (n = 28 total), highlighting a lack of published information in this area. Some preferences were shared broadly among a range of users (e.g. size measures such as length or weight). A number of traits were of restricted preferences such as survival (important to farmers, hatchery and nursery operators) while appearance or taste dominated in the preferences for traders and consumers. Some of the preferred traits of users are not targets for selection in breeding programmes reported to date (e.g. body texture, nutritional value) The review also makes clear that there can be range of preferences that differ by gender and social or economic status of the user. Greater acceptance of more sustainable aquaculture products will require improved information on user preferences. This will need innovative tools to translate generally expressed preferences into well‐defined traits and to assess their trade‐offs for their incorporation in genetic improvement programmes that will better target benefits to users.

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Client-responsiveness is a foundation for effectiveness of public sector breeding programs in agriculture, aquaculture and livestock. However, there remains a considerable lack of clarity about what this means, specifically in terms of how programs can be gender-responsive. This study contributes to addressing that need. It does so through sharing higher-level insights emerging from the combined experiences of eight gendered trait preference cases from across nine countries in Asia and Africa. The cases spanned crops, fish and livestock. This study inquires into the nature of gendered trait preference information that can be generated, if there are systematic gendered preference differences and how to understand these, and implications for breeding programs seeking to be more gender-responsive. Key findings include that while not all data are immediately usable by programs, the information that is generated through mixed method, intersectional gender preference assessments usefully deepens and widens programs’ knowledge. The study evidences differences in trait preferences between women and men. It also reveals that these differences are more complex than previously thought. In doing so, it challenges binary or homogenous models of preferences, suggesting instead that preferences are likely to be overlapping and nuanced. The study applies a novel ‘Three models of gendered trait preferences’ framework and sub-framework and finds these useful in that they challenge misconceptions and enable a needed analytical nuance to inform gender-responsive breeding programs. Finally, the study highlights implications and offers a call to action for gender-responsive breeding, proposing ways forward for public breeding programs, teams and funding agencies. These include investments in interdisciplinary capabilities and considerations for navigating trade-offs while orienting to sustainable development goals.

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Using data from 5,601 rice farmers in Eastern India, this study examined the role of gender, risk, and time preferences in farmers' rice variety selection in Eastern India. The determinants of the following were estimated: farmers' rice variety selection according to variety type (i.e., modern [non-hybrid], stress-tolerant, hybrid, and traditional), and farmers' main reasons (i.e., yield potential, taste/cooking quality, marketability/affordability, and stress tolerance) for choosing a rice variety. A multivariate probit model was employed to identify the factors that influence farmers' decision-making, since some farmers choose to mix rice varieties from multiple categories. The results revealed that female farmers, who are more risk-averse, usually choose rice varieties based on cooking quality (e.g., good taste, high cooking quality, and good straw quality) and stress tolerance. They are less likely to select hybrid rice, and also less likely to base their decision on market-oriented reasons, compared to male farmers. Certain rice varieties released many decades ago remain popular among farmers because of multiple preferred attributes. The preference model is useful in understanding why some varieties are more popular than others, among female and male farmers.