Untitled

Abstract

The genetic diversity of traditional varieties of crops is the most economically valuable part of global biodiversity and is of paramount importance for future world crop production. The Biodiversity Convention has given a clear mandate for on-farm conservation. However, very little formal research has been done and no agreed set of scienti®c principles yet exists for on-farm conservation of genetic resources. This lack of scienti®c knowledge has not prevented an explosion of recommendations on how to conserve agrobiodiversity on-farm and it is possible to identify an emerging paradigm. Through a review of some of the assumptions on which this paradigm is based, we clearly show that if attempts to conserve agrobiodiversity on-farm are based on these misconceptions, they are likely to fail. By assessing the present activities of farmers, we propose a research agenda to increase the diversity available to farmers and to enhance farmers' capacity to manage this diversity dynamically. Increasing genetic diversi®cation, combined with farmers' experimental abilities, and underpinned by the formal system, will ensure greater on-farm conservation of more useful genetic resources.

Cultivating participatory policy processes for genetic resources policy: lessons from the Genetic Resources Policy Initiative (GRPI) project

“…Experiences from Egypt, Nepal, Vietnam, Zambia and to a lesser extent Peru are used in this section to highlight these factors. Ethiopian experiences are documented elsewhere (Wale 2008). The section will Wrst examine the process of participatory research in policy processes paying particular attention to factors that inXuence the success or otherwise of such research such as the composition of process institutional drivers, which in the case of GRPI are the respective national TFs and how these have functioned and with what outcome.…”

“…For issues as diverse and complex as genetic resources policy, a legal positivist 2 approach could not be applied. The project and this methodology have, thus, recognized that genetic resources policy issues are multi-sectoral and they require more accommodating and holistic approach (Wale 2008). The '3M' methodology was not invented at the inception of the project.…”

“…Biodiversity, which is one of the building blocks for peoples' livelihoods, is a good that must at times be balanced against other goods (Tripp 1996). The trade-oVs can call for harmonizing policy processes and comprising biodiversity policy as part of the broader development agenda (Wale 2008;Altieri et al 1987). That is why there is a need to engage a broad range of multi-stakeholder organizations (engaged in research, conservation, extension, education, advocacy, marketing etc.)…”

Erhaltung und nachhaltige Nutzung der Biosphäre

“…Zu diesem Schluß kamen mit Ausnahme von Afrika alle Regionalberichte. Die Grüne Revolution trug und trägt demnach zweifelsfrei zum Verlust genetischer Vielfalt bei, auch wenn man nach Wood und Lenne (1997) nicht die einfache Gleichung aufstellen kann: "Grüne Revolution = Verlust von genetischer Vielfalt". Es sind nicht nur die Hochertragssorten aus der ersten oder zweiten Grünen Revolution, die diese Verluste verursachen.…”

“…Es sind nicht nur die Hochertragssorten aus der ersten oder zweiten Grünen Revolution, die diese Verluste verursachen. Gerade Gebiete, in denen die Sorten der Grünen Revolution den größten Erfolg hatten und haben, sind nach Wood und Lenne (1997) in der Regel landwirtschaftliche Gunststandorte und waren meistens keine Diversitätszentren.…”