Agricultural Biodiversity in Southern Brazil: Integrating Efforts for Conservation and Use of Neglected and Underutilized Species

Abstract

Abstract:Brazil is one of the most biodiversity rich countries in the world, including a wealth of agricultural biodiversity in both wild and cultivated forms. This is particularly noticeable in southern Brazil, home to a wide array of underutilized food species whose genetic diversity is maintained mostly by farmers through on-farm management practices. Farmers' contribution in safeguarding and keeping alive traditional knowledge (TK) essential for recognizing, cultivating, valorising and consuming these resources is critical to their conservation. Part of this diversity, a rich basket of native fruits and landraces of vegetables and grains, is also maintained through ex situ collections managed by Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and its partners. This article discusses the integrated efforts for in situ/on-farm and ex situ conservation and use of agricultural biodiversity in southern Brazil. This diversity represents an important cultural heritage, since its use, cultivation and associated knowledge result from the dynamic history of the Brazilian population, including colonisation and immigration by several different ethnicities. Many of these species are sources of genes that convey tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, as a result of the combined action of natural selection and artificial selection by farmers in agricultural systems with low inputs and diverse environmental conditions. Due to their importance for food security, use in breeding programs, high nutritional value, and potential for income generation, Embrapa has taken responsibility for the ex situ conservation of these species. The genebanks that safeguard against the loss of these resources do also play an important role in the restoration of this germplasm to farming communities. OPEN ACCESSSustainability 2014, 6 742

On-farm Conservation of Zaer Lentil Landrace in Context of Climate Change and Improved Varieties Competition

“…They practice an empirical selection which provides them with an appropriate genetic diversity that ensures a dynamic and evolutionary adaptation to the specific environmental constraints of Zaer. This practice combines over time the effects of both natural and human selection as mentioned also by [23][24][25][26][27][28]. Thereby, the environment and farmers are the main actors of on farm conservation of the landrace.…”

The intersection of food security and biodiversity conservation: a review

“…In particular, how can relatively simple, biophysical-technical models be usefully contextualized to account for important social, political, and ecological factors that determine real-world food security and biodiversity outcomes? A second challenge is the ''scale of analysis gap'' between the more globally focused biophysical-technical literature (e.g., Foley et al 2011) and more locally focused social-political literature (e.g., Barbieri et al 2014). At the most basic level, biophysical-technical approaches may be useful for identifying regions, or even landscapes, where potential opportunities or conflicts regarding biodiversity conservation and food security may exist.…”

“…In terms of food security, all papers considered availability, but many also considered accessibility (17 papers), appropriateness (19 papers), and acceptability (14 papers). Unlike the cluster ''More Food for More People,'' crop wild relatives here were not considered in terms of their production potential, but as important for protecting the valuable knowledge of ''wise'' indigenous farmers who were using crop wild relatives as safeguards for securing food (e.g., Barbieri et al 2014;Ju et al 2013). As with the cluster ''production focus,'' biodiversity was considered valuable primarily because it directly contributed to food security-with a food security perspective focused on more local scales and specific communities (e.g., Aguilar-Støen et al 2011).…”

“…Papers in this cluster tended to take a landscape to regional perspective with an emphasis on social issues (e.g., Barbieri et al 2014; Bardsley and Bardsley 2014). Rural livelihoods (all papers), the importance of policy (18 papers), and cultural ecosystem services (15 papers) were emphasized.…”

Market-Based Instruments for the Conservation of Underutilized Crops: In-Store Experimental Auction of Native Chili Products in Bolivia

“…MBIs, therefore, could help to re-align the mismatch between the private interests of farmers and those of society at large [17]. At the present, consumers seem to be more aware of the multiple benefits of biodiversity and show a greater appreciation for native crop varieties, especially if they feel that these crops are linked to their own roots and identity [18].…”