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http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14888386.2017.1366872
Agricultural biodiversity is sustained in the framework of food sovereignty
... A questão central que se coloca é que se à chamada ciência institucionalizada é atribuído o monopólio da geração de conhecimentos válidos, toda e qualquer outra forma possível de geração de conhecimentos úteis à humanidade passa automaticamente a ser não válida, está do "lado de lá" da linha abissal -linha imaginária que, segundo Sousa , separou o Velho e o Novo Mundo na era colonial, mas que subsiste estruturalmente no pensamento moderno ocidental e permanece constitutiva das relações políticas e culturais excludentes mantidas no sistema mundial contemporâneo. Do "lado de lá" estimam-se estar entre 1, 3 e 1, 6 bilhão de pessoas, ou seja, cerca de um quinto de toda a população humana (Toledo e Barrera-Bassols 2015, p.66;Mulvany 2017). ...
Dados do Censo Agropecuário revelam que os conhecimentos da ciência agrícola moderna não são utilizados por parcela significativa dos agricultores brasileiros. Este setor é, entretanto, responsável pelo desenvolvimento de complexos sistemas de conhecimento da natureza, da gestão dos ecossistemas e da produção de alimentos. Tal distanciamento vai além da simples questão de barreiras à adoção de novas tecnologias, situando-se no campo dos valores éticos e sociais nos quais a pesquisa científica é majoritariamente desenvolvida. O presente artigo fundamenta-se no modelo da interação entre as atividades científicas e valores (M-CV) de Hugh Lacey para argumentar que a pesquisa em Agroecologia, ao inserir-se num universo de valores distinto daquele da ciência comercialmente orientada, contribui para fortalecer os setores sociais que não têm suas perspectivas priorizadas pela ciência agrícola dominante.
... Yet, a growing body of literature highlights the critical relevance of in situ seed conservation by farmers, i.e., the informal innovators (Altieri and Merrick, 1987a;Brush, 1995;Migliorini et al., 2016;Mulvany, 2017;Rajpurohit and Jhang, 2015) - (Altieri and Merrick, 1987b). Particular relevance is placed on conserving local, genetically variable seeds that house diverse genetic materials necessary to resist pests and diseases and contribute to food security in the face of climate change (Lopes et al., 2015;Martínez-Nieto et al., 2020;Migliorini et al., 2016;Nyong et al., 2007). ...
This article explores the use of blockchain for agrobiodiversity (B4A) with a specific focus on (i) providing an overview of the existing regulatory challenges that result in sub-optimal research and innovation with agrobiodiversity conserved in situ, (ii) investigating how a blockchain-based solution may help overcome these challenges, and (iii) illustrating how incentive mechanisms can help to overcome shortcomings in existing intellectual property regimes that prevent effective conservation, research and innovation (CRI). Our research identifies (i) lack of channels for transparent and equitable sharing of know-how and materials (ii) lack of incentives, (iii) lack of trust among stakeholders, and (iv) lack of traceability options as main hindering reasons for in situ CRI with agrobiodiversity. Further, we find that blockchain solutions may empower data providers, including small farmers, to collectively track, control and monetize the use of data and assets shared while minimizing fraudulent activities. Transaction costs may also be lowered by removing complex and expensive interaction processes. However, further research and development are necessary to design an ethical and sustainable blockchain-based solution to incentivize in situ conservation, research and innovation with agrobiodiversity. Some future directions of research are recommended.
... Aunque algunas de estas consecuencias no son intencionales, o representan una externalidad negativa difícil de evitar, no pueden permanecer ignoradas. Para países como México, que aún mantiene importantes remanentes de sus ecosistemas naturales, una rica agrobiodiversidad nativa y culturas indígenas, ésto es particularmente alarmante por tres motivos; primero, el futuro de lo que queda de ecosistemas naturales, y por ende la biodiversidad, dependerá de cómo y dónde se realice la producción forestal y de alimentos en las próximas décadas (Tscharntke et al., 2012); segundo, el derecho a la alimentación sana y culturalmente apropiada (englobados en la soberanía alimentaria) de la población depende de que los pueblos, y las y los agricultores que les alimentan, puedan conservar y utilizar su agrobiodiversidad (Mulvany, 2017); y tercero, considerando la diversidad de ambientes y condiciones sociales donde la agricultura ocurre en México y otros países similares, es altamente improbable que un solo sistema agrícola pueda solucionar nuestros problemas de producción de alimentos y fibras (Kahane et al., 2013). El modelo de la revolución verde no ha resultado efectivo para enfrentar una alta heterogeneidad ambiental, pues se basa en que la selección ocurre en estaciones de investigación, mismas que difícilmente pueden cubrir la gama de condiciones de los sitios de cultivo si estas son muy variadas. ...
México es un centro de origen de la agricultura y domesticación de plantas. Como resultado, más de 130 cultivos son originarios de México y forman parte de un profundo entramado biocultural que permite realizar agricultura en un amplio rango de condiciones ambientales. Esta agrobiodiversidad emergió del proceso de la evolución bajo domesticación, el cual ocurrió de forma similar por miles de años, hasta el inicio de la revolución verde. A pesar de que la agricultura intensiva promovida por la revolución verde incrementó considerablemente los rendimientos y proveyó seguridad alimentaria para algunas regiones, ha tenido también consecuencias negativas al medio ambiente y a la salud humana, y además, en el caso de México, no satisface todas las necesidades de las condiciones productivas de los campesinos, considerando la heterogeneidad ambiental. Por lo tanto, es necesario buscar técnicas de producción alternativas, efectivas para cada contexto ambiental, socio-cultural y económico. Se propone una iniciativa con dos objetivos principales: 1) estudiar, conocer y conservar la diversidad genética de los cultivos nativos de México y sus parientes silvestres, y preservar el proceso de la evolución bajo domesticación que genera y mantiene dicha diversidad; y 2) utilizar esta diversidad para fortalecer la producción de alimentos y fibras de forma socialmente justa minimizando los impactos ambientales. Para cumplir estos objetivos, la iniciativa se enfoca en la fuente de variación disponible para la domesticación (diversidad genética y genómica funcional), el contexto en el que la domesticación actúa (mejoramiento y producción) y uno de sus mayores retos (cambio ambiental). La investigación en estos componentes debe enfocarse en conectar los aspectos teóricos del proceso evolutivo con aspectos prácticos de la conservación y producción. Se resumen los objetivos, retos principales y preguntas de investigación claves para cada componente, seguidos de una ruta crítica para la consolidación de esta iniciativa nacional y avances efectuados por la CONABIO.
... The second is traditional production systems that pursue the qualitative activation of local markets stimulating local consumption and the creation of protected trademarks using highly diverse populations adapted to different conditions ( Figure 1). Agribusiness is responsible for food security while traditional production contributes to food sovereignty [16]. Food sovereignty adds to the concept of food security that food is more than just a commodity, but it is linked to traditional knowledge, respecting local systems in equilibrium with nature [17]. ...
Creating national committees for domestic animal genetic resources within genetic resource national commissions is recommended to organize in situ and ex situ conservation initiatives. In situ conservation is a high priority because it retains traditional zootechnical contexts and locations to ensure the long-term survival of breeds. In situ actions can be based on subsidies, technical support, structure creation, or trademark definition. Provisional or permanent relocation of breeds may prevent immediate extinction when catastrophes, epizootics, or social conflicts compromise in situ conservation. Ex situ in vivo (animal preservation in rescue or quarantine centers) and in vitro methods (germplasm, tissues/cells, DNA/genes storage) are also potential options. Alert systems must detect emergencies and summon the national committee to implement appropriate procedures. Ex situ coordinated centers must be prepared to permanently or provisionally receive extremely endangered collections. National germplasm banks must maintain sufficient samples of national breeds (duplicated) in their collections to restore extinct populations at levels that guarantee the survival of biodiversity. A conservation management survey, describing national and international governmental and non-governmental structures, was developed. Conservation research initiatives for international domestic animal genetic resources from consortia centralize the efforts of studies on molecular, genomic or geo-evolutionary breed characterization, breed distinction, and functional gene identification. Several consortia also consider ex situ conservation relying on socioeconomic or cultural aspects. The CONBIAND network (Conservation for the Biodiversity of Local Domestic Animals for Sustainable Rural Development) exemplifies conservation efficiency maximization in a low-funding setting, integrating several Latin American consortia with international cooperation where limited human, material, and economic resources are available.
La sustitución de variedades impulsada por la modernización agrícola generó predicciones de desaparición de las variedades locales. Sin embargo, los campesinos siguen conservando sus semillas y contribuyendo a la conservación on farm. Este estudio analiza la estructura y dinámica de un sistema local de semillas y las razones que llevan a los campesinos a mantener sus variedades criollas de maíz incluso en presencia de variedades comerciales. Se entrevistó a veinte campesinos de la Zona da Mata de Minas Gerais, Brasil, según indicaciones de líderes locales. Los resultados muestran que los campesinos mantienen activamente canales diversificados de acceso a semillas para la siembra y nuevas variedades, con énfasis en las relaciones familiares y comunitarias. La participación en eventos amplía el acceso a nuevas variedades. Las variedades criollas de maíz tienen cualidades alimentarias y agronómicas que justifican su mantenimiento. Se concluye que las semillas criollas generan autonomía y son al mismo tiempo resultado de la autonomía de los campesinos en relación a los recursos genéticos locales, y su conservación depende de su libre acceso a la agrobiodiversidad así como de su constante selección para su adaptación a sus sistemas de producción y usos.
There are social and environmental imperatives for sustaining agricultural biodiversity in all food systems, not least because its dynamic management helps confront the climate, biodiversity, and nutrition crises. It is broad in origin, scope, and functioning and has coevolved with people over millennia, embracing the diversity of all living beings within agroecosystems. It is much more than the diversity of seeds of the relatively few crops that are dominant in the industrial food system. There are many threats to agricultural biodiversity, especially from industrial monocultures of proprietary seeds, yet its international governance is broadly hostile and ineffective in reducing its erosion. Its control is contested by competing forces of which the ecological food provision coalition, which champions peasant agroecology and food sovereignty, defends and promotes heterogeneous seeds and high levels of agricultural biodiversity embedded within all production systems. This should become a dominant attribute of responsible agriculture and food systems.
They are colourful and tasty. They are discarded by agri-business and free to swap and share. For these and many other reasons, the idea of "heritage" vegetables has been mobilised by diverse groups in the UK in recent years to critique and re-imagine industrial food production systems. However, from activist leaflets to gardening advice, claims about the value of heritage foods are rarely subject to critical scrutiny. Using existing work on the uses of heritage discourse in ancient monuments as a starting point, this article explores some of the ways heritage vegetable narratives can frame food heritage in ways that imply not only different conceptions of value, but different models of custodianship and access to heritage resources. The focus here is on the way three interest groups structure the story of "heritage in danger" in two radically different ways with regards to the passage of time. Using a discourse theoretical approach, I explore how a range of institutions and campaign groups use a linear model of time to paint a picture of catastrophic loss of diversity, which threatens the future of humankind. Meanwhile a narrative model commonly employed by writers of lifestyle media texts suggests the time of loss has been superseded by a new golden age of consumer-driven abundance and taste.
At least 150 indigenous African cattle breeds have been named, but the majority of African cattle populations remain largely uncharacterized. As cattle breeds and populations in Africa adapted to various local environmental conditions, they acquired unique features. We know now that the history of African cattle was particularly complex and while several of its episodes remain debated, there is no doubt that African cattle population evolved dramatically over time. Today, we find a mosaic of genetically diverse population from the purest Bos taurus to the nearly pure Bos indicus. African cattle are now found all across the continent, with the exception of the Sahara and the river Congo basin. They are found on the rift valley highlands as well as below sea level in the Afar depression. These unique livestock genetic resources are in danger to disappear rapidly following uncontrolled crossbreeding and breed replacements with exotic breeds. Breeding improvement programs of African indigenous livestock remain too few while paradoxically the demand of livestock products is continually increasing. Many African indigenous breeds are endangered now, and their unique adaptive traits may be lost forever. This paper reviews the unique known characteristics of indigenous African cattle populations while describing the opportunities, the necessity and urgency to understand and utilize these resources to respond to the needs of the people of the continent and to the benefit of African farmers.
Various organic technologies have been utilized for about 6000 years to make agriculture sustainable while conserving soil,
water, energy, and biological resources. Among the benefits of organic technologies are higher soil organic matter and nitrogen,
lower fossil energy inputs, yields similar to those of conventional systems, and conservation of soil moisture and water resources
(especially advantageous under drought conditions). Conventional agriculture can be made more sustainable and ecologically
sound by adopting some traditional organic farming technologies.
New social movements for food self-reliance in the context of endogenous development are arising worldwide. In the face of the organised power of science, business and mainstream politics, the more diffuse but networked power of this growing food sovereignty movement is confronted with many interrelated challenges. In this paper I focus on only one of these: the need to transform knowledge and ways of knowing to regenerate locally controlled food systems. More specifically, the food sovereignty movement is increasingly challenged to actively develop more autonomous and participatory ways of knowing to produce knowledge that is ecologically literate, socially just and relevant to context. This implies a radical shift from the existing top down and increasingly corporate-controlled research system, to an approach which devolves more responsibility and decision-making power to farmers, indigenous peoples, food workers, consumers and citizens for the production of social and ecological knowledge. The whole process should lead to the democratisation of research, diverse forms of co-inquiry based on specialist and non-specialist knowledge, an expansion of horizontal networks for autonomous learning and action, and more transparent oversight. This implies: 1) cultural values that emphasise more direct citizen participation in determining research agendas, regulations and policies; 2) new professional values, participatory methodologies and behaviour; 3) the adoption of a learning process approach in the production and validation of knowledge; and 4) enabling policies that offer citizens adequate material security and time for democratic deliberation in the context of more localised food systems and economies. These themes are explored through practical examples and case studies drawn from ongoing action research in a diversity of bio-cultural contexts.
Classical ecological theory suggests that the coexistence of consumer species is fostered by resource-use differences, leading
to greater resource use in communities with more species. However, explicit empirical support for this idea is lacking, because
resource use by species is generally confounded with other species-specific attributes. We overcame this obstacle by co-opting
behavioral plasticity in food choice among a group of animal consumers, allowing us to manipulate patterns of resource use
while controlling for the effects of species identity and diversity. Within an aphid-parasitoid-radish community, we created
a fully factorial manipulation of consumer resource-use breadth (specialist versus generalist) and species diversity (one
versus three species) and found that resource exploitation improved with greater specialist, but not generalist, diversity.
Therefore, resource partitioning, and not diversity per se, fostered greater overall resource consumption in our multispecies
consumer communities.
The dysfunctional food system that results in a billion hungry people and more than a billion obese people needs fundamental change. This includes a different governance structure and a model of production and consumption that at its centre has the provision of healthy food, produced sustainably and as locally as possible. The paper describes options, including governance by the reformed Committee on World Food Security, that include the implementation of the findings of the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development and the call for ecological food provision in the framework of food sovereignty, as called for by social movements including Vía Campesina.
Full text freely available from the publisher: https://practicalactionpublishing.com/article/2837/changing-a-dysfunctional-food-system-towards-ecological-food-provision-in-the-framework-of-food-sovereignty
The potentially devastating impacts of climate change on biodiversity and food security, together with the growing world population, means taking action to conserve crop wild relative (CWR) diversity is no longer an option it is an urgent priority. CWR are species closely related to crops, including their progenitors, which have potential to contribute traits for crop improvement. However, their utilisation is hampered by a lack of systematic conservation which in turn is due to a lack of clarity over their identity. We used gene pool and taxon group concepts to estimate CWR relatedness for 173 priority crops to create the Harlan and de Wet inventory of globally important CWR taxa. Further taxa more remotely related to crops were added if they have historically been found to have useful traits for crop improvement. The inventory contains 1667 taxa, divided between 37 families, 108 genera, 1392 species and 299 sub-specific taxa. The region with the highest number of priority CWR is western Asia with 262 taxa, followed by China with 222 and southeastern Europe with 181. Within the primary gene pool, 242 taxa were found to be under-represented in ex situ collections and the countries identified as the highest priority for further germplasm collection are China, Mexico and Brazil. The inventory database is web-enabled (http://www.cwrcliversity.org/checklisti) and can be used to facilitate in situ and ex situ conservation planning at global, regional and national levels.
Report for Oxfam Novib and HIVOS. The Resilience and Development Programme (SwedBio)
- S Elfstrand
- P Malmer
- B Skagerfält