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SEEDS THAT GIVE: Participatory Plant Breeding
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ID: 30294Added: 2003-05-22 14:42Modified: 2005-07-27 13:04Refreshed: 2006-01-25 05:21 
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Book(s) 47 of 193
In_Focus: SEEDS THAT GIVE Participatory Plant Breeding Ronnie Vernooy IDRC 2003 ISBN 1-55250-014-4 100 pp.   
Disponible en français / Disponible en español Today’s agriculture is like a huge inverted pyramid; globally, it rests on a precariously narrow base. Less than three percent of the 250 000 plant varieties available to agriculture are in use today. The top-down system of agricultural research, where farmers are seen merely as recipients of research rather than as participants in it, has contributed to this dependence on a relatively few plant varieties. This trend, and the increasing industrialization of agriculture, are key factors in what can only be called genetic erosion. A new approach to agricultural research and development is needed in order to conserve agricultural diversity, improve crops, and produce food of quality for all. This publication examines this new approach to agricultural research in light of 10 years of support by IDRC for projects promote agricultural biodiversity and participatory plant breeding. It examines key issues in detail, from the research questions, design of on-farm research to farmers’ and plant breeders’ rights. It argues for the development of new, supportive policies and legislation. A series of project stories illustrates how farmers and plant breeders are working together in remote regions from the Andes to the Himalayas and beyond. Analysing the results — both the successes and the shortcomings — of a decade of research, the author comes up with a series of specific recommendations for governments and organizations involved in agricultural research and development. Finally the author takes a speculative look 10 years into the future of participatory plant breeding. This book also serves as the focal point for an IDRC thematic web site on participatory plant breeding: www.idrc.ca/seeds. The full text is available online and leads the reader into a virtual web of resources that explores a decade of research on agrobiodiversity and participatory plant breeding. THE AUTHOR Ronnie Vernooy is a senior program specialist at the International Development Research Centre in Ottawa, Canada. Trained as a rural development sociologist, his interests include farmer experimentation and organization, natural resource management, agricultural biodiversity, and participatory (action) research methods including monitoring and evaluation. His current work focuses on Southeast Asia, Central America, and Cuba. He has a special interest in Nicaragua, where he carried out field research in both hillside and coastal environments during 1985–86, 1988–91, and 1997–98. Recent publications include Taking care of what we have: participatory natural resource management on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua (editor and co-author, IDRC/CIDCA-UCA 2000), Para una mina de oro se necesita una mina de plata: historiando sobre la Costa Caribe de Nicaragua 1910–1979 (CIDCA-UCA, 2000), and Voices for change: participatory monitoring and evaluation in China (co-editor, IDRC-YSTP 2002).
Book(s) 47 of 193
SEEDS THAT GIVE / Preface Ronnie Vernooy IDRC 2003 SEEDS THAT GIVE / Part 1: The Issue Ronnie Vernooy IDRC 2003 The top-down system of agricultural research, where farmers are seen merely as recipients of research rather than as participants in it, has contributed to an increased dependence on a relatively few plant varieties. This trend and the increasing industrialization of agriculture are key factors in what can only be called “genetic erosion.” Mega-crops and genetic erosion Why diversity matters Dynamic conservation and improvement A decade of research SEEDS THAT GIVE / Part 2: The Approach Ronnie Vernooy IDRC 2003 Rural communities are the custodians of biodiversity and the key to its conservation. A participatory approach to research, bringing researchers and farmers together in the field as equal partners, offers the best opportunity for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. A focus on community The right questions Seeking the answers SEEDS THAT GIVE / Part 3: Experiences from the Field Ronnie Vernooy IDRC 2003 Six stories from around the world illustrate the participatory approach in action. These are the stories of farmers and researchers working together often in remote and hostile regions, pioneering “a different way of doing things” — and succeeding. Participatory barley improvement in North Africa and the Middle East Local agricultural research committees in Latin America Reshaping agriculture in Cuba Enriching maize and rice in Nepal Maize improvement in southwest China The global program on Participatory Research and Gender Analysis What has been accomplished? SEEDS THAT GIVE / Part 4: Learning from Experience Ronnie Vernooy IDRC 2003 Experience is a great teacher. Examining 10 years of research in the light of both objectives and outcomes provides valuable insights into the processes used as well as some indications of what still needs to be accomplished. Participatory plant breeding Agrobiodiversity Successful spin-offs Seeking policy and legal alternatives Summing up SEEDS THAT GIVE / Part 5: Recommendations Ronnie Vernooy IDRC 2003 Based on those lessons learned, here are six recommendations for affirmative actions in the decision-making areas of government and research. 1. Increase relevance 2. Create new partnerships 3. Pay attention to quality interaction and reward cooperation 4. Ensure good practice 5. Assess results through participatory monitoring and evaluation 6. Nourish a new generation of practitioners The challenge SEEDS THAT GIVE / Part 6: A Vision for the Future Ronnie Vernooy IDRC 2003 We’ve looked 10 years into the past, now we take a trip 10 years into the future. It is the year 2012. The recommendations in Part 5 have been widely implemented. How have these actions affected agricultural biodiversity and food security? Let’s speculate. Increased relevance New partnerships Quality interaction and cooperation Good practice mainstreamed Quality participation An active new generation of practitioners SEEDS THAT GIVE / Appendix 1: Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations Ronnie Vernooy IDRC 2003 SEEDS THAT GIVE / Appendix 2: Sources and Resources Ronnie Vernooy IDRC 2003 |
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