Sustainable Use of

Agricultural Biodiversity:
An essential aspect of natural
resources management in
agricultural ecosystems

Sally Bunning
Land Management Officer
Land and Water Development Division
FAO of the UN
 What is agricultural biodiversity?
It includes all components of biological diversity of
relevance to food and agriculture:
the variety and variability of
plants, animals and micro-organisms
at genetic, species and ecosystem level
which are necessary to sustain
key functions in the agro-ecosystem,
its structures and processes.
Local knowledge and cultural diversity can be
considered an essential part of agrobiodiversity as it is
the human activity of agriculture which conserves this
biodiversity.
 Importance (value) of biodiversity in
agricultural ecosystems
In agricultural systems biodiversity is important
1. for the production of food, fibre, fuel, fodder...(goods)
2. to conserve the ecological foundations to sustain life
(life support function)
3. to allow adaptation to changing situations
4. and to sustain rural peoples’ livelihoods (sustainable
agriculture – food security, income, employment,...)

Specificity: it has been developed through human

intervention over generations and it requires human
management to sustain it.
 Agricultural Biodiversity is complex
Human Management practices and decisions
GENETIC and SPECIES
CULTURAL
DIVERSITY
DIVERSITY
wild and domesticated

Crop based Mixed systems

systems: and associated Livestock based
food/fibre biodiversity: systems: pasture,
crops, pasture, soil organisms, rangelands, cattle,
trees (planned + pollinators, small ruminants,
harvested spp.) predators poultry...

Case studies and

experiences to be
ECOSYSTEMS DIVERSITY
shared among
varied production systems
countries and
habitats and landscapes
farming systems
 Need to address all components of
agrobiodiversity
• Habitat diversity (mosaic of land uses varies with soil and terrain,
hedges, borders, trees in the landscape; farm type)
• Inter-species diversity (plant, animal and microbial)
• Inter-species diversity (very important for agrobiodiversity) genetic
resources, unique traits –resistance to drought, cold, disease, etc,
rooting, aspect, taste, storage, etc.
• Harvested species and Associated species (pollinators,
beneficial/harmful predators, soil organisms – health/ disease,…)
• as well as Cultural diversity (type of farmer and farm; regulations;
common property resources/ownership)
• and to understand implication of agrobiodiversity on ecosystem
functions/processes and the services provided
(see adapted Table by J. Paruel, Environmental controls and effect
of land use on ecosystem functioning in temperate Argentina)
 Farmers managing …

Farmers managing genes

Farmers
managing
species

Farmers
managing
ecosystems
 Managing Agro-ecosystem biodiversity
COMPONENTS
Predators Non-crop Soil Soil
Pollinators Herbivores Earthworms
and Parasites Vegetation Mesofauna Microfauna

AGROECOSYSTEM
BIODIVERSITY

FUNCTIONS
Population Biomass Competition Nutrient
Pollination Soil structure Decomposition
regulation consumption Allelopathy cycling
Genetic Nutrient Predation
Biological Nutrient Sources of natural Disease
introgression cycling Nutrient cycling
control cycling enemies Crop wild suppression
relatives
ENHANCEMENTS
Intercropping Rotations No-Tillage Green manures Windbreaks
Agroforestry Cover crops Composting OM inputs

From Altieri, M.A. Biodiversity and pest management Agro-ecosystems, Haworth Press, New York, 1994)
 ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: FUNCTIONS (biodiversity related examples)
Food production The portion of gross primary production extractable as raw food. or
for processing for food (Game, crops, nuts, fruits by hunting, gathering,
subsistence or commercial farming)
Raw materials The portion of gross primary production extractable as raw material
(Production of wood, energy/fuel, fodder, ..)
Genetic resources Sources of unique biological materials and products. (Plant
varieties, animal races, medicinal extracts, products for materials science,
genes for resistance to plant pathogens/crop pests, ornamental species, pets,
Climate and Gas Regulation: of global temperature, precipitation, other biologically
mediated climatic processes at global/local levels (GHG); of atmospheric chemical
composition (CO2/O2 balance, C sequestration, CO3 for UVB protection)
Resilience/Disturbance Regulation: ecosystem response to environmental fluctuation,
mainly controlled by vegetation structure (storm protection, flood control,
drought recovery, other aspects of habitat response).
Water Regulation and Supply: of hydrological flow/regimes; water retention,
storage, provisioning in the watershed: (Infiltration, soil water retention
determined by vegetation cover/structure; water supply in aquifers, surface
water bodies; availability for consumption, irrigated agriculture, industry, transport)
Erosion control and Sediment retention: prevent loss of soil by wind, rain impact,
runoff; storage of silt in ecosystem, in lakes and wetlands.
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: FUNCTIONS (biodiversity related examples) 2

Soil formation Processes of weathering of rock; soil build up (Accumulation of

organic material
Nutrient cycling: storage, cycling, processing, input of nutrients (N fixation, nutrient
cycles - N,P et al, breakdown of organic materials to soil OM- humus)
Waste Detoxification recovery of mobile nutrients, removal /break down of excess or
toxic nutrients/ compounds, pollutions control (detoxification by soil organisms).
Pollination Movement of floral gametes. (Supply of pollinators for the reproduction
of plant populations- insects, bats, birds)

Biological control Trophic (food web) dynamic regulations of populations (pest-

predator interactions e.g. IPM, control of disease transmissions)

Refugia habitat for local/ transient populations (Nurseries, habitat for migratory
species, for locally harvested species, over wintering grounds

Recreation Providing opportunities (eco-tourism, outdoor recreational activities –

hunting, fishing, birdwatching)

Cultural Providing opportunities for non-commercial uses (Aesthetic, artistic,

educational, spiritual, and/or scientific values of ecosystems).
 Understanding Human Pressures on and
threats to agricultural biodiversity
Increasing pressure on species and their environments:
• Population growth and poverty (increasing demand)
• Overexploitation, mismanagement
• Expansion into wetlands and fragile areas
• Intensification and Specialisation of agriculture – market forces
• Pollution
• Urbanisation, changing consumption patterns, globalisation
Threats and risks
• loss of plant and animal species
• loss of plant varieties and animal races/breeds (loss of unique traits)
• also loss of essential natural processes
– pollination by insects, birds, bats etc.
– regeneration of soils by micro-organisms
• also reduced resilience.
Need to increase resilience of agriculture and human capacity to
adapt (to harsh periods, drought, climate change, pests, diseases)
by maintaining a wide array of life forms with unique traits
(e.g. trees that survive drought or cattle that reproduce in harsh conditions).
 Wide range of case studies illustrate
Sustainable Use of agrobiodiversity
• Integrated agro-ecological approaches : IPM, soil biological
management
• Community-based adaptive management – animal and plant
genetic resources, diverse farming systems
• Local knowledge systems
– multiple uses of species (diet, nutrition, medicines; gender differentiated
knowledge of agrobiodiversity
– community perspectives/strategies in managing crop and livestock and
associated biodiversity; coping strategies for HIV/AIDS, climate change)
• Ecosystem approach: address all components, systems
functioning and services and human management (cf. EA
principles)
• Strengthening viability of farm-livelihood systems with under-
utilized and under-valued biodiversity (opportunities; options)
– grasslands (grazing species preference, productivity; deep roots-below
ground biomass)
– mountains (adaptation to altitude, cold; disease resilience, etc.)
– marketing (diverse products, niche markets, organic agriculture, etc.
– recognition of positive externalities (valuing ecological services
provided by biodiversity associated with agricultural systems)
Need to use common Agricultural Definitions
Sustainable agriculture is ecologically sound, environmentally sustainable,
economically viable, socially just and culturally appropriate … is based
on a holistic scientific approach and productive over the long term.

Farm System : the farm household, its resources, and the resource flows and
interactions at this individual farm level
Farming System: a population of individual farm systems that have broadly
similar resource bases, enterprise patterns, household livelihoods and
constraints
Sustainable agricultural systems provide a range of goods (food, fuel, fibre,
materials, etc.) and services (also considered as positive externalities)
Need to select indicators for monitoring sustainability:
• soil (sustained health + productivity, prevent soil erosion, minimise off-site
impacts, ... );
• water (water retention, maintain water regime, flood protection, etc);
• vegetation (protective land cover, structure, biomass, C sequestration)
• biodiversity (resilience, adaptability, opportunities) conservation of wildlife
and wild species; agricultural biodiversity: genetic resources inter- and
intra- species, farmed and associated species, ecosystem functions,
• air quality (minimise greenhouse gas emissions)
• rural amenities (e.g. landscape, tourism).
Major Farming Systems: Sub-Saharan Africa

Common classes,
characterisation and
terminology
 Need to build on ongoing global agro-
biodiversity fora/intergovernmental processes
• CBD Programme of Work on Agricultural Biodiversity: 4 components on
Assessment, Adaptive Management, Capacity Building, Mainstreaming)
– International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Soil
Biodiversity
– International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of
Pollinators
• International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
FAO IT-PGRFA
• International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Sec. hosted by FAO

• FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture CGRFA

• FAO Committee on Agriculture COAG
These have resulted in:
• Assessment, Monitoring and Priority Actions: GPA-PGR, SOWAGR, Good
Practices: SLM, Conservation agriculture, IPM, ....
• Guidelines: PGR, AGR, Pollinators, soil biodiversity, ecosystem approach,
farmer rights,
• Panel of Experts… etc.
 The International Treaty on Plant Genetic
resources for Food and Agriculture (IT)
• This legally binding instrument is crucial for
sustainable agriculture. It provides a framework
for national, regional and international efforts to
conserve and sustainably use plant genetic
resources for food and agriculture - and for
sharing the benefits equitably, in harmony with
the Convention on Biological Diversity.
• IT-PGRFA was adopted by the 31st session of
the FAO Conference (Resolution 3/2001)
• It entered into force on 29 June 2004. http://
www.fao.org/ag/cgrfa/itpgr.htm
 Global Plan of Action for the Conservation
and Sustainable Use of PGRFA
Priority Activity Areas
In Situ Conservation and Development
Activity 1. Surveying and Inventorying of PGRFA
2. Supporting On-farm Management and Improvement of PGRFA
3. Assisting Farmers in Disaster Situations to Restore Agricultural Systems
4. Promoting in situ Conservation of Wild Crop Relatives and Wild Plants
for Food production
(Sustainable) Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources Activity
Activity 9 Expanding characterization, evaluation and core collection
10 Increasing genetic enhancement and base broadening
11 Promoting sustainable agriculture
12Promiting under-utilized crops and species
13 Supporting seed production and distribution
14. developing new markets for local varieties an diversity rich products
also
Ex situ conservation.....

Capacity building and Institutions.....

 Global Strategy for the Management of
Farm Animal Genetic Resources
• FAO is coordinating its development to guide international action for the
sustainable use, development and conservation of domestic animal
diversity
• supported by the Inter-governmental Technical Working Group on
Animal Genetic Resources
• An essential element is the first State of the world's animal genetic
resources - a comprehensive overview of farm animal biodiversity;
country-driven process (as agreed by CGRFA-8 in 1999).
• First stage of reporting completed >170 Country Reports, reports by
International organizations on relevant activities see DAD-IS.
• CGRFA-10 decided that the 1st Report, including the Report on
Strategic Priorities for Action should be finalized at the First
International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources in
2007, hosted by the Government of Switzerland in 2007 in Interlaken
• Draft Report on Strategic Priorities for Action was reviewed by
electronic Regional Consultations.
Domestic Animal Genetic Resources at Risk
 Exotic genetic resources not sustainable

 Indiscriminate crossbreeding

 Genetic resources for future needs

Desirable commitments by governments

Include stakeholders in decision-making

Identification of sources of funding

Support breeder associations

Strengthen extension services

FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for
Food and Agriculture (CGRFA)
• The CGRFA deals with policy, sectorial and cross sectorial matters
related to the conservation and utilization of genetic resources for
food and agriculture.
• It develops and monitors
– the Global Strategy for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic
Resources and
– the Global System for Plant Genetic Resources – for food and
agriculture.
• It has been addressing genetic resources in a stepwise manner
(plant genetic resources  animal …..) but has agreed on the
need for an ecosystem approach
• Hence the side event on its 20th anniversary (CGRFA 10):
Mainstreaming agricultural biodiversity for food security (8-10
November 2004) and resulting in the publication on Biodiversity
and the Ecosystem Approach (See website)
Options for technical support to countries in
enhancing sustainable use of AGBIO

• Enhance biodiversity through

– Sustainable agriculture
– Sustainable pastoralism
– Sustainable intensification (enhance productivity and function)
– livelihoods’ diversification
• Managing seed systems to promote the sustainable
utilization of crop genetic resources
• Economic analysis: marketing, addressing and
valuing the multiple roles of agriculture (See
www.fao.org/es/esa/roa) and externalities
• Integrate into poverty alleviation strategies
 Case studies of Sustainable agriculture -
enhancing agricultural biodiversity
• Increased use of mixtures (intercropping, multistorey, agro-
forestry, crop-livestock systems)
• Access to a wide range of good quality genetic material (plant
and animal)
– Promote production of local germplasm and commercialization
– Promote decentralized and participatory breeding
• Improve use of genetic diversity as part of IPM strategies
• Monitor and identify underutilized species, support needs
• Develop sustainable management practices and post-harvest
and marketing methods;
• Stimulate demand for diverse local products (niche markets,
labelling, registration)
• Review and promote policies for development and use e.g.
biodiversity conseravtion and coping with climate change
 Soil biodiversity and its management

Managing termites and organic mulch

for soil productivity by researchers in
Burkina Faso:
Surface mulch applied to crusted soils
was used to stimulate termite feeding
and burrowing. This lead to improved
soil structures, better aggregate
formation, and enhanced soil function.
Mixing and burrowing of termites can
be stimulated by applying organic
mulch and their feeding can promote
soil regenerative activities
 From Micro-
Soil Biodiversity
organisms
e.g. bacteria + fungi Micro & meso-fauna
protozoa,
nematodes to
acari & springtails

...Roots in the soil and

their interactions with Macro-fauna e.g. ants,
species above & below termites, earthworms
ground
 Managing Pollinators
Management
practice:
In Himachal Pradesh
in Northwest Indian
Himalayas farmers
are using colonies of
honeybees – Apis
cerana and Apis
mellifera for
pollination of apple
crop.

 An organized system of
hiring and renting bee
colonies for pollination
exists
 Results: Impact of Apis cerana pollination on
fruit productivity
Crop Increase Increase in Increase in fruit Reference
in fruit fruit size (length/
set (%) weight (%) diameter) (%)

Apple 10 33 15/10 Dulta and

Verma, 1987
Peach 22 44 29/23 Partap et al,
2000
Plum 13 39 11/14 Partap et al,
2000
Citrus 24 35 9/35 Partap, 2000a

Strawberry 112 48 Misshapen fruit Partap 2000b

decreased by
50%
Also reduced premature fruit drop in apple, peach, plum, and citrus.
 Targeting farmers: Increasing Farmer
Access to Germplasm and Information

• Information, and seed

exchange between
farmers slow
• Access to research
generated germplasm poor
• Participatory breeding with
farmers’ organizations
• Joint activities for
improved information
sharing
• Test new options for seed
dissemination
 Case studies/opportunities for Sustainable
pastoralism
• Controlled burning by pastoralists can improve forage quality and
diversification of vegetation structure and species composition
(trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals)
• Livestock grazing and crop-livestock integration can improve
nutrient cycling and make better use of fragile resources/
ecosystems
• Livestock wildlife interaction: management of animal movements,
stocking rates, control of incompatible cultivation by farmers;
herders protect grazing wildlife from predators
• Settled herders creates long-lasting nutrient hotspots (kraals;
fields)
• Intensification and fragmentation of rangelands seems to cause a
LOSS in livestock production (may need to rethink ranching,
sedentarisation)
Challenges - control of livestock numbers: use of common property
resources; prestige, savings, security, culture Improvement of
pasture and rangelands
 Minimizing impacts of farming practices on wild
biodiversity- making best use of resources
Thatching,
Busia District Gramminae Conservation through
Sustainable management and Use
Practices are part of the wider
agricultural system. This takes two
main forms:
• on-farm
-strips of uncultivated land, ‘hedgerows’
of grass and bush, fallow land, fenced
Grass-strips between crops- graminae-rich plots…
Machakos District Kenya • off-farm
- management of community grazing
lands, seasonal wetlands, rocky
outcrops and hillsides, sacred sites…
- controlled burning
• traditional uses and skills
 Case studies/Opportunities for
Sustainable intensification
Sustainable management practices: controlled burning and grazing, woodlots for
energy and timber, field borders/hedges, crop-livestock-forestry interactions are key to
maintaining diverse habitats and landscapes that support biodiversity
Human management of ecosystems may increase species diversity
– semiarid savannas: managed pasture, control invasive forest and shrub
species, harvesting, gathering and planting
– diversified agro-silvo-pastoral systems
– multi-layer farming systems: trees, perennials- banana, coffee, annuals)
Planned settlements/roads: reduces lands with potential, avoid biodiversity
hotspots, environmentally-friendly (green belt, trees, etc.)
Protected areas, buffer zones, specific action to safeguard those groups and
species that are more sensitive to human use than others, to allow hunting and
gathering and in situ conservation of landraces/farmers varieties/breeds
Land use planning by communities and sub-catchments to promote biodiversity.
Vary land use type with soil type, terrain, microclimate, access to water. Patchwork of
settlements, cropland, pasture, forestland, and protected areas.

Regulations : stocking density, seasonality, quotas, user groups, etc.

 Sustainability - adaptation to change and
enhancing systems’ resilience
• Supporting the ability of farmers to remain agile
in responding to new challenges, by adapting
their production system
• Resilience or adaptive capacity are properties of
the actors and the system in which they function
• Resilience may indicate a return to the status
quo. Agility/adaptability refers to continuously
moving targets/changing situations
• Need to sustain use and sustain adaptive
capacity to increase probability of meeting future
needs
 FAO: Roles of Agriculture Project
Premise 1: Agriculture provides multiple non-commodity outputs that are
not valued by market transactions  may be under-produced relative to
what society desires.
Premise 2: As income rises (socio-economic/agricultural development), the
economic importance of the commodity outputs of agriculture
decreases in relative terms, and willingness to pay for its other roles
increases
Policy challenge
to Address Externalities (costs or benefits not valued in the market and
not adequately taken into account by actor/decision maker)
to Safeguard Common Resources/Public Goods (rules of access and
use; mechanisms for collective action to prevent degradation, under /
over use)
to Integrate natural resources management /ecosystem approach
(resources, and their products, are interlinked, management /policy
measures for one resource/sector affects the others
to Create resource/ecosystem friendly markets that generate growth
and promote sustainable use/management of resources and
ecosystems.
Studies conducted in Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, South Africa, Morocco

ENVIRONMENTAL
EXTERNALITIES
Global:
 Ecosystem resilience
Climate change mitigation
(C, land cover)
Biodiversity
Regional/National:
 Ecosystem resilience
 Watershed mgmt
(prevent soil erosion & off-
site impacts)
 Water (stable regime;
flood prevention)
 Biodiversity
 plant + animal genetic
resources; services
 wild spp.+ wildlife
conservation
Air quality (reduce GHG)
Local:
 Ecosystem resilience
 Biodiversity
 farmed spp., associated
spp., ecosystem functions
 NRM- soil+ water
conservation
 Pollution control
Roles of Agriculture
SOCIAL VIABILITY FOOD SECURITY CULTURAL ROLE
Equity; Stability POVERTY ALLEVIATION Gender; Heritage; IK
Global: Global: Global:
Social stability Economic Growth Cultural Diversity
Poverty Alleviation Poverty alleviation Indigenous Knowledge
World Food Security
Regional/National:
 Rural-urban Regional/National: Regional/ National:
migration (social  Access to food  Cultural heritage
implications)  National security  Cultural identity
 Welfare systems  Food safety  Perception of roles
substitute  support in times of of agriculture
 Social capital crises (remittances,
formation migration, fiscal support,
Biodiversity: diverse food aid)
livelihoods
Local: Local: Local:
Social stability of rural Local / household food  Landscape,
community security recreation, tourism
 Rural employment  Biodiversity: nutrition; pest  Indigenous knowledge
 Family values, gender + disease control, options (disaster prevention,
impact.  Sustainability biodiversity, medicinal
Bodiversity-coping Employment applications)
strategies; risk mgmt  Income  services Traditional technology.
 Targeting Communities livelihoods and
nutrition through local agrobiodiversity
Market opportunities
• Premium price for local products
• Increased productivity of landraces (improved seed quality; crop
rotations; water harvesting
• Add-value products (fruit and milk processing)
• Production of herbs, medicinal plants, honey (bee keeping)
• Handicrafts and Ecotourism
Nutrition /dietary diversity and opportunities
• Dietary energy supply can be satisfied without diversity but micro-
nutrient supply cannot (e.g. essential fatty acids; amino acids)
• Wild and domesticated species and intra-species diversity play key
roles in global food security
• Different species/varieties have very different nutrient contents
 Understanding impacts/implications of
HIV/AIDS on agro-biodiversity

HIV/AIDS impact on PGR?

Less labour

Loss of knowledge
Less labour intensive crops Reduction in land
cultivated

Reduction in crop
range and variety

Loss of genetic diversity

Catchments: strengthen relation between ‘upland land users (as
providers’ of ES) and lowland land + water users (beneficiaries)
implications
Biodiversity &
Natural capital & landscape beauty
properties that
‘come with the Water quantity,
territory’
Dynamic
landscapes evenness of flow
& quality
Terrestrial carbon
Absence Mitigation, Direct storage
of threats increase in
filtering benefits functions
Efforts Environ- Environ-
mental mental
Service Service
Control over territory providers beneficiaries
Recognition & rewards
Opportunity costs transaction costs
 Mainstreaming biodiversity for sustainable
agriculture and food security
Programmes, Institutions and Capacity Building
• Multi-sectoral approaches: agricultural, environmental, land, water,
community development, planning and finance (coordination;
committees).
• Mainstreaming in national programmes (poverty alleviation, gender)
• Land use planning at community and watershed levels (landscape;
habitat dimensions)
• Supporting on farm management
• Networks : e.g. plant genetic resources, research + development
• Participatory assessment, monitoring and early warning systems
• Information systems (threatened resources, threats etc)
• Training and education: curricula, adult education, extension, gender
• Raising awareness of importance (value) - public, private sector decision
makers (local media, schools, etc)
 Agriculture-environment collaboration –
identify synergy, mutual benefits
BiodiversityAgriculture
Productivity
Adaptation
Maintenance of ecosystem functions

Agriculture Biodiversity
Delivery of ecosystem services
Incentives
Ecological knowledge
 The National Agricultural Biodiversity
Programme in Lao

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL
BIODIVERSITY PROGRAMME

CROP AND CROP LIVESTOCK NON-TIMBER SUSTAINABLE HOUSEHOLD-

ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENT FOREST USE AND BASED
BIODIVERSITY AND PRODUCTS AND CONSERVATION INTEGRATED
MANAGEMENT OTHER OF AQUATIC AGRICULTURE
TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY PRODUCTION
BIODIVERSITY SYSTEMS

INTEGRATED PARTICIPATORY PLANNING APPROACHES

MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
 FAO Agro-biodiversity Publications

You are invited to look at display copies of

• Biodiversity Awareness Folder (series of flyers/fact sheets e.g.
Why is Biodiversity Important for the Maintenance of Agro-
ecosystem Functions?
• Publication Biodiversity and the Ecosystem Approach in
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 2003, case studies
developed with partners
htttp://www.fao.org/biodiversity_en.asp
• Powerpoint presentations prepared forCGRFA-10 Side
event Case studies of Mainstreaming agrobiodiversity for
food security (November 2004)
• distributed Publications: Valuing crop biodiversity and
Beyond the Gene Horizon (prepoared with IPGRI, now
Bioversity)
http://www.fao.org/biodiversity/doc_en.asp
Overview of the FAO - Government of
Kenya Agrobiodiversity Programme
FAO–Netherlands Partnership Programme
(FNPP II - 2005 – 2007)
Collaboration for policy and strategic support
for sustainable ecosystems, rural livelihoods
and food security
Food Security

Agrobiodiversity Forestry
 Guiding principles of Kenya strategic
integrated programme
• People centred (gender
equity)
• Inter-sectoral approach/
process
• Strengthening existing
programme activities  
• Policy impact in short/
medium term
• Ecosystem approach
• Opportunity for
establishing synergies
• Integrating water
AGBD Programme framework and linkages
Policy dialogue- mainstreaming
AGBD, enabling environment
Harmonisation AGBD, FS, FO

Integrated land use,

resources and
agrobiodiversity
assessment
Specific Specific
studies databases
Training institutes -
information and
communication

Local community
Local community Case
studies action in Dryland
action in Lake Zone district
and policy
district - fishing -agropastoral
briefs
communities communities
AGBD Issues respond to needs identified
Habitat management
(beaches, user rights, pollination)

Integrated resources management

(agro-ecological approaches; river basin management, soil, water,
biological resources)

Alternative livelihoods
(fishing communities)

Invasiveness
(e.g. Prosopis – other woody species. learning from fisheries)

Responding to HIV/AIDS
(labour saving CA approaches, nutrition, fisher-trader links)

Drought resilience
(local varieties/species, runoof management

Markets - Seeds Networks

(prices, organisation, farming as a business)
 Agrobiodiversity Programme: Local level –
FFS in diverse farming systems/AEZ
Identifying and adapting agro- Link with drylands
biodiversity management Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia

options + opportunities
1) Mwingi district, semi-arid
agro-pastoral  drought
resilient, mixed systems 1
2
2. Bondo district, Sub-humid
Lake Zone sustainable,
productive aquatic and
terrestrial systems

3. Coastal zone: INRA pilot Link across Lake

Victoria basin
1a)Targets farmer groups, extension/facilitators
PRA and AGBD study
Identify issues for FFS
Curriculum development
FFS Conduct and evaluation
Documenting process and
lessons

FFS
Resource management
systems,
land & water,
Diversification- species,
habitat management
Soil health, pollination,
aquaculture + fishery
LInKS
 Identified General topics for FFS process
• Community resources management + impacts (species, habitats, etc.)
• Changing customs and innovations (practices, by-laws, diet, recipes..)
• Local conservation strategies; individual and communal
• Effects of markets and market development
• Ecological services e.g. pollination, beekeeping; soil health, water
• Impact of cash crops (on systems, income, environment, security..)
• IPM, safe use and beneficial insect species
• Links with other actors (nutrition, health, business management etc.)

Farming, fish farming and fisheries in

Drought resilient agropastoral
systems
• Genebank of local varieties
• Communal seed systems (storage)
• Effects of commercialised crops
• Drought resistant crops: sorghum
varieties; green gram; pigeon pea
• Resilient, productive systems (water
harvesting etc.)
Lake Victoria basin
• Local vegetables (income, nutrition, ..)
• Alien species
• 2 fisheries scenarios: river (aquaculture)
and lake (catch)
• Upstream agric. and non-agricultural
practices affecting aquatic area
• Changes in aquatic area (not only fish)
• Conservation and use – e.g. products of
wild harvested spp.such as Papyrus
 1.b) Targets extension and technical staff

• Curriculum development – integrate AGBD in training

• Training materials/ short courses
• Livelihood approaches- HIV/AIDS, gender, nutrition
• Exchange between extension and training
• Workshops with colleges
• Development of Case studies and Policy briefs

FFS in Kenya

seed fair Kenya

 AGBD 2: Improving access to information &
knowledge
2.a Integrated natural resources assessment
INRA (builds on forest resources assessment)
- Assess available information and needs
(status and trends - land use, habitat/species)
- Develop and pilot inter-sectoral methodology
(AGBD, land use, land, water, other natural
resources, ecosystem)
- Identify indicator and tools (field survey,
transects, RRA-questionnaire)
- Capacity building (Participatory mapping and
assessment; RS, sampling,
- Compatible data, database development and
analysis)
- Targets technical capacity & informed
decision making by policy makers/resource
manager
 Improving access to information & knowledge
(cont.)
2.b) Information systems on alien species in fisheries and
forestry

2c) Information on plant genetic resources for food an

agriculture
– Assess status of genetic resources with FFS
– Train people to collect and analyse data
– Improve the quality of information about PGRFA status and
dynamics
– Contribute to reporting commitment to State of World report on
PGRFA
– link with over 26 key PGR institutions
Targets: technical + extension level (Partners: Genebank, IPGRI..)
2d) Research on Managing Seed Systems to promote
the sustainable utilization of crop genetic resources:

Two focus areas

1. Using markets to promote sustainable use of CGR
How to manage seed systems to promote sustainable
agriculture, improved farm welfare and in situ conservation
of important crop genetic diversity. Methodology development
– Case studies: Mali, Kenya, India, Mexico, Bolivia

2. Economic analysis of seed system impacts on farm

welfare and on farm diversity
Assessing the links between seed systems and farm level
use of crops and varieties and their implications for welfare
and diversity
Case studies: Ethiopia (Sorghum, Wheat); Mozambique (cowpea)
India (Pearl Millet) Mexico (Maize) in partnership with IPGRI,
ICRISAT, IFPRI, and CIMMYT
 Encourage partnerships for institutional
capacity building & integrated NR
management.
Multiple Partners are identified for synergy and collaboration
• Ministries of Agriculture and Livestock
• Departments: Resource survey and remote sensing; Fisheries
and forestry
• Ministry of Environment and Education
• technical bodies KARI, KEFRI, ICRAF,ITDG, JKU, ICRISAT,
ILRI, KEMFRI...
• Community level: District, FFS, Extension,
• Universities (Egerton, Moi, Jomo Kenyatta)
• Training colleges- teacher training, agriculture and forestry
• Partner organisations: ICRISAT, Bioversity, ITDG, CIKSAP,
etc.
 Work together to achieve happy healthy
farmers and ecosystems

Smallholders access market prices

from rural info kiosks, c/o Pride africa,
IDRC
Farmers’ studying ecology and
biodiversity, Farmer Field
School approaches

thank you for your

attention
 Case studies of Sustainable agriculture -
enhancing agricultural biodiversity
• Increased use of mixtures (intercropping, multistorey, agro-
forestry, crop-livestock systems)
• Access to a wide range of good quality genetic material (plant
and animal)
– Promote production of local germplasm and commercialization
– Promote decentralized and participatory breeding
• Improve use of genetic diversity as part of IPM strategies
• Monitor and identify underutilized species, support needs
• Develop sustainable management practices and post-harvest
and marketing methods;
• Stimulate demand for diverse local products (niche markets,
labelling, registration)
• Review and promote policies for development and use e.g.
biodiversity conseravtion and coping with climate change
 Soil biodiversity and its management

Managing termites and organic mulch

for soil productivity by researchers in
Burkina Faso:
Surface mulch applied to crusted soils
was used to stimulate termite feeding
and burrowing. This lead to improved
soil structures, better aggregate
formation, and enhanced soil function.
Mixing and burrowing of termites can
be stimulated by applying organic
mulch and their feeding can promote
soil regenerative activities
 From Micro-
Soil Biodiversity
organisms
e.g. bacteria + fungi Micro & meso-fauna
protozoa,
nematodes to
acari & springtails

...Roots in the soil and

their interactions with Macro-fauna e.g. ants,
species above & below termites, earthworms
ground
 Managing Pollinators
Management
practice:
In Himachal Pradesh
in Northwest Indian
Himalayas farmers
are using colonies of
honeybees – Apis
cerana and Apis
mellifera for
pollination of apple
crop.

 An organized system of
hiring and renting bee
colonies for pollination
exists
 Results: Impact of Apis cerana pollination on
fruit productivity
Crop Increase Increase in Increase in fruit Reference
in fruit fruit size (length/
set (%) weight (%) diameter) (%)

Apple 10 33 15/10 Dulta and

Verma, 1987
Peach 22 44 29/23 Partap et al,
2000
Plum 13 39 11/14 Partap et al,
2000
Citrus 24 35 9/35 Partap, 2000a

Strawberry 112 48 Misshapen fruit Partap 2000b

decreased by
50%
Also reduced premature fruit drop in apple, peach, plum, and citrus.
 Targeting farmers: Increasing Farmer
Access to Germplasm and Information

• Information, and seed

exchange between
farmers slow
• Access to research
generated germplasm poor
• Participatory breeding with
farmers’ organizations
• Joint activities for
improved information
sharing
• Test new options for seed
dissemination
 Case studies/opportunities for Sustainable
pastoralism
• Controlled burning by pastoralists can improve forage quality and
diversification of vegetation structure and species composition
(trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals)
• Livestock grazing and crop-livestock integration can improve
nutrient cycling and make better use of fragile resources/
ecosystems
• Livestock wildlife interaction: management of animal movements,
stocking rates, control of incompatible cultivation by farmers;
herders protect grazing wildlife from predators
• Settled herders creates long-lasting nutrient hotspots (kraals;
fields)
• Intensification and fragmentation of rangelands seems to cause a
LOSS in livestock production (may need to rethink ranching,
sedentarisation)
Challenges - control of livestock numbers: use of common property
resources; prestige, savings, security, culture Improvement of
pasture and rangelands
 Minimizing impacts of farming practices on wild
biodiversity- making best use of resources
Thatching,
Busia District Gramminae Conservation through
Sustainable management and Use
Practices are part of the wider
agricultural system. This takes two
main forms:
• on-farm
-strips of uncultivated land, ‘hedgerows’
of grass and bush, fallow land, fenced
Grass-strips between crops- graminae-rich plots…
Machakos District Kenya • off-farm
- management of community grazing
lands, seasonal wetlands, rocky
outcrops and hillsides, sacred sites…
- controlled burning
• traditional uses and skills
 Case studies/Opportunities for
Sustainable intensification
Sustainable management practices: controlled burning and grazing, woodlots for
energy and timber, field borders/hedges, crop-livestock-forestry interactions are key to
maintaining diverse habitats and landscapes that support biodiversity
Human management of ecosystems may increase species diversity
– semiarid savannas: managed pasture, control invasive forest and shrub
species, harvesting, gathering and planting
– diversified agro-silvo-pastoral systems
– multi-layer farming systems: trees, perennials- banana, coffee, annuals)
Planned settlements/roads: reduces lands with potential, avoid biodiversity
hotspots, environmentally-friendly (green belt, trees, etc.)
Protected areas, buffer zones, specific action to safeguard those groups and
species that are more sensitive to human use than others, to allow hunting and
gathering and in situ conservation of landraces/farmers varieties/breeds
Land use planning by communities and sub-catchments to promote biodiversity.
Vary land use type with soil type, terrain, microclimate, access to water. Patchwork of
settlements, cropland, pasture, forestland, and protected areas.

Regulations : stocking density, seasonality, quotas, user groups, etc.

 Sustainability - adaptation to change and
enhancing systems’ resilience
• Supporting the ability of farmers to remain agile
in responding to new challenges, by adapting
their production system
• Resilience or adaptive capacity are properties of
the actors and the system in which they function
• Resilience may indicate a return to the status
quo. Agility/adaptability refers to continuously
moving targets/changing situations
• Need to sustain use and sustain adaptive
capacity to increase probability of meeting future
needs
 FAO Roles of Agriculture Project
Premise 1: Agriculture provides multiple non-commodity outputs that are
not valued by market transactions  may be under-produced relative to
what society desires.
Premise 2: As income rises (socio-economic/agricultural development), the
economic importance of the commodity outputs of agriculture
decreases in relative terms, and willingness to pay for its other roles
increases
Policy challenge
to Address Externalities (costs or benefits not valued in the market and
not adequately taken into account by actor/decision maker)
to Safeguard Common Resources/Public Goods (rules of access and
use; mechanisms for collective action to prevent degradation, under /
over use)
to Integrate natural resources management /ecosystem approach
(resources, and their products, are interlinked, management /policy
measures for one resource/sector affects the others
to Create resource/ecosystem friendly markets that generate growth
and promote sustainable use/management of resources and
ecosystems.
Studies conducted in Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, South Africa, Morocco

ENVIRONMENTAL
EXTERNALITIES
Global:
 Ecosystem resilience
Climate change mitigation
(C, land cover)
Biodiversity
Regional/National:
 Ecosystem resilience
 Watershed mgmt
(prevent soil erosion & off-
site impacts)
 Water (stable regime;
flood prevention)
 Biodiversity
 plant + animal genetic
resources; services
 wild spp.+ wildlife
conservation
Air quality (reduce GHG)
Local:
 Ecosystem resilience
 Biodiversity
 farmed spp., associated
spp., ecosystem functions
 NRM- soil+ water
conservation
 Pollution control
Roles of Agriculture
SOCIAL VIABILITY FOOD SECURITY CULTURAL ROLE
Equity; Stability POVERTY ALLEVIATION Gender; Heritage; IK
Global: Global: Global:
Social stability Economic Growth Cultural Diversity
Poverty Alleviation Poverty alleviation Indigenous Knowledge
World Food Security
Regional/National:
 Rural-urban Regional/National: Regional/ National:
migration (social  Access to food  Cultural heritage
implications)  National security  Cultural identity
 Welfare systems  Food safety  Perception of roles
substitute  support in times of of agriculture
 Social capital crises (remittances,
formation migration, fiscal support,
Biodiversity: diverse food aid)
livelihoods
Local: Local: Local:
Social stability of rural Local / household food  Landscape,
community security recreation, tourism
 Rural employment  Biodiversity: nutrition; pest  Indigenous knowledge
 Family values, gender + disease control, options (disaster prevention,
impact.  Sustainability biodiversity, medicinal
Bodiversity-coping Employment applications)
strategies; risk mgmt  Income  services Traditional technology.
 Targeting Communities livelihoods and
nutrition through local agrobiodiversity
Market opportunities
• Premium price for local products
• Increased productivity of landraces (improved seed quality; crop
rotations; water harvesting
• Add-value products (fruit and milk processing)
• Production of herbs, medicinal plants, honey (bee keeping)
• Handicrafts and Ecotourism
Nutrition /dietary diversity and opportunities
• Dietary energy supply can be satisfied without diversity but micro-
nutrient supply cannot (e.g. essential fatty acids; amino acids)
• Wild and domesticated species and intra-species diversity play key
roles in global food security
• Different species/varieties have very different nutrient contents
 Understanding impacts/implications of
HIV/AIDS on agro-biodiversity

HIV/AIDS impact on PGR?

Less labour

Loss of knowledge
Less labour intensive crops Reduction in land
cultivated

Reduction in crop
range and variety

Loss of genetic diversity

 Catchments: support linkages/relation between ‘upland land users
(providers’ of ES) and lowland land + water users (beneficiaries)

biodiversity and FU
environmental NC
landscape beauty
service TIO
providers NS
land
water quantity,
users
quality and flow
land management
reduce threats – terrestrial C storage
SWC, IPM etc
rec
tra ogn
ns itio
ac
dynamic landscape tio n, re
n c wa
os rds
ts
change in space and time $$ ,
$
Di environmental
re
fo ct B natural capital and
service
wa r lan en beneficiaries
te d a efit properties- territory
ru n s
se d
rs
water users
 Mainstreaming biodiversity for sustainable
agriculture and food security
Programmes, Institutions and Capacity Building
• Multi-sectoral approaches: agricultural, environmental, land, water,
community development, planning and finance (coordination;
committees).
• Mainstreaming in national programmes (poverty alleviation, gender)
• Land use planning at community and watershed levels (landscape;
habitat dimensions)
• Supporting on farm management
• Networks : e.g. plant genetic resources, research + development
• Participatory assessment, monitoring and early warning systems
• Information systems (threatened resources, threats etc)
• Training and education: curricula, adult education, extension, gender
• Raising awareness of importance (value) - public, private sector decision
makers (local media, schools, etc)
 Agriculture-environment collaboration –
identify synergy, mutual benefits
BiodiversityAgriculture
Productivity
Adaptation
Maintenance of ecosystem functions

Agriculture Biodiversity
Delivery of ecosystem services
Incentives
Ecological knowledge
 The National Agricultural Biodiversity
Programme in Lao

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL
BIODIVERSITY PROGRAMME

CROP AND CROP LIVESTOCK NON-TIMBER SUSTAINABLE HOUSEHOLD-

ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENT FOREST USE AND BASED
BIODIVERSITY AND PRODUCTS AND CONSERVATION INTEGRATED
MANAGEMENT OTHER OF AQUATIC AGRICULTURE
TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY PRODUCTION
BIODIVERSITY SYSTEMS

INTEGRATED PARTICIPATORY PLANNING APPROACHES

MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
 FAO Agro-biodiversity Publications

• Biodiversity Awareness Folder (series

of flyers/fact sheets e.g.
Why is Biodiversity Important for the Maintenance of Agro-
ecosystem Functions?
• Publication Biodiversity and the Ecosystem Approach in
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 2003, case studies
developed with partners
htttp://www.fao.org/biodiversity_en.asp
• Powerpoint presentations prepared forCGRFA-10 Side event
Case studies of Mainstreaming agrobiodiversity for food
security (November 2004)
• distributed Publications: Valuing crop biodiversity and
Beyond the Gene Horizon (prepoared with IPGRI, now
Bioversity)

http://www.fao.org/biodiversity/doc_en.asp
http://www.fao.org/biodiversity/doc_en.asp