Agrobiodiversity: from Definition to Application
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Agrobiodiversity: from definition to application Filipa Monteiro [email protected]/[email protected] cE3c, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon LEAF, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon TRAINING COURSE: USE OF AGROBIODIVERSITY INFORMATION 28, 29 AND 30 JUNE '17 IN GBIF AND OTHER DATABASES Outline The importance of AgroBiodiversity Components of Agrobiodiversity Prominence of traits incorporated in species consumed/produced Safeguarding Biological diversity Agrobiodiversity utilization and conservation: socioeconomic considerations TRAINING COURSE: USE OF AGROBIODIVERSITY INFORMATION 28, 29 AND 30 JUNE '17 IN GBIF AND OTHER DATABASES Why is Agricultural Biodiversity Important? Biodiversity and agriculture are strongly interdependent Biodiversity Agriculture Origin of all species of crops and domesticated livestock and the variety within them. It is also the foundation of ecosystem services essential to sustain agriculture and human well-being. Today's crop and livestock biodiversity are the result of many thousands years of human intervention. Biodiversity and agriculture are strongly interrelated because while biodiversity is critical for agriculture, agriculture can also contribute to conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Sustainable agriculture both promotes and is enhanced by biodiversity. Biodiversity is essential to: - ensure the production of food, fibre, fuel, fodder; - maintain other ecosystem services; - allow adaptation to changing conditions - including climate change - sustain rural peoples' livelihoods . TRAINING COURSE: USE OF AGROBIODIVERSITY INFORMATION 28, 29 AND 30 JUNE '17 IN GBIF AND OTHER DATABASES What is Agrobiodiversity? Agricultural biodiversity includes all components of biological diversity of relevance to food and agriculture, and all components of biological diversity that constitute the agricultural ecosystems: the variety and variability of animals, plants and micro-organisms, at the genetic, species and ecosystem levels, which are necessary to sustain key functions of the agroecosystem. Agrobiodiversity is the outcome of the interactions among genetic resources, the environment and the management systems and practices used by farmers and herders. It has developed over millennia, as a result of both natural selection and human interventions.. Published by: Understanding agrobiodiversity At a time when a growing world population needs to be fed What is agrobiodiversity? on limited resources in a changing climate, the conserva- tion and sustainable use of agricultural biological diversity Agricultural biodiversity includes all components of bio- gains utmost importance. Agrobiodiversity plays a crucial logical diversity of relevance to food and agriculture, and all role in food security and nutrition, as well as in the provision components of biological diversity that constitute the agri- of environmental services and livelihoods. It is critical to the cultural ecosystems: the variety and variability of animals, sustainability, resilience and adaptability of agricultural pro- plants and micro-organisms, at the genetic, species and eco- duction systems. To promote awareness and share knowledge system levels, which are necessary to sustain key functions on conservation and the sustainable use of agrobiodiversity, of the agro-ecosystem. Agrobiodiversity is the outcome of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit the interactions among genetic resources, the environment (GIZ) GmbH, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for and the management systems and practices used by farmers Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has published and herders. It has developed over millennia, as a result of this series of agrobiodiversity factsheets. both natural selection and human interventions. The present factsheet presents the basics of agrobiodiversity – what it is, why it is important, what causes it to diminish and These constitute the main units of production in agri- why this is happening so rapidly, how it can be developed, and culture, and include cultivated and domesticated species, its relation to traditional knowledge and local innovations. It managed wild plants and animals, as well as wild relatives also covers gender issues, the global and national governance of cultivated and domesticated species. of agrobiodiversity, in situ and ex situ conservation methods, 2. Components of biodiversity that support ecosystem and, finally, options for action for conservation and sustain- services upon which agriculture is based (Note: Ecosystem able use of agrobiodiversity in development cooperation. services are processes by which the environment produces benefits useful to people). These include a diverse range According to the Convention of Biodiversity (CBD), agrobiodi- of organisms that contribute to nutrient cycling, pest and versity is comprised of four dimensions: disease regulation, pollination, pollution and sediment regulation, maintenance of the hydrological cycle, erosion 1. Genetic resources for food and agriculture: control, carbon sequestration and climate regulation. TRAINING COURSE:Plant USE geneticOF AGROBIODIVERSITY resources, including INFORMATION crops, wild plants 3. Abiotic factors, such as local climatic and chemical28, 29 AND factors 30 JUNE '17 IN GBIF AND OTHERharvested DATABASES and managed for food, trees on farms, pas- and the physical structure and functioning of ecosystems, ture and rangeland species. which have a determining effect on agrobiodiversity. Animal genetic resources, including domesticated 4. Socio-economic and cultural factors. Agrobiodiversity animals, wild animals hunted for food, wild and farmed is largely shaped and maintained by human activities Componentsfish and other aquatic organisms. of Agrobiodiversity and management practices, and a large number of people Microbial and fungal genetic resources. depend on agrobiodiversity for sustainable livelihoods. Agrobiodiversity is an important part of biodiversity • Agro-ecosystems • Crop species and varieties Biodiversity • Livestock species and breeds • Plant/animal germplasm • Soil organisms in cultivated areas • Biocontrol agents for crop/livestock pests • Wild relatives of crop and livestock species • Traditional knowledge on agrobiodiversity Agrobiodiversity Adapted from: FAO, 2005 Functional Agrobiodiversity Functional agrobiodiversity (FAB) refers to ‘those elements of biodiversity on the scale of agricultural fields or landscapes, which provide ecosystem services that support sustainable agricultural production and can also deliver benefits to the regional and global environment and the public at large’. TRAINING COURSE: USE OF AGROBIODIVERSITY INFORMATION 28, 29 AND 30 JUNE '17 IN GBIF AND OTHER DATABASES The Convention on Biological Diversity was inspired by the world community's growing commitment to sustainable development. It represents the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. According to CBD, agrobiodiversity is comprised of four dimensions TRAINING COURSE: USE OF AGROBIODIVERSITY INFORMATION 28, 29 AND 30 JUNE '17 IN GBIF AND OTHER DATABASES Components of Agrobiodiversity 1. Genetic resources for food and agriculture: PLANT Plant genetic resources, including crops, wild plants harvested and managed for food, trees on farms, pasture and rangeland species The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture- 2001 The Treaty aims at: 1. recognizing the enormous contribution of farmers to the diversity of crops that feed the world; 2. establishing a global system to provide farmers, plant breeders and scientists with access to plant genetic materials; 3. ensuring that recipients share benefits they derive from the use of these genetic materials with the countries where they have been originated. The Treaty facilitates access to the genetic materials of the 64 crops in the Multilateral System for research, breeding and training for food and agriculture. TRAINING COURSE: USE OF AGROBIODIVERSITY INFORMATION 28, 29 AND 30 JUNE '17 IN GBIF AND OTHER DATABASES Components of Agrobiodiversity 1. Genetic resources for food and agriculture: ANIMAL Animal genetic resources (AnGR) is used to include all animal species, breeds and strains that are of economic, scientific and cultural interest to humankind in terms of food and agricultural production for the present or the future. Another equivalent term increasingly used is farm animal genetic resources. More than 40 species of animals that have been domesticated (or semi-domesticated) during the past 10 to 12 thousand years which contribute directly (through animal products used for food and fibre) and indirectly (through functions and products such as draft power, manure, transport, store of wealth etc.) Source: http://agtr.ilri.cgiar.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=240&Itemid=298 TRAINING COURSE: USE OF AGROBIODIVERSITY INFORMATION 28, 29 AND 30 JUNE '17 IN GBIF AND OTHER DATABASES Components of Agrobiodiversity 1. Genetic resources for food and agriculture: MICROBIAL and FUNGI Microorganisms include all living organisms other than plants and animals and are mostly microscopic cellular organisms that include bacteria, mycoplasmas, protozoa, fungi and some algae. Lack of information of microorganism diversity combined to lack of research programs related to their role in ecosystem functions. It is difficult to detect early changes in ecosystems without