Mainstreaming Agricultural Biodiversity for Food Security: A Contribution from the FAO PAIA Biodiversity

 Exotic genetic resources not sustainable  Indiscriminate crossbreeding  Genetic resources for future needs Domestic Animal Genetic Resources at Risk  Include stakeholders in decision-making  Identification of sources of funding  Support breeder associations  Strengthen extension services Desirable commitments by governments

The ecological reality: Multi-trophic food webs

From Micro- organisms e.g. bacteria + fungi Micro & meso-fauna protozoa, nematodes to acari & springtails Macro-fauna e.g. ants, termites, earthworms Soil Biodiversity...Roots in the soil and their interactions with species above & below ground

Mosaic landscapes and Community Biodiversity Registers Variations in land use and deployment of agricultural biodiversity characterize culturally maintained landscapes. Ex. Andean landscape mosaics (Terrazas and Valdivia 1998)

Dietary Diversity Issues  Dietary energy supply can be satisfied without diversity  Micronutrient supply (including essential fatty acids and amino acids) cannot  Wild and domesticated species and intraspecies biodiversity play key roles in global food security  Different species or varieties have significantly different nutrient contents

Gender issues in Agrobiodiversity management and the impact of HIV/AIDS and the impact of HIV/AIDS How does HIV/AIDS impact on PGR? Less labour Less labour intensive crops Reduction in land cultivated Reduction in crop range and variety Loss of knowledge Loss of genetic diversity

MARKETING BIODIVERSITY WITH ORGANIC AGRICULTURE ORGANIC MARKET $29B. Organic standards Temporal and spatial species assemblages Organic pest management Organic soil fertilization Agro- biodiversity Pollinators Pest predators Soil micro- organisms New food items valued by markets Ecosystem services enhance productivity Farmers stewardship rewarded

Recommendations  Biologists, agronomists, engineers, chemists to work as a team  “Filière” work: from the field to the market. Sustainable agronomic production practices – sustainable processing practices – sustainable and new market opportunities ( Three R concept: Renew – Reuse – Recycle)  Enhance the political and environmental compatibility of international commitments such as the Ecosystem Approach with the implementation of the Convention on the Protection of the Alps (Alpine Convention started in 1951 and covers an area of 20 M. ha inhabited by 15 M. people in 8 states, 53 regions and 5800 communities).

People and Biodiversity Workshop on Agrobiodiversity, Bamako 15th to 19th December 2003 Participants coming from a range of countries: 5 focal countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal. 10 observer countries Participants representing a diversity of official institutions and civil society: Focal points Line Ministries National, regional and international NGOs and Networks Research Centres Funding agencies

Provides:  an ‘umbrella’ for the development of potential projects/initiatives  linked to the Lao PDR National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan  NABP, the FIRST programme to support NBSAP The National Agricultural Biodiversity Programme in Lao PDR Overall aim: To develop a strategic approach and framework to better use, develop and conserve agricultural biodiversity in support of national priorities for food security and rural development.

The National Agricultural Biodiversity Programme (cont’d) NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY PROGRAMME INTEGRATED PARTICIPATORY PLANNING APPROACHES MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS CROP AND CROP ASSOCIATED BIODIVERSITY LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS AND OTHER TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY SUSTAINABLE USE AND CONSERVATION OF AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY HOUSEHOLD- BASED INTEGRATED AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Implications of Ecosystem Interactions for Traditional Fisheries Management  Changes in the habitat will affect the average sustainable yield.  Different fisheries are linked through catches and through the food web.  All human goals for an ecosystem cannot be simultaneously achieved.  Uncertainty is a primary factor influencing our ability to manage capture fisheries  As a result while conventional methods may work in the short-term, they are likely to result in long-term changes in nature and productivity. Agricultural Biodiversity Different agroecosystems are linked through food webs. agricultural biodiversity

Recommendations Recommendations  A “State of the World’s Agricultural Biodiversity” should focus on the ecosystem interactions (previous slide) among inter-dependent components of agricultural biodiversity, building on the continuing work of SoW Plant, Animal GR  The Commission CAN monitor, enable, and facilitate national agricultural biodiversity programmes through case studies of policy reform, information exchange, and technical reviews as a core element of a multi-year plan of work