Embedding Cultivated Diversity in Society for Agro-Ecological Transition

Véronique Chable, Edwin Nuijten, Ambrogio Costanzo, Isabelle Goldringer, Riccardo Bocci, Bernadette Oehen, Frédéric Rey, Dionysia Fasoula, Judit Feher, Marjo Keskitalo, Beate Koller, Michalis Omirou, Pedro Mendes-Moreira, Gaëlle van Frank, Abdel Kader Naino Jika, Mathieu Thomas and Adanella Rossi
Additional contact information
Véronique Chable: INRAE, UMR BAGAP (Biodiversity, Agroecology and Landscape management), 65 rue de Saint Brieuc, 35042 Rennes, France
Edwin Nuijten: Louis Bolk Institute, Hoofdstraat 24, 3972 LA Driebergen, The Netherlands
Ambrogio Costanzo: Organic Research Centre, Trent Lodge, Stroud Road, Cirencester GL7 6JN, UK
Isabelle Goldringer: Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, UMR GQE–Le Moulon, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Riccardo Bocci: Rete Semi Rurali, Via di Casignano 25, 50018 Scandicci (FI), Italy
Bernadette Oehen: FiBL-Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, 5070 Frick, Switzerland
Frédéric Rey: ITAB (Institut Technique de l’Agriculture Biologique), 149 Rue de Bercy, 75012 Paris, France
Dionysia Fasoula: Department of Plant Breeding, Agricultural Research Institute, 1516 Nicosia, Cyprus
Judit Feher: ÖMKi, Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Miklós tér 1, 1033 Budapest, Hungary
Marjo Keskitalo: LUKE, Natural Resources Institute Finland, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland
Beate Koller: ARCHE NOAH, Obere Straße 40, A-3553 Schiltern, Austria
Michalis Omirou: Department of Agrobiotechnology, Agricultural Research Institute, 1516 Nicosia, Cyprus
Pedro Mendes-Moreira: Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra, Escola Superior Agrária de Coimbra, Bencanta, 3045-601 Coimbra, Portugal
Gaëlle van Frank: Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, UMR GQE–Le Moulon, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Abdel Kader Naino Jika: Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, UMR GQE–Le Moulon, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Mathieu Thomas: CIRAD, UMR AGAP Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, F-34398 Montpellier, France
Adanella Rossi: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 3, 1-34

Abstract: Agroecology calls for a global approach, integrating scientific, practical, and advocacy dimensions, to redesign agricultural systems based on ecological and socio-cultural processes and emphasizing biodiversity. This review is grounded on the results of DIVERSIFOOD, a European H2020 multi-actor research project, and explores the concept of cultivated diversity using various dimensions relevant to foster sustainable organic food systems and agro-ecological transition. From the evaluation of underutilized genetic resources and forgotten crops, DIVERSIFOOD has proposed plant breeding strategies, on-farm experimentation, and statistical tools to create new populations, landraces, and organic cultivars with intra-varietal diversity. The added value of Community Seed Banks and forms of collective seed management in Europe have been described in terms of goals and activities, and their value for improving seed regulations, treaties, and genetic resources management is discussed. In the context of the current agro-food system characterized by standardization, DIVERSIFOOD raised awareness of qualities of ‘biodiverse food systems’ in which all actors have a role to play. It highlighted the critical capacity to preserve a diversity of cultural values embodied in ‘biodiverse products’, thereby involving consumers in collective strategies for reviving diversity, and empowering all actors of organic food systems to really and efficiently implement research within their farms and networks.

Keywords: agrobiodiversity; agroecological transition; biodiverse food systems; participatory research; genetic resources; community seed bank; organic plant breeding; multi-actor approach (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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