The Multiple Functions and Services of Community Seedbanks

Ronnie Vernooy, Bhuwon Sthapit, Gea Galluzzi and Pitambar Shrestha
Additional contact information
Ronnie Vernooy: Bioversity International, Via dei Tre Denari 472/a, Maccarese 00057, Italy
Bhuwon Sthapit: Bioversity International, 93.4 Dharahara Marg, Fulbari, Ward #11Pokhara, Nepal
Gea Galluzzi: Bioversity International, c/o CIAT, km 17 Recta Cali-Palmira, Cali, Colombia
Pitambar Shrestha: LI-BIRD, P.O. Box 324, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal

Resources, 2014, vol. 3, issue 4, 1-21

Abstract: Although community-level seed-saving initiatives have existed in many countries around the world for about 30 years, they have rarely been the subject of systematic scientific enquiry. Based on a combination of a literature review and field research, we present a novel comprehensive conceptual framework that focuses on the multiple functions and services provided by community-based seed-saving efforts, in particular community seed banks. This framework is output oriented and complements an input oriented typology of community seed banks presented in 1997. The framework identifies three core functions: conserving genetic resources; enhancing access to and availability of diverse local crops; and ensuring seed and food sovereignty. The framework can be used for analysis of existing seed-saving initiatives and serve as a guide for the establishment of new community seed banks. In addition, it can inform the development or revision of national policies or strategies to support community seed banks. The framework’s utility is illustrated by three case studies of community seed banks in Bangladesh, Guatemala and Nepal.

Keywords: agricultural biodiversity; conservation of biodiversity; plant genetic resources; community seed banks; farmers’ rights; food sovereignty; seed sovereignty; Bangladesh; Guatemala; Nepal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/3/4/636/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/3/4/636/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jresou:v:3:y:2014:i:4:p:636-656:d:42740

Access Statistics for this article

Resources is currently edited by Ms. Donchian Ma

More articles in Resources from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().