Seed exchange networks for agrobiodiversity conservation. A review

• Published in: Agronomy for sustainable development Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 151 - 175
• Main Authors: Pautasso, Marco, Aistara, Guntra, Barnaud, Adeline, Caillon, Sophie, Clouvel, Pascal, Coomes, Oliver T., Delêtre, Marc, Demeulenaere, Elise, De Santis, Paola, Döring, Thomas, Eloy, Ludivine, Emperaire, Laure, Garine, Eric, Goldringer, Isabelle, Jarvis, Devra, Joly, Hélène I., Leclerc, Christian, Louafi, Selim, Martin, Pierre, Massol, François, McGuire, Shawn, McKey, Doyle, Padoch, Christine, Soler, Clélia, Thomas, Mathieu, Tramontini, Sara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer-Verlag 01.01.2013; EDP Sciences; Springer Verlag/EDP Sciences/INRA
• Subjects: Adaptability; Agricultural sciences; Agriculture; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Bioindicators; Biological and medical sciences; Biological diversity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Conservation; Crops; Culture; Ecology, environment; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agroecology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Geography; Humanities and Social Sciences; Life Sciences; Review Article; Reviews; Soil Science & Conservation; Stakeholders; Sustainable Development; Seeds; Simulation models; Landscape genetics; Methods in ecology and evolution; Complex networks; Global change; Participatory approaches; Scenarios; Review; Biodiversity; Landscape; Conservation; Community participation; Ecology; Method; Agroecosystem; Network; Evolution; Genetics; Scenario (modeling)
• ISSN: 1774-0746; 1773-0155
• DOI: 10.1007/s13593-012-0089-6

The circulation of seed among farmers is central to agrobiodiversity conservation and dynamics. Agrobiodiversity, the diversity of agricultural systems from genes to varieties and crop species, from farming methods to landscape composition, is part of humanity’s cultural heritage. Whereas agrobiodiversity conservation has received much attention from researchers and policy makers over the last decades, the methods available to study the role of seed exchange networks in preserving crop biodiversity have only recently begun to be considered. In this overview, we present key concepts, methods, and challenges to better understand seed exchange networks so as to improve the chances that traditional crop varieties (landraces) will be preserved and used sustainably around the world. The available literature suggests that there is insufficient knowledge about the social, cultural, and methodological dimensions of environmental change, including how seed exchange networks will cope with changes in climates, socio-economic factors, and family structures that have supported seed exchange systems to date. Methods available to study the role of seed exchange networks in the preservation and adaptation of crop specific and genetic diversity range from meta-analysis to modelling, from participatory approaches to the development of bio-indicators, from genetic to biogeographical studies, from anthropological and ethnographic research to the use of network theory. We advocate a diversity of approaches, so as to foster the creation of robust and policy-relevant knowledge. Open challenges in the study of the role of seed exchange networks in biodiversity conservation include the development of methods to (i) enhance farmers’ participation to decision-making in agro-ecosystems, (ii) integrate ex situ and in situ approaches, (iii) achieve interdisciplinary research collaboration between social and natural scientists, and (iv) use network analysis as a conceptual framework to bridge boundaries among researchers, farmers and policy makers, as well as other stakeholders.