Top: Science: Environment: Biodiversity: Agricultural:

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• Science: Agriculture: Practices and Systems  (256)
• Science: Environment: Agriculture  (26)
• Society: Issues: Science and Technology: Biotechnology  (172)
• Society: Philosophy: Ethics: Applied: Bioethics: Genetic Engineering  (13)

» Agricultural Biodiversity for Food and Livelihood Security - UK Agricultural Biodiversity Coalition website. Comprehensive coverage of all issues concerning agricultural biodiversity's sustainable and equitable use, conservation, intellectual property, genetic engineering and governance. Principal CSO resource on the International Seed Treaty (ITPGRFA).




» Agricultural Biodiversity under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - Documentation on the implementation of the CBD's Agricultural Biodiversity work programme (COP Decisions III/11, IV/6, V/5, VI/5 + VI/6 on International Seed Treaty)




» Agricultural Biodiversity under the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) - Website provides full access to all relevant FAO documents on the conservation and sustainable use of Biological Diversity for Food and Agriculture - genetic, species and ecosystems: programmes, plans, treaties, conventions.




» CBDC: Community Biodiversity Development and Conservation Programme - Global initiative to strengthen the ongoing work of farming communities in conserving and developing the agricultural biodiversity that is vital to their livelihoods and food security.




» CGIAR Agricultural Biodiversity Centre - IPGRI, the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, is the CGIAR international agricultural research centre mandated to work on the conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity. Website covers all practical and policy aspects - many downloadable publications.




» Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP) - Website of IUCN's Commission with four Working Groups. This one on Sustainable Livelihoods covers community-based, equitable and sustainable management of natural resources, especially agricultural biodiversity. Site provides information on strategy, project reports, publications, links to community and partners' activities.




» Conservation and Sustainable Use of Agricultural Biodiversity - This UPWARD three-volume publication is a global compilation by scientists, development specialists, academics, policy-makers and donors. Vol. 1: understanding agricultural biodiversity, Vol. 2: strengthening local management of agricultural biodiversity, and Vol. 3: ensuring an enabling environment for agricultural biodiversity. PDF downloads of all 75 chapters available.




» DIVERSITAS - agricultural biodiversity programme - Webpage of the agroBIODIVERSITY Task Force that is developing a scientific research framework for agriculture systems that preserve and enhance biodiversity, utilise it for key ecosystem services and minimally impact biodiversity of neighboring ecosystems.




» ETC group (formerly RAFI) - Action group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration. Very relevant site of influential CSO, which contains full texts of key papers, commentaries, cartoons on issues of governance and use of agricultural biodiversity, biotechnology, genomics, nanotechnology and other emerging technologies, as well as corporate control, intellectual property and related issues.




» FAO Soil Biodiversity Portal - Includes a framework under which soil biodiversity can be assessed, managed and conserved with pointers to research, capacity building and policy and programme development needs. Case studies and full information.




» Farming Solutions - Joint Oxfam, Greenpeace, ILEIA, Pesticide Action Network site packed with examples of successful, environmentally responsible farming systems that protect the environment and agricultural biodiversity and increase food security.




» Find Your Feet (FYF) Agricultural Biodiversity projects - Site describes how FYF enables small-scale farmers living in India and Malawi to use sustainable farming methods that maintain agricultural biodiversity and improve rural families' long-term access to sufficient, nutritious food.




» Gender, Biodiversity and Local Knowledge Systems - The LinKS (Local indigenous Knowledge Systems) a regional effort in southern and East Africa aimed at valuing men and women's local knowledge on the use and management of agricultural biodiversity. Publications and other information about the project and its results.




» GRAIN - An international non-governmental organisation (Genetic Resources Action International) which promotes the sustainable management and use of agricultural biodiversity based on people's control over genetic resources and local knowledge. Relevant information; links to Growing Diversity project results, and workshops.




» Human Nature: Agricultural Biodiversity and Farm-Based Food Security - [PDF] This 1996 book provides a comprehensive introduction to agricultural biodiversity, with chapters on each major sector: crop genetic resources, farm animal diversity, fish and aquatic life, forests, soil biodiversity and microbial genetic resources. Concludes with discussion of policy issues.




» IDRC agricultural biodiversity projects - Site provides full details of IDRC supported research projects, networks, and other activities on agricultural and aquatic biodiversity in Asia, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean, through a multidisciplinary approach which integrates key issues in agriculture, conservation, indigenous knowledge and local resource management.




» International Farmers Technical Conference - Report of 2004 CBDC conference in Malaysia that provided a venue for farmers from Africa, Asia and Latin America to share and discuss their experiences on agricultural biodiversity conservation, technology transfer and protection of farmer innovations. Case Studies; techniques; fully illustrated. [PDF]




» IPGRI Agricultural Biodiversity Research Unit - As an outcome of an International Workshop "Managing Agricultural Biodiversity for Sustainable Development" held in Nairobi, Kenya, an agricultural biodiversity research unit was set up at IPGRI, Rome. Site has link to relevant papers.




» Monitoring Institute for Rare Breeds and Seeds in Europe - Research into agricultural biodiversity of extinct and live populations of rare breeds and cultivated plants. Find descriptions of projects, publications, contacts and links. In English and German.




» MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) - Indian programme on community based agricultural biodiversity conservation and management in Wayanad, in Kerala, the Kolli Hills and Namakkal in Tamil Nadu and the Jeypore Tract of Orissa. Also development of a community gene bank.




» Navdanya: Research Foundation for Science,Technology and Ecology, India - Site provides information on agricultural biodiversity conservation and protection of people's rights, livelihoods and environment from centralised systems of monoculture in forestry, agriculture and fisheries. Links to many Indian and global movements. Navdanya is a program of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology (RFSTE) set up by Vandana Shiva.




» ODI Seeds and Crop Diversity Programme - Catalogue of publications focused on maintenance and enhancement of crop genetic resources and agricultural biodiversity through farmer participation; policy, planning and institutional changes necessary for seed security.




» People and Biodiversity in Rural Areas - BMZ/GTZ programme is supporting agricultural biodiversity projects in partner countries as part of their implemention of Agenda 21, CBD, the International Seed Treaty (IT PGRFA) and the FAO Global Plan of Action.




» People, Land Management and Environmental Change - Sustainable and participatory approaches to conservation of agricultural biodiversity within smallholder farmers' agricultural systems, and in participation with farmers.




» Safeguard for Agricultural Varieties in Europe - SAVE is a European umbrella organization for the promotion and coordination of activities for the conservation of endangered breeds of domestic animals and cultivated plant varieties in the form of live populations. Site includes background to organisation, project reports and links to many European NGOs.




» Supporting On-Farm Conservation in Eastern & Southern Africa - Includes information and case studies on the institutional conditions for 'successful' interventions, defined in terms of biological as well as economic parameters, derived from this GTZ / ODI / Darwin initiative project with African partners.




» Sustainable Production and Conservation of Agricultural Biodiversity in Traditional Systems - Paper by Villarroel (2002), for the UNEP Mountain Forum, analyses high mountain ecological productive rationality. Includes case study on "Mountain Tourism, and the Conservation of Biological and Cultural Diversity".




» Sustaining Agricultural Biodiversity - Paper prepared for 2002 Forum for Food Sovereignty. Illustrates how food sovereignty and security, livelihoods, landscapes and environmental integrity are underpinned by agricultural biodiversity and its component genetic resources for food and agriculture. Summarises an Action Agenda to confront threats.




» Sustaining Local Food Systems, Agricultural Biodiversity and Local Livelihoods - An IIED programme identifying how decentralised governance, farmer participation and capacity building promote the adaptive management of agricultural biodiversity in the context of local food systems and livelihoods. Case studies in India, Indonesia, Iran, Peru. Beautifully illustrated.