In situ/on-farm conservation of crop biodiversity

Abstract

Agrobiodiversity conservation should be the basic component of any national agricultural improvement programme. Programmes that manage agricultural genetic resources need to reconsider their strategies. Conservation based on genebanks (ex situ conservation) must be broadened and be integrated with on-farm/in situ conservation to be able to conserve much large species and genetic diversity than would otherwise be possible. In situ conservation of agricultural biodiversity (crop and related species diversity) must be made an integral part of agricultural development and supplemented by ex situ conservation. It is obvious that the public sector will have to take the lead in implementing such a comprehensive approach, in which the private sector has an important supportive role. National and intergovernmental laws and regulations will have to provide the necessary legal framework. Civil society organisations (CSOs) as well as the private sector are becoming increasingly important in filling this framework with development reality on the ground. There is a great need for us to adapt to changing conditions accepting realities of climate change, which is a complex task and requires much research as much is unknown. We are in early stages of understanding the changing rules of the game, but I believe there is sufficient experience and diverse resources available to deal with the situation on short term basis, but for long term solutions further research is needed. Complacency should be out and we need to be strategic and need to involve several stakeholders and plan early and systematically. Some amount of crystal gazing and innovation (that may or may not seem right, right now). That means we need to be flexible and be able to change fast when situation demands.