A presentation given by Carlo Fadda in celebration of Bioversity International's 40th Anniversary on 26/06/2014 on seed systems and agricultural biodiversity in an effort to adapt to the changing climate. Find out more about this research: http://www.bioversityinternational.org/research-portfolio/adaptation-to-climate-change/seeds-for-needs/ http://www.bioversityinternational.org/40/

1. Adaptation to climate change:
The ‘Seeds for Needs’ approach
Carlo Fadda

2. (1)
Genetic
diversity
(2)
Selection &
cultivation
(3)
Harvest
(4)
Value addition
(5)
Marketing
(6)
Final
use
Biodiversity’s contribution on the value chain
IMPACT
System Resilience
1. Absorb variability
and climate
shocks
2. Food/nutrition
security also in
periods of food
scarcity
3. Economic self
reliance by
leveraging local
assets

3. Climate change is happening

4. Estimated impact of +3°C change on crop yields by 2050
Impact of climate change on crop yields

5. The ‘Seeds for Needs’ approach:
• is a rapid approach to identify seeds adapted to changing climates
and markets
• uses existing crop diversity
• can be customized to local and marginal conditions around the world
• directly responds to farmers’ needs

6. Seeds for Needs – A global scope

7. Seeds for Needs: The process
Each farmer gets a different
combination of varieties
A broad set of varieties
is evaluated
Bioversity International/T.Rastogi

10. Farmers test and
report back by
mobile phone
Each farmer gets a different
combination of varieties
A broad set of varieties
is evaluated
Farmers receive
tailored variety
recommendations
and can order seeds
Data are used to detect demand for
new varieties and traits
Environmental data
(GPS, sensors) to assess
adaptation
The process
BioversityInternational/T.Rastogi

11. Institutional
genebanks
(National, private, experimental
stations, universities…)
Community
seedbanks
CGIAR genebanks
International Genebanks
Regional
genebanks

12. Strengthening community seed systems
BioversityInternational/R.Vernooy

13. • Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Italy
• Hombolo Agricultural Research Institute, Tanzania
• Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute
• Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Centre, Ethiopia
• Sirinka Agricultural Research Centre, Ethiopia
• Mekelle University, Ethiopia
• Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute, Kenya
• African Biodiversity Conservation and Innovation Centre
• National Agricultural Research Organization, Uganda
Funding partners
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)
• International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for
Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)
• World Bank Development Marketplace
• CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change
Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)
Implementing partners
• Rwanda Agricultural Board
• Zamorano-Escuela Agrícola Panamericana de Honduras
• Fundación para la Investigación Participativa con Agricultores de
Honduras
• Programa de Reconstrucción Rural, Honduras
• National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources Institute (NBPGR), India
• Humana People to People (HPPI), India
• Gene Campaign, India
• Protection of Plant varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority, India
• Directorate-General for International Cooperation
(DGIS), Netherlands
• USAID
• Global Environment Facility (GEF)
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
• India Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)