Pablo Eyzaguirre, Stephan Weise, Ann Tutwiler

1. Bioversity International/ P. Lepoint
Family farms producing cocoa maintain a vast
amount of associated agrobiodiversity in cocoa
stands. For example, a study in Cameroon found
that the average cocoa farm comprises 308
associated non-cocoa trees/ha. (Sonwa et al., 2009)
Agricultural Biodiversity: an essential asset for the success
and resilience of family farming
Pablo Eyzaguirre, Stephan Weise, Ann Tutwiler
27 October 2014

2. Agricultural Biodiversity- A key Asset for Family farmers
Two main assets that family farmers
have are agro-biodiversity and the
gendered knowledge of the ecosystem
in which their farms are embedded.
Banana is a staple food of Ugandan
family farmers as well as a multi-purpose
cash crop. They safeguard the
greatest diversity in banana cultivars. Bioversity International/P. De Santis

3. Burundi Tanzania
Bioversity International/ P. Lepoint
KU Leuven/ R. Swennen

4. Family Farmers grow commodity cash crops and other food crops
in a system that maintains biodiversity
Bioversity InternationalF. van Oudenhoven
Worldwide, 5 to 6 million family cocoa farms produce
approximately 90% of the world’s cocoa on farms with
only 2 to 5 hectares providing a direct cash livelihood
for 50 million people.
Bioversity InternationalR. Markham
Ghana
(ICCO, 2011, WCF, Cocoa Facts and Figures 2012)
Family farms producing cocoa maintain
vast amounts of associated biodiversity
in cocoa stands. A study in Cameroon
found that the average cocoa farm
comprises 308 associated non-cocoa
trees/ha. (Sonwa et al., 2009)

5. Ghana
Bioversity International/J. Raneri Bioversity International/J. Raneri

6. Colombia
Bioversity International/X Schelderman
In West Africa, Tropical
America and the Caribbean,
many studies have confirmed
the significant amount of
biodiversity such as
pollinators, honeybees,
migratory birds, soil biota that
is safeguarded on these
farms supporting long term
productivity as well healthy
ecosystems

7. Costa Rica
• Bioversity InternationalC. Zanzanaini

8. IYFF places family farmers at the centre os
sustainable production and the safeguarding
of Biodiversity and famer knowledge
Document the full range of family farm systems
• What they produce, the range of plant and animal products
they produce including varieties and breeds
• How much they contribute to the total food and nutrition
security in their respective countries
• How their stock of gendered knowledge, agrobiodiversity
and management practices confers resilience in the face of
changing environments and shocks.
• What innovations in family farming can be supported and
upscaled.

9. Thank you
www.bioversityinternational.org