About site: Environment/Biodiversity/Agricultural - Agricultural Biodiversity for Food and Livelihood Security

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Title: Environment/Biodiversity/Agricultural - 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

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

Agricultural_Biodiversity_Weblog This weblog collects in one place anything the authors find on the internet that relates somehow to agricultural biodiversity of crops, animals, wild relatives. Contains up to date links to a wide ran

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 biodiversit

Chennai_Platform_for_Action_ The Role of Agricultural Biodiversity in Achieving the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of Freedom from Hunger and Poverty. Results of a meeting held at the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation i

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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 bi

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: stren

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

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 agricu

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

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

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

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. Pu

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 ge

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, fores

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

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, techn

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

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 develo

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

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 necess

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 Pla

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.

Primal_Seeds_Network Site provides illustrated background information on agricultural biodiversity issues and the threats from monoculture and genetic engineering.

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 li

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 / Darwi

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

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

Advanced_Vision_Therapies,_Inc_ Company focused on the treatment of sight-threatening eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and finding a cure.

Amsterdam_Molecular_Therapeutics Focused on developing gene therapies for lipoprotein lipase disorder, inflammatory bowel disease and neuroregeneration. Also provides contract development and manufacturing of gene and cell-based pr

AraGene_Inc_ Biotechnology company focused on the development of low-density lipoproteins as gene delivery systems.

Ark_Therapeutics A gene medicine company developing a broad range of products based on vascular and endothelial molecular biology to treat vascular and circulatory diseases and cancer.

BioVex Gene delivery technology allowing pharmaceutical and genomics companies to assess the therapeutic value of identified genes and also allows genes to be used as therapeutic products to treat diseases f

Cell_Genesys Focused on the development and commercialization of cancer vaccines and gene therapies to treat various cancers including leukemia, hemophilia A and B, restenosis after angioplasty and Parkinson's dis

Ceregene,_Inc_ Pioneering genetic therapies for neurologic disorders.

Cobra_Biomanufacturing Contract manufacturing organisation focusing on the production of Protein, Viral and DNA-based therapeutics at cGMP grade.

Collateral_Therapeutics A product-driven cardiovascular gene therapy company, focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel and innovative non-surgical gene therapy products.

Copernicus_Therapeutics,_Inc_ Developing human gene therapy products for cystic fibrosis and hemophilia B and DNA vaccinations. The company creates proprietary PLASmin Complexes which are efficient non-viral vectors and REPLIsome

Corautus_Genetics Biotech company developing new therapies for the treatment of patients with severe cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease using gene transfer approaches.

Gene_Therapy_Systems Commercial firm providing reagents for gene delivery and gene therapy research, including unique pGeneGrip fluorescently labeled plasmid vectors and GenePORTER cationic lipid transfection reagent.

Gentier_Biosystems Bioventure company established at Nihon University School of Medicine. Focuses on the use of antisense nucleotides and ribozymes for the treatment of cardiovascular and renal diseases.

GenVec An emerging biopharmaceutical company developing novel gene therapies for diseases where local delivery of a therapeutic gene has potential benefits over currently available treatments. New product d

Henogen A GMP biomanufacturing company located in Belgium, able to produce, purify and aseptically fill clinical batches of therapeutic proteins, monoclonal antibodies, plasmid DNA, vaccinal viruses or viral

Introgen_Therapeutics,_Inc_ Focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of targeted molecular therapies for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.

This is sites2007.com cache of m/ as retrieved on 2008.12.02 sites2007.com's cache is the snapshot that we took of the page as we crawled the web. The page may have changed since that time.

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• 17 •07•2008 • UKabc is an activity of the UK Food Group: Bringing together Public Interest UK organisations concerned with Sustainable Use, Conservation, Benefit Sharing, Trade, Patents, Intellectual Property, Biopiracy, Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering, Biosafety and other issues related to the Equitable Use of Agricultural Biodiversity for Local Food and Livelihood Security and Food Sovereignty

UK AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY COALITION

Call to Action on the Food emergency The Bonnfire of Biodiversity: fuelling the food crisis Updated 17 July 2008 Internet Search UKabc Site Search Internet Search for "agricultural biodiversity" to find current links. Or enter any Search phrase in Search Box and click circle on right of UKabc Site Search, to search within this site. Powered by

CBD / COP 9, Bonn, Germany, 19 - 30 May 2008. Documents, Newsletter, Statements, Side Events, Updates, Links Planet Diversity , Bonn, Germany, 12-16 May 2008 "In Safe Hands" Biodiversity Fair, Bonn, Germany, 19- 21 May, 2008 CBD / SBSTTA 13, Rome, Italy, 18 - 22 Feb 2008. Newsletter, Statements, Updates Wilderswil Declaration on Livestock Diversity, Sept 2007 International Seed Treaty Governing Body met 29 October 2007 to discuss implementation of Farmers' Rights ECO @ ABS 6 CSO newsletters at CBD Access and Benefit Sharing meeting, Geneva 21 - 25 January 2008 CBD / SBSTTA 12, Paris, France 2 - 6 July 2007 UKFG / DFID Seminar "Towards new Agricultural Development policies " CSO Forum for Food Sovereignty follow-up and more... Technology Democracy and Food Sovereignty - an emerging debate in the sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity Genetic Futures in Food and Farming:report on and background to London pre CBD / COP 6 Seminar on 27 March 2002 Future Control of Food. UK Food Group Seminar and Book Launch. London, 11 Feb 2008 WSF V 26 - 31 January 2005 Porto Alegre, Brazil World Food Day @ European Social Forum 2004 WSF IV 16 - 21 January 2004 Mumbai, India World Social Forum III Reports and Reflections in "Patrick's Postcards from Porto Alegre" "GM Crops are irrelevant to hunger eradication": UK Food Group Briefing GM Food Aid scandal The dumping-ground: Africa and GM food aid, openDemocracy, April 2004 FOOD SOVEREIGNTY: towards democracy in localized food systems (English and Castellano). more... International Seed Treaty (ITPGRFA) Treaty came into force on 29 June 2004 - Updates, CSO commentary and key links. More ... Karen Commitment to Livestock Keepers Rights Reports on Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation research Joint ITDG/ODI research on farmer conservation methods in Kenya, Peru and Zimbabwe ITDG Briefing "Preserving the Web of Life". UKabc website home page http://www.ukabc.org WHAT IS AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY?

Agricultural biodiversity of all food species is a vital sub-set of general biodiversity, highly threatened by globalisation of food markets and tastes, intellectual property systems and the spread of unsustainable industrial food production, but it provides the basis of the food security and livelihood security of billions of people and the development of all food production, including for industrial agriculture and for the biotechnology (Life) industries. It is the first link in the food chain, developed and safeguarded by farmers, herders and fishers throughout the world. Although the term "agricultural biodiversity" is relatively new - it has come into wide use in recent years as evidenced by bibliographic references - the concept itself is quite old. It is the result of the careful selection and inventive developments of farmers, herders and fishers over millennia. Agricultural biodiversity is a vital sub-set of biodiversity. It is a creation of humankind whose food and livelihood security depend on the sustained management of those diverse biological resources that are important for food and agriculture. Agricultural biodiversity, also known as agrobiodiversity or the genetic resources for food and agriculture, includes: Harvested crop varieties, livestock breeds, fish species and non- domesticated ('wild') resources within field, forest, rangeland and in aquatic ecosystems; Non-harvested species within production ecosystems that support food provision, including soil micro-biota, pollinators and so on; and Non-harvested species in the wider environment that support food production ecosystems (agricultural, pastoral, forest and aquatic ecosystems). Agricultural biodiversity results from the interaction between the environment, genetic resources and the management systems and practices used by culturally diverse peoples resulting in the different ways land and water resources are used for production. It thus encompasses the variety and variability of animals, plants and micro-organisms which are necessary to sustain key functions of the agro-ecosystem, its structure and processes for, and in support of, food production and food security (FAO, 1999). Agricultural biodiversity has spatial, temporal and scale dimensions especially at agro-ecosystem levels. These agro-ecosystems - ecosystems that are used for agriculture - are determined by three sets of factors: the genetic resources, the physical environment and the human management practices. There are virtually no ecosystems in the world that are "natural" in the sense of having escaped human influence. Most ecosystems have been to some extent modified or cultivated by human activity for the production of food and income and for livelihood security. Agro-ecosystems may be identified at different levels or scales, for instance, a field/crop/ herd/pond, a farming system, a land-use system or a watershed. These can be aggregated to form a hierarchy of agro-ecosystems. Ecological processes can also be identified at different levels and scales. Valuable ecological processes that result from the interactions between species and between species and the environment include, inter alia, biochemical recycling, the maintenance of soil fertility and water quality and climate regulation (e.g. micro-climates caused by different types and density of vegetation). Moreover, the interaction between the environment, genetic resources and management practices determines the evolutionary process, which may involve, for instance, introgression from wild relatives, hybridization between cultivars, mutations, and natural and human selections. These result in genetic material (farmers' crop varieties or animal breeds) that is well adapted to local abiotic and biotic environmental variation. So, agricultural biodiversity is not only the result of human activity but human life is dependent on it not just for the immediate provision of food and other goods, but for the maintenance of areas of land that will sustain production and for the maintenance of the wider environment. Agro-ecosystems comprise polycultures, monocultures, and mixed systems, including crop-livestock systems (rice - fish), agroforestry, agro-silvo-pastoral systems, aquaculture as well as rangelands, pastures and fallow lands. Their interactions with human activities, including socio-economic activity and sociocultural socio-cultural diversity, are determinant. Some of the key functions for maintaining stable, robust, productive and sustainable agro-ecosystems may include the following: breakdown of organic matter and recycling of nutrients to maintain soil fertility and sustain plant and consequently animal growth; breakdown of pollutants and maintenance of a clean and healthy atmosphere; moderation of climatic effects such as maintaining rainfall patterns and modulation of the water cycle and the absorption of solar energy by the land and its subsequent release; maintenance and stability of productive vegetative, fish and animal populations and the limitation of invasion by harmful or less useful species; protection and conservation of soil and water resources, for example through a vegetative cover and appropriate management practices, and the consequent maintenance of the integrity of landscapes and habitats; sequestration of CO2 by plants. (FAO, 1999) This was discussed at an international Agricultural Biodiversity workshop organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) where the multiple dimensions of agricultural biodiversity were also summarised as providing for: i. Sustainable production of food and other agricultural products emphasising both strengthening sustainability in production systems at all levels of intensity and improving the conservation, sustainable use and enhancement of the diversity of all genetic resources for food and agriculture, especially plant and animal genetic resources, in all types of production systems. ii. Biological or life support to production emphasising conservation, sustainable use and enhancement of the biological resources that support sustainable production systems, particularly soil biota, pollinators and predators. iii. Ecological and social services provided by agro-ecosystems such as landscape and wildlife protection, soil protection and health (fertility, structure and function), water cycle and water quality, air quality, CO2 sequestration, etc. A DEFINITION OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY

The variety and variability of animals, plants and micro-organisms used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture (including, in the FAO definition, crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries). It comprises the diversity of genetic resources (varieties, breeds, etc.) and species used for food, fodder, fibre, fuel and pharmaceuticals. It also includes the diversity of non-harvested species that support production (e.g. soil micro-organisms, predators, pollinators and so on) and those in the wider environment that support agro-ecosystems (agricultural, pastoral, forest and aquatic), as well as the diversity of the agro-ecosystems themselves. It has also been defined as: Agricultural biodiversity encompasses the variety and variability of animals, plants and micro-organisms which are necessary to sustain key functions of the agro-ecosystem, its structure and processes for, and in support of, food production and food security. (FAO, 1999) WHAT IS HAPPENING TO AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY?

These locally diverse food production systems are under threat and, with them, the accompanying local knowledge, culture and skills of the food producers. With this decline, agricultural biodiversity is disappearing and the scale of loss is extensive and with the disappearance of harvested species, varieties and breeds goes a wide range of unharvested species. More than 90 per cent of crop varieties have disappeared from farmers' fields; Half of the breeds of many domestic animals have been lost. In fisheries, all the world's 17 main fishing grounds are now being fished at or above their sustainable limits, with many fish populations effectively becoming extinct. The genetic erosion of agricultural biodiversity is also exacerbated by the loss of forest cover, coastal wetlands and other 'wild' uncultivated areas, and the destruction of the aquatic environment. This leads to losses of 'wild' relatives, important for the development of biodiversity, and losses of 'wild' foods essential for food provision, particularly in times of crisis. WHAT ARE THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF THE LOSSES OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY?

There are many causes of this decline, which has been accelerating throughout the 20th century in parallel with the demands of an increasing population and greater competition for natural resources. The principal underlying causes include: The rapid expansion of industrial and Green Revolution agriculture, intensive livestock production, industrial fisheries and aquaculture (some production systems using genetically modified varieties and breeds) that cultivate relatively few crop varieties in monocultures, rear a limited number of domestic animal breeds, or fish for, or cultivate, few aquatic species. Globalisation of the food system and marketing, and the extension of industrial patenting and other intellectual property systems to living organisms, which have led to the widespread cultivation and rearing of fewer varieties and breeds for a more uniform, less diverse but more competitive global market. As a consequence there has been: Marginalisation of small-scale, diverse food production systems that conserve farmers' varieties of crops and breeds of domestic animals, which form the genetic pool for food and agriculture in the future. Reduced integration of livestock in arable production, which reduces the diversity of uses for which livestock are needed. Reduced use of 'nurture' fisheries techniques, that conserve and develop aquatic biodiversity. Genetic erosion is the loss of genetic diversity, including the loss of individual genes,102 and the loss of particular combinations of genes (i.e. of gene-complexes ) such as those manifested in locally adapted landraces. The term “genetic erosion” is sometimes used in a narrow sense, i.e. the loss of genes or alleles, as well as more broadly, referring to the loss of varieties. The main cause of genetic erosion in crops, as reported by almost all countries, is the replacement of local varieties by improved or exotic varieties and species. As old varieties in farmers’ fields are replaced by newer ones, genetic erosion frequently occurs because the genes and gene complexes found in the diverse farmers’ varieties are not contained in toto in the modern variety. In addition, the sheer number of varieties is often reduced when commercial varieties are introduced into traditional farming systems. While some indicators of genetic erosion have been developed, according to FAO (1996, 1998) there have been few systematic studies of the genetic erosion of crop genetic diversity which have provided quantifiable estimates of the actual rates of genotypic or allelic extinction in PGRFA. Nearly all countries say, in Country Reports to FAO in 1996, that genetic erosion is taking place and that it is a serious problem. Variety replacement is the main cause of losses. The replacement of local varieties or landraces by improved and/or exotic varieties and species is reported to be the major cause of genetic erosion around the world. It is also cited as the major cause of genetic erosion in all regions except Africa. Examples are mentioned in 81 Country Reports, of which a number are highlighted below. • A survey of farm households in the Republic of Korea showed that of 14 crops cultivated in home gardens, an average of only 26% of the landraces cultivated there in 1985 were still present in 1993. The retention rate did not exceed 50% for any crop, and for two crops it was zero. These results are disturbing as such home gardens have traditionally been important conservation sites, especially for vegetable crops.103 • In China, in 1949, nearly 10,000 wheat varieties were used in production. By the 1970s, only about 1,000 varieties remained in use. Statistics from the 1950s show that local varieties accounted for 81% of production, locally produced improved varieties made up 15% and introduced varieties 4%. By the 1970s, these figures had changed drastically; locally produced improved varieties accounted for 91% of production, introduced varieties 4% and local varieties only 5%. (FAO 1996, 1998)

UK	Agricultural	Biodiversity	Coalition
website.	Comprehensive	coverage	of	all
issues	concerning	agricultural	biodiversity's	sustainable
and	equitable	use,	conservation,	intellectual
property,	genetic

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