Seeds of resilience: novel strategies for using crop diversity in climate change adaptation

Abstract

Findings from the field point to a decline in diversity of local varieties in many countries. Future impacts of climate change are expected to become more pronounced in many parts of the world forcing farmers to change their practices and find crops and varieties better adapted to new weather dynamics. Providing farmers with better access to crop and varietal diversity can strengthen their capacity to adapt to climate change. Under supportive policy and socioeconomic conditions, such strengthened capacity could contribute to greater food availability throughout the year, the production of more nutritious and healthy crops, and income generation. Bioversity International and national research partners are implementing a comprehensive seed resilience strategy allowing farmers to access and use plant genetic diversity more effectively in the context of climate change adaptation. The strategy combines the use of climate and crop modelling tools and participatory research methods. Countries where the strategy has been piloted include Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Guatemala, India, Madagascar, Nepal, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.