Mainstreaming Agricultural Biodiversity
This project mainstreamed the conservation and use of agricultural biodiversity for resilient agriculture and sustainable production, improving livelihoods and the access and benefit sharing capacity of farming communities across four agro-ecoregions.
Project Name (full): Mainstreaming Agricultural Biodiversity to Ensure Ecosystem Services and Reduce Vulnerability
Start and end date: 30th November 2016 – 11th July 2023
Region and Countries: Asia, India
Funders: Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Partners: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
Project Description
The project sought to develop local community-based approaches, together with necessary improved institutional frameworks at national, regional and local levels to ensure enhanced agricultural biodiversity conservation and use, providing better adaptability and resilience to changing climate and enhanced farmer livelihoods. It also strengthened agricultural support systems (research, outreach, extension and market links) for mainstreaming agricultural biodiversity and development in the capacity of national extension and research agencies to undertake work that secures the role of agricultural biodiversity in improving livelihoods and household food and nutrition security. The methodologies and experiences of the project will be valuable internationally and the diversity secured of global significance.
Key Components
- Enable at least 25,000 farmers across four agro-ecoregions covering 120,000 ha in India to maintain and use an increased availability of diversity of 14 crops to enhance adaptation, resilience, and income generation opportunities.
- Develop and support mechanisms for improved coordination and implementation in promoting better mainstreaming of conservation, use, and sharing of crop diversity through relevant policy instruments, regulations, strategies, and plans including access and benefit sharing.
- Improve Agricultural Support Systems (Research, Outreach and Extension), Institutional Frameworks and Partnerships at national, regional and local levels to ensure increased agricultural biodiversity conservation, adaptability, resilience and farmer livelihoods.
Other Project Leader: Sonal Dsouza ([email protected])
Relevant blogs, stories, news coverage
Relevant Publications
- Extent of Adoption Regarding Recommended Cultivation Practices of Landraces by the Beneficiaries of Global Environment Facilities
- Proceedings and Recommendations - National Seminar on Plant Biodiversity for Food Nutrition and Health Security in Nort-west Himalayas
- Rice bean-adzuki bean multitrait near infrared reflectance spectroscopy prediction model: a rapid mining tool for trait-specific germplasm
- Socio-economic status of beneficiaries associated with global environment facilities project
- Knowledge level of farmers regarding recommended cultivation practices of landraces
- Constraints Perceived in Adoption of Landraces by the Beneficiaries of Global Environment Facilities Project
- Farm diversification strategies, dietary diversity and farm size: Results from a cross-country sample in South and Southeast Asia
- Proceedings and Recommendations - 1st National Conference on Plant Genetic Resources Management
- Mining nutri-dense accessions from rice landraces of Assam, India
- Nutritious and Healthful Traditional Cuisine of Uttarakhand Himalayas View more
Project leaders
