Biocultural Heritage Territories and the in situ conservation of plant genetic resources:

China Case, from PPB to Farmer Seed Network

Yiching Song

Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy (CCAP) Chinese Academy of Science (CAS)

Principle of Order

(creation)

Principle of Reciprocity (Balance)

CL: Moral and Ethical Principles and Norms

that everyone is obliged to embody in daily life

Indigenous communities’ world view , principles/values…

Resilient Innovation Systems research inquiry framework: 

Biocultural Heritage Territories…Resilient Innovation and adaptation process..

China continue farming until now, Supporting 22% people with 7% land, water. in the World …

Adaptive capacity, Resilience… -over 4000 years farming history, 2000 years small scale intensive farming economy…continue feed the big, growing population, adapting to all the changes…. Until now.. 1.3 billion of population, 80% farmers -Modern Agriculture started only on 1960s,half decade, resulted in big problems & crisis….

Seeds/biodiversity! Bio-culture Heritage!

Growing needs, concerns, actions and policies ….

Why so? What we should and can do?

From PPB to Farmer Seed Network (FSN)

PPB in SW China, since 2000-----until now

--Linking two complementary seed systems…..

• Seed registeration, seed ban, exchange,

• PVS, PPB • Seed production• Value adding • Exchange, interaction,

innovation and adaptation…..

-Pre-breeding, in field and lab Genetic evaluation and -landraces conservation and improvement -PPB selection and breeding-training, exchange, recognition and supporting …

Dec 2013,involving 22 rural communities, 4 public Agriculture R Org (CAAS,CAS) 2 Universities, NGOs, TWN,MOA, MOE,

-Farmer seed conservation, on farm management and Management, PVS, PPB.. Info and Seed exchange and sharing among farmers and with scientists

-multi stakeholders policy dialogue…3 Suggestions for “seed law” Revision to protecFarmers’ rights, 1 accepted by PC in Oct 2014

National Farmer Seed Network

Exchange workshop and policy dialogue in April 2014, BeijingFarmers, scientists, policy makers, for understand, recognition …

Farmer Seed Network (china)农民种子网络微信公众号： zhongziwangluo

-Formally registered in May 2016 in Beijing!

9

石头城农民传统文化和种子交易会

Farmers TK System

农民系统

poor and remote area

OPVs and landraces,

seed selection and maintenance

Farmer to farmer seed exchange

better off green revolution area

several high yielding hybrids

hybrid breeding,

top-down formal seed system Technology transfer,

Formal System

Farmers farmers

Farmers farmers

Farmers farmers

Farmers farmers

Breeders

Seed Company

Extension

farmers farmers farmers

Living labStone Village in Yunan, SW China:• Naxi people’s early settlement and spiritual homeland, over 1500 years

• Home of 220 Naxi families from 6 natural villages

• sitting on a rocky mountain overlooking Yangtze river

• With a history of 1400 years of terrace farming, with a old water irregation system…

• a biodiversity hotspot, with over 20 local staple food cropsand about 180 native varieties

Why it could survive all the nature & human changes and disasters?

-Naxi bio-culture heritage Terries,People, diversified Livelihood, food, crops,Landscape,

-Culture Values, belief is the core base for bio-culture innovation for adaptation….

--Yet, this bio-culture heritage is threatened

--Need recognition and support for revitalization …

• Farmer-Farmer exchange and networking

• Farmer- scientists Exchanges and mutual

support! •

Recognize and support Bio-Culture Heritage and linking with SK systems for resilience and adaptation

• Working with thousands such living lab for adaptation, resilience and continue…

Community Seed Bank Establishing and link to public gene banks in YAAS and KIB…….

Collective Bio-Culture Heritage and linking with SK systems

-

s

Scientists from multiple-disciplines need to work together with farmers to understand & systematically support Farmer Seed Network to enhance bio-culture heritage

-Farmers’ seed system is a base for bio-culture heritage system, a base for sustainability and adaptation, yet it is badly threatened ….

FAO global level, recognition of small farmers' role and contributions, even Farmers' Rights are in place. e.g. “Voluntary Guide on National Seed Policy Formulation”, GIHAS, Agro-ecology, IPM…are quite supportive and helpful…

• But national policies/laws are still weak or absent in terms of recognising farmers' systems in conservation and sus use.

How to enhance Conserve bio-culture heritage territeries and Current and Potential GIHAS?

15

石头城农民传统文化和种子交易会

Farmers TK System

农民系统

better off green revolution area

several high yielding hybrids

hybrid breeding,

top-down formal seed system Technology transfer,

Farmers farmers

Farmers farmers

Farmers farmers

Farmers farmers

Breeders

Seed Company

Extension

farmers farmers farmers

Living lab-Scaling out and up• South-South, South –North policy and theory

exploration and linkage

• South-South (community to community) Cooperation,

• Network of Biocultural Heritage Sites, Mountain Communities Network, Mountain GIHAS in China and Beyond…

• Community Seed Banks Network….