Farmer seed networks make a limited contribution to agriculture? Four common misconceptions

Oliver Coomes; Shawn McGuire; Eric Garine; Sophie Caillon; Doyle McKey; Elise Demeulenaere; Devra Jarvis; Guntra Aistara; Adeline Barnaud; Pascal Clouvel; Laure Emperaire; Selim Louafi; Pierre Martin; Francois Massol; Marco Pautasso; Chloe Violon; Jean Wencelius

doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2015.07.008

Farmer seed networks make a limited contribution to agriculture? Four common misconceptions

Oliver Coomes (Lead Author), Shawn McGuire (Lead Author), Eric Garine, Sophie Caillon, Doyle McKey, Elise Demeulenaere, Devra Jarvis, Guntra Aistara, Adeline Barnaud, Pascal Clouvel, Laure Emperaire, Selim Louafi, Pierre Martin, Francois Massol, Marco Pautasso, Chloe Violon, Jean Wencelius

School of Global Development

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196 Citations (SciVal)

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Abstract

The importance of seed provisioning in food security and nutrition, agricultural development and rural livelihoods, and agrobiodiversity and germplasm conservation is well accepted by policy makers, practitioners and researchers. The role of farmer seed networks is less well understood and yet is central to debates on current issues ranging from seed sovereignty and rights for farmers to GMOs and the conservation of crop germplasm. In this paper we identify four common misconceptions regarding the nature and importance of farmer seed networks today. (1) Farmer seed networks are inefficient for seed dissemination. (2) Farmer seed networks are closed, conservative systems. (3) Farmer seed networks provide ready, egalitarian access to seed. (4) Farmer seed networks are destined to weaken and disappear. We challenge these misconceptions by drawing upon recent research findings and the authors’ collective field experience in studying farmer seed systems in Africa, Europe, Latin America and Oceania. Priorities for future research are suggested that would advance our understanding of seed networks and better inform agricultural and food policy.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	41-50
Number of pages	10
Journal	Food Policy
Volume	56
Early online date	12 Aug 2015
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2015.07.008
Publication status	Published - Oct 2015

Keywords

Seed supply
Farmer seed systems
Crop genetic resource management
Informal seed sector
Planting material circulation
Social networks

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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196 Citations (Scopus)
1 Article

Seed exchange networks for agrobiodiversity conservation. A review
Pautasso, M., Aistara, G., Barnaud, A., Caillon, S., Clouvel, P., Coomes, O. T., Delêtre, M., Demeulenaere, E., De Santis, P., Döring, T., Eloy, L., Emperaire, L., Garine, E., Goldringer, I., Jarvis, D., Joly, H. I., Leclerc, C., Louafi, S., Martin, P., Massol, F., & 6 othersMcGuire, S., McKey, D., Padoch, C., Soler, C., Thomas, M. & Tramontini, S., 1 Jan 2013, In: Agronomy for Sustainable Development. 33, 1, p. 151-175 25 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

184 Citations (SciVal)

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Coomes, O., McGuire, S., Garine, E., Caillon, S., McKey, D., Demeulenaere, E., Jarvis, D., Aistara, G., Barnaud, A., Clouvel, P., Emperaire, L., Louafi, S., Martin, P., Massol, F., Pautasso, M., Violon, C., & Wencelius, J. (2015). Farmer seed networks make a limited contribution to agriculture? Four common misconceptions. Food Policy, 56, 41-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2015.07.008

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abstract = "The importance of seed provisioning in food security and nutrition, agricultural development and rural livelihoods, and agrobiodiversity and germplasm conservation is well accepted by policy makers, practitioners and researchers. The role of farmer seed networks is less well understood and yet is central to debates on current issues ranging from seed sovereignty and rights for farmers to GMOs and the conservation of crop germplasm. In this paper we identify four common misconceptions regarding the nature and importance of farmer seed networks today. (1) Farmer seed networks are inefficient for seed dissemination. (2) Farmer seed networks are closed, conservative systems. (3) Farmer seed networks provide ready, egalitarian access to seed. (4) Farmer seed networks are destined to weaken and disappear. We challenge these misconceptions by drawing upon recent research findings and the authors{\textquoteright} collective field experience in studying farmer seed systems in Africa, Europe, Latin America and Oceania. Priorities for future research are suggested that would advance our understanding of seed networks and better inform agricultural and food policy.",

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Coomes, O, McGuire, S, Garine, E, Caillon, S, McKey, D, Demeulenaere, E, Jarvis, D, Aistara, G, Barnaud, A, Clouvel, P, Emperaire, L, Louafi, S, Martin, P, Massol, F, Pautasso, M, Violon, C & Wencelius, J 2015, 'Farmer seed networks make a limited contribution to agriculture? Four common misconceptions', Food Policy, vol. 56, pp. 41-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2015.07.008

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AU - Coomes, Oliver

AU - McGuire, Shawn

AU - Garine, Eric

AU - Caillon, Sophie

AU - McKey, Doyle

AU - Demeulenaere, Elise

AU - Jarvis, Devra

AU - Aistara, Guntra

AU - Barnaud, Adeline

AU - Clouvel, Pascal

AU - Emperaire, Laure

AU - Louafi, Selim

AU - Martin, Pierre

AU - Massol, Francois

AU - Pautasso, Marco

AU - Violon, Chloe

AU - Wencelius, Jean

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N2 - The importance of seed provisioning in food security and nutrition, agricultural development and rural livelihoods, and agrobiodiversity and germplasm conservation is well accepted by policy makers, practitioners and researchers. The role of farmer seed networks is less well understood and yet is central to debates on current issues ranging from seed sovereignty and rights for farmers to GMOs and the conservation of crop germplasm. In this paper we identify four common misconceptions regarding the nature and importance of farmer seed networks today. (1) Farmer seed networks are inefficient for seed dissemination. (2) Farmer seed networks are closed, conservative systems. (3) Farmer seed networks provide ready, egalitarian access to seed. (4) Farmer seed networks are destined to weaken and disappear. We challenge these misconceptions by drawing upon recent research findings and the authors’ collective field experience in studying farmer seed systems in Africa, Europe, Latin America and Oceania. Priorities for future research are suggested that would advance our understanding of seed networks and better inform agricultural and food policy.

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KW - Farmer seed systems

KW - Crop genetic resource management

KW - Informal seed sector

KW - Planting material circulation

KW - Social networks

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DO - 10.1016/j.foodpol.2015.07.008

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VL - 56

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EP - 50

JO - Food Policy

JF - Food Policy

SN - 0306-9192

ER -

Farmer seed networks make a limited contribution to agriculture? Four common misconceptions

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Research output

Seed exchange networks for agrobiodiversity conservation. A review

Cite this