Farmers using local livestock biodiversity share more than animal genetic resources: Indications from a workshop with farmers who use local breeds

Abstract

Recognizing the products from farms that use local breeds is key to in situ conservation of local animal biodiversity. Recognition often focuses on a small number of specific breeds or products but could be expanded to include multiple local breeds and products. This paper shows that several farmers who use local breeds can share principles among the multiple dimensions of their farming systems. We analyzed the exchanges among nine farmers who use local breeds on the different dimensions of their farming systems at a workshop held in November 2017. We present the principles they shared and discuss (i) the fact that bringing the principles to the fore requires a collective participatory approach, (ii) the fact that shared principles may also concern dimensions often neglected in livestock farming systems approaches, and (iii) how a collective participatory approach can help recognize the products and activities of farmers who use local breeds.