Abstract
Calvet-Mir, L., M. Calvet-Mir, J. Luis Molina, and V. Reyes-García. 2012. Seed exchange as an agrobiodiversity conservation mechanism. A case study in Vall Fosca, Catalan Pyrenees, Iberian Peninsula. Ecology and Society 17(1): 29. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-04682-170129
Highlights
Throughout the last few years, interest in possible ways to stop the loss of crop genetic diversity, or agrobiodiversity, has increased
We focus on the exchange of seeds and seedlings among 55 home garden keepers who grow a total of 62 home gardens in Vall Fosca (Catalan Pyrenees)
We focus on home gardens because previous research has highlighted the importance of home gardens in the maintenance of plant genetic resources (Agelet et al 2000, Sunwar et al 2006, Perrault-Archambault and Coomes 2008, Calvet-Mir et al 2011) and has underlined the link between agrobiodiversity in situ conservation and seed exchange in home gardens (Ban and Coomes 2004)
Summary
Throughout the last few years, interest in possible ways to stop the loss of crop genetic diversity, or agrobiodiversity, has increased. Researchers have highlighted the importance of agrobiodiversity in situ conservation for four main reasons. In situ conservation is a dynamic mechanism by which new genetic resources are created (Louette et al 1997), allowing the adaptation of the crops to changing environmental conditions (Altieri et al 1987, Altieri and Merrick 1987). This conservation mechanism is tied to food safety and sustainable food production, since adapted crops have low dependence on external inputs like pesticides or fertilizers (Prescott-Allen and Prescott-Allen 1982, Altieri and Merrick 1987). Agrobiodiversity in situ conservation allows for the creation and conservation of other agroecosystem active components such as social networks (Zimmerer 2003)
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