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 Plicy (CCAP)/Chinese Acadamy of Sciences (CAS)

1. 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)

2. 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…

3. Resilient Innovation Systems research inquiry framework:
Biocultural Heritage Territories…
Resilient Innovation and adaptation process..

4. 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?

5. 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 …

6. 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 protec
Farmers’ rights, 1 accepted by PC
in Oct 2014
National Farmer Seed Network
2014 11 15
“ ” 2013
12
!1
MCI SEED LAW PROPOSAL
VOL.1
2014’
WORKSHOP

7. Exchange workshop and policy dialogue in April 2014, Beijing
Farmers, scientists, policy makers, for understand, recognition …

8. Farmer Seed Network (china)
农民种子网络
微信公众号：zhongziwangluo
-Formally registered in May 2016 in Beijing!

9. 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 lab
Stone 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 crops
and about 180 native varieties
Why it could survive all the nature
& human changes and disasters?

10. -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 …

11. • 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…

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

13. 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 ….

14. 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. 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….