This research involves two studies that focus on the role of genetic resource management strategies in increasing resistance to pest and diseases and to climate variability. The first activity involves the evaluation of the effect of genetic choices on farmers’ vulnerability to pest and diseases. Study areas are located in China, Ecuador, Morocco and Uganda. Valuing this effect will enable us to understand: a) farmer’s decision with respect to genetic choice; and b) the interactions between genetic choice and other production and control inputs. This activity is part of a GEF project: “Conservation and Use of Crop Genetic Diversity to Control Pests and Diseases in Support of Sustainable Agriculture”, coordinated by Bioversity International. The team will use its advanced knowledge in valuing crop diversity to complement with the work of Bioversity International on conservation and use of crop diversity.

The second activity will focus on determining how crop biodiversity, as part of a diversified production system, can help in increasing the resilience of small farmers to climate change. Current literature indicates that biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems can help in maintaining productivity by increasing mean yields and reducing yield variability, especially in vulnerable production system. But it focuses on the output of only one crop and a few years. In contrast, our research will explore long run effects of agro-biodiverse systems. The main specific outputs of this projects include: a) a set of tools to guide the research on adaptation to climate change through agricultural biodiversity, b) elements for designing a long term monitoring system of productivity and resilience, c) the definition of research protocols that can be used and adapted to different regions and latitude, and d) proposed policy instruments that can support conservation and management of agricultural biodiversity.

Bolivia, China, Ecuador, Ghana, Morocco, Uganda

This research output focuses on two related topics: a) the identification of a practical approach for evaluation and monitoring of socio-economic impacts of transgenic crops in West Africa, and b) the analysis of gender differences in the observed adoption of transgenic crops in developing economies.

First, building on its previous work on the impact assessment of genetically modified crops, the team plans to work on the adoption and validation of a common approach to the ex-ante and assessment and ex-post monitoring of socio-economic effects of transgenic crops in countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). The selected methodology will be validated in the setting of two case-studies: the potential effects of Bt cotton adoption in Mali, and the actual farm level effects of Bt cotton in Burkina Faso. This activity will generate a validated a ready-to-use methodology, as well as policy findings as to possible improvements to sustain or improve the likelihood of Bt cotton being a successful technology in the region. The second activity will explore gender differences in the adoption of genetically modified crops in developing countries. The overall objective of this study is to identify the social, economic and institutional factors that differentiate women and men’s attitudes and risk perception toward biotechnology. To accomplish this objective, the study will provide insight to the multiple variables that act to influence women and men’s knowledge of biotechnologies, and provide a more comprehensive understanding of how that knowledge may influence their attitude towards agricultural innovation, and ultimately impact their practice or farming techniques. The findings should inform agriculture policy design and encourage gender-sensitive policies that will direct agricultural innovations to women and men farmers equally, for beneficial impacts to the overall economy.

Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania