DYNAVERSITY project (Horizon 2020)
This DYNAVERSITY publication presents five core concepts for understanding and promoting agrobiodiversity across Europe. It outlines: (1) seeds and plant varieties, contrasting farmer-developed landraces and modern bred varieties; (2) seed networks as complementary formal and informal systems for exchange and diversity maintenance; (3) conservation approaches, distinguishing in situ (on-farm) and ex situ (genebank) strategies and the need for dynamic management; (4) agrobiodiversity governance, including international treaties such as the ITPGRFA and the role of farmers’ rights versus breeders’ rights; and (5) the importance of diverse food and farming systems, invoking food democracy and agroecological approaches. The document aims to provide a common knowledge base on plant genetic resources, strengthen capacities for in situ conservation, and support stakeholder collaboration. It was produced by the DYNAVERSITY project with funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme.
Key topics: agrobiodiversity, plant genetic resources, seed networks, farmers’ rights, ITPGRFA, conservation, agroecology, seed systems
