Bioleft: A Collaborative, Open Source Seed Breeding Initiative for Sustainable Agriculture (original) (raw)
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Ecology and Society, 2018
Experimental spaces for learning about and nurturing processes of social-ecological transformation are of increasing interest; a reflection, in part, of a more interventionist approach to sustainability research and funding. We reflect on our experience in Argentina facilitating a multistakeholder transformative space to identify and discuss agricultural sustainability challenges associated with seed market concentration, and to explore social innovations in the seed sector that can help foster more sustainable pathways of change in agricultural systems. We argue that in facilitating such a process, it is important to understand the diversity of perspectives on the meanings and functions of seed systems, the agricultural sustainability challenges those systems give rise to and of potential solutions, and to work with and from those divergent perspectives to identify areas of actionable consensus or potential affinities between actors who otherwise understand or prioritize agricultural sustainability in different ways. We suggest that ideas for intervention that are able to exploit common ground are more likely to be politically and practically viable. We illustrate this claim with a proposal for an open source seed licensing system, which potentially addresses distinctive concerns about strict intellectual property rules on the part of domestic seed breeders, farmers, rural social movements, and parts of government, who otherwise adopt different perspectives on desired agricultural futures. We suggest that this kind of bridging innovation may help to reconfigure social relations around seed systems in ways that can open up space for more sustainable pathways of agricultural change.
Bioleft: open-source seeds for low-input farming systems
Journal of Fair Trade, 2020
This article describes Bioleft, an ‘open source’, highly collaborative seed breeding initiative, in order to encourage reflection on potential synergies with fair trade ideas and practices. Bioleft aims to develop and redistribute collective agency over seed breeding, as a response to the emergence of an oligopolistic seed industry. It is experimenting with novel approaches to seed innovation that increase the diversity of crop varieties, in order to support agricultural practices that are ignored by mainstream seed firms, particularly small-scale family farming and more ecologically and socially sustainable agricultural practices. More generally it is experimenting with new forms of social and productive organization based on norms of sharing and solidarity.
2020
Scope of the course Resilient seed systems play a central role in sustainable food systems that are robust, dynamic, equitable, diverse, healthy and interconnected. Developing and strengthening these systems offers vital entry points for responding to critical global challenges of climate change, agricultural biodiversity, and sustainable development. Training in participatory breeding and seed system concepts, issues and approaches will support engaged professionals and graduate students to contribute to resilient seed system development. In the Shared Action Framework for Resilient Seed Systems of the Global Alliance of the Future of Food it defined as one the most important actions needed (https://futureoffood.org/wpcontent/uploads/2020/02/Resilient-Seed-Systems-Shared-Action-Framework-English.pdf). This course serves professionals who seek longer-term solutions for sustainable, agro-ecological agriculture and answers to the question: How can food systems be moved forward in the South and the North? Key aspects of this course include: Concepts, strategies, methods and experiences with decentralised and participatory approaches to plant breeding and seed system development to increase agrobiodiversity and cope with climate changes Governance issues such as seed quality control, property rights, co-ownership and benefit sharing Specific approaches for different crop types and socioeconomic contexts Multi-actor approaches, collaborative learning, knowledge sharing and networking approaches to engage food system and value chain actors into participatory plant breeding and resilient seed system programs The interaction of technical solutions and social choices: considering trade-offs and issues of inclusion/social equity and other values Participants This workshop is aimed at PhD candidates, postdocs, and other academics. This course may be of particular interest for programs and partners engaged in seed system development and is supported by Global Alliance for the Future of Food, EU projects LIVESEED and DYNAVERSITY, and the ROOT TUBER AND BANANAS CRP. In the course of 2020, some 40 participants joined this course; 25 followed the full program including the afternoon sessions with group work. Among the participants were practical breeders, MSc students, PhD candidates, postdocs and other professionals. Countries they originated from: 21 Europe, 9 Africa, 4 Asia, 2 Latin Amerika and 3 USA. Besides, we had 17 lecturers from all parts of the world; many of them participated during a large part of or during the whole week, and were also actively involved in the afternoon sessions as source persons/advisors. Local organiser: Graduate School Production Ecology & Resource Conservation (PE&RC) hosted the course (Claudius van de Vijver and Jacqueline Verhoef-te Brake) together with Edith Lammerts van Bueren (Wageningen University and Research-Wageningen, the Netherlands)
2010
Industrial hemp and flax have many uses (paper for hemp, textile for flax, but also fibre incorporation in biocomposites or lime blocks). They are facing great technological expectations with the "Green Future" objectives, both because of sustainable end-uses of hemp and flax and because of their respective sustainable cropping properties. With more than 8000 ha of hemp and 80 000 ha of flax cultivated, France is the biggest European producer. Innovation and hemp valorization is not really taking off (Garnier, Barbier et al., 2007). In order to understand this paradox, this communication proposes to establish a diagnosis, crossing a geographical account and a sociological account of facilities and relationships of innovation based on industrial hemp and flax fibres. From an empirical study on innovation in natural fibres valorization, it aims to stimulate discussion on the specific research approaches for sustainable innovation in agriculture. Among many issues triggered by the technical promise of sustainable innovation, we acknowledge for a lack of specific intermediaries (Howells, 2006) to set up organizational forms and combinative capabilities (Kogut and Zander, 1992) for innovative design. Based on interpretative analysis of the observed dynamics in socioeconomic order of Natural Fibres Transformation (Aggeri and Hatchuel, 2003), our communication proposes a scientific discussion of-organizational innovation processes, contrasting with Cohen and Levinthal (1990). This type of actors seems to represent the missing link to entrepreneurships in new configurations of sustainable development.
Innovation-Sustainability Nexus in Agriculture Transition: Case of Agroecology
Open Agriculture 4: 1-16, 2019
Different governments and international organizations have shown interest in agroecology as a promising pathway for transition to sustainable agriculture. However, the kinds of innovation needed for agro-ecological transition are subject to intense debate. The scale of this debate is itself an indicator of the complicated relation between innovation and sustainability in the agro-food arena and beyond. This review paper analyses the potential of agro-ecology in agricultural sustainability transitions. It also explores whether agro-ecological transition is a sustainable innovation (cf. ecological, green, open, social, responsible). Furthermore, the paper investigates the potential contribution of agro-ecological transition to sustainability, using the 3-D (Direction, Distribution and Diversity) model of the STEPS centre. Agroecology is one of the few approaches that can harmoniously combine innovation and sustainability in agriculture while promoting genuine transition to agro-food sustainability since it embraces all dimensions of sustainability (environmental, economic, social/cultural/ethical). Nevertheless, it can be taken for granted neither that all traditional practices can be classified as ‘agro-ecological’ nor that all farmer-led innovations can be included in the agro-ecological repertoire. Moreover, the relationship between the three aspirations of agroecology (science, movement and practice) needs further elaboration in order to maximise potential for agriculture transition.
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The two strategic documents for the future of Europe post 2020 (Green Deal) and agriculture in Europe (From Farm To Fork) recognize the important role of knowledge and innovation systems in accelerating change towards food sustainability. Researchers and advisors, together with the other actors of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System, have the mandate to cooperate more closely to support all on this transition path. This includes stronger and more structured networking, increased information sharing and using digital tools to this effect. The proposed text aims to clarify how a systemic and interactive approach acts towards the above strategic aims in a more effective way, starting from what has already been achieved in this European programming period 2014-2020. A specific focus will be assigned to the EIPAGRI initiative, to its first results and to its possible evolution.
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The transition towards a sustainable bio-based society is one of the big global challenges of today. It envisions a ‘greening’ of agriculture, energy and industry and even a ‘second’ industrial revolution. Besides opportunities, it also involves challenges, such as tensions between food versus fuel versus nature or concerns over GMOs. They must be timely and effectively addressed to ensure public commitment and support. A number of key issues or concepts are involved that may act as sources of inspiration, but also as items for uneasiness and contestation. This project aimed to clarify and effectively address them through multiple-stakeholder, mutual learning exercises, turning them into sources of orientation and inspiration rather than obstacles. Notably, four key issues are involved: 1) Sustainability; 2) Naturalness; 3) Credibility; 4) Global justice. By focussing on these issues, the project aimed to understand and address the conceptual and normative dimensions of complex chain collaborations in the agro-food and adjacent bio-economy sectors, and to contribute to a paradigm shift towards open innovation. Food and other applications of biomass is not only about animals and plants, but first and foremost about people: their ideas and their concerns. Technically feasible innovations often require complex negotiations with policy and society and call for multiple stakeholder processes involving multiple moral languages and value systems. To forego confusion and collision, these must be voiced and addressed through mutual exposure and interdisciplinary collaboration, involving stakeholders from science, industry, governance and civil society. Our tools: 1) Interactive research, 2) Conceptual analysis, 3) Case study analysis.
Making a Place for Alternative Technologies: The Case of Agricultural Bio‐Inputs in Argentina
REVIEW OF POLICY RESEARCH , 2020
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ropr.12384 This article characterizes the ways in which the actors in charge of designing and implementing public policies intervene to promote the emergence of alternatives to problematic technologies. It is based on a case study conducted in Argentina that focuses on initiatives to promote the development of biological agricultural inputs in the context of increasingly controversial chemical inputs. The study spotlights the political, institutional, and semantic efforts made by policy makers and public administrations to ensure these new inputs find their way into organizations and onto their agendas. Their work consists in attenuating the boundaries between chemical and biological inputs, and reducing opposition by creating categories and organizations that downplay potential dissension and highlight the possible coexistence of technological paradigms. Contrary to what the injunctions of technological substitution suggest, we show that putting alternative technologies on the public agenda depends largely on their inclusion in institutional and regulatory infrastructures originally designed for technologies that are likely to decline. More broadly, it relies on the construction of continuity between the two types of technologies.