Challenges in the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources

Abstract

brought together about 200 participants active in research and management of the genetic diversity of plant, animal, fungal and microbial species. Attendees had the rare opportunity to hear about agronomy, botany, microbiology, mycology, the social sciences and zoology in the same conference. The research teams presented the results of about 50 projects funded by the French Foundation for Research on Biodiversity to preserve genetic diversity carried out in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. These projects aimed to better understand and manage genetic resources in a rapidly changing world (e.g. structural changes in the agricultural industry, the need for climate change mitigation and adaptation, the challenge of achieving food security despite the growing world population and changing dietary habits, the opportunities provided by the many new molecular biology tools, the problems caused by widespread scientific budget cuts). The meeting also hosted some roundtables open to all participants which provided a forum to establish a much needed dialogue between policy-makers, managers and researchers.

Seed exchange networks for agrobiodiversity conservation. A review

“…To be successful in the face of global change, management of crop diversity will have to take into account this complexity of interactions. The figure is modified from Pautasso et al (2012) The methods presented can be roughly divided in two subsets. One subset of methods focuses on the generation of data (ethnographic fieldwork, seed release and public good experiments, biogeographical, and landscape genetic studies).…”

“…In developing countries, the importance of agrobiodiversity and local seed systems is likely to further grow, given the forecasted increase in human population, shifts towards urbanized areas and changed environmental conditions (Cleveland et al 1994;Bretting and Duvick 1997;Banilas et al 2009;Abay et al 2011;Jalloh et al 2012). In developed countries, the awareness of the importance of agrobiodiversity is growing, both from a conservation biology point of view and in anticipation of fossil fuel shortages (Fess et al 2011;Rudd 2011b;Tilman et al 2011;Pautasso 2012;Portis et al 2012). Seed exchange is an important, yet poorly understood, factor shaping agrobiodiversity and helping its dynamic conservation.…”

Bioclimatic evaluation of geographical range inFragaria(Rosaceae): consequences of variation in breeding system, ploidy and species age

“…If climatic niches are strongly phylogenetically conserved, species may be unable to adapt or migrate in response to rapidly changing environmental conditions and instead become extirpated from portions of their original ranges (Thomas et al ., ; Wiens, ; Futuyma, ). Understanding the factors that facilitate or constrain niche expansion is especially important for the wild relatives of agricultural species, as many of these are relied upon to sustain the resilience of crop species (Jarvis, Lane & Hijmans, ; Witcombe et al ., ; Ford‐Lloyd et al ., ; Pautasso, ).…”

The intersection of food security and biodiversity conservation: a review

“…''Production via Genetic Resources'' (n = 8) particularly emphasized the importance of particular crops or crop wild relatives (e.g., Dempewolf et al 2014;Pautasso 2012), emphasizing genetic diversity (7 papers), usually within the agricultural crops themselves.…”