Innovative approaches to integrating gender into conventional maize breeding: lessons from the Seed Production Technology for Africa project

Voss, Rachel C.; Cairns, Jill E.; Olsen, Michael; Muteti, Francisca Ndinda; Magambo Kanyenji, George; Hamadziripi, Esnath; Ligeyo, Dickson; Mashingaidze, Kingstone; Collinson, Sarah; Wanderi, Susan; Woyengo, Vincent

doi:10.3389/fsoc.2023.1254595

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Our results contrast with those from a more conventional, gender-disaggregated participatory varietal selection study of amaranth in Tanzania, where female and male farmers' variety preferences were found to be similar (Dinssa et al, 2022). This discrepancy likely results in part from our use of a citizen science-based approach focused on understanding producer and consumer preferences grounded in men's and women's realities (Voss et al, 2023). Our analysis using market segments rather than gender-based disaggregation also illustrates how preferences may vary among women (and among men) according to their production orientation, experience, livelihood portfolio, and other factors.…”

Section: Gender Implicationscontrasting

confidence: 99%

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Citizen science informs demand-driven breeding of opportunity crops

Voss,

de Sousa,

N’Danikou

et al. 2024

Preprint

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CONTEXTOpportunity crops, also known as neglected and underutilized species (NUS), offer benefits to diversify food systems with nutritious and climate-resilient foods. A major limitation to incorporate these crops in farming systems is the lack of improved varieties impedes farmers accessing quality planting material of these crops.OBJECTIVESThe study explored how citizen science methods can support demand-driven breeding and seed production of opportunity crops using leafy amaranth – a nutritious and hardy vegetable- as a case study. The study identified farmer preferences and market segments, with particular attention to gender and social differentiation.METHODSWe used the tricot approach to conduct participatory on-farm trials of 14 varieties with 2,063 farmers from Benin, Mali, and Tanzania. We then analyzed farmer trait and varietal preferences in aggregate and among segments of farmers, generated using cluster analysis.RESULTSFarmers’ overall preferences for amaranth varieties was driven principally by plant survival, yield, leaf size, taste, and marketability. Distinct farmer segments (older women generalists, young women specialists, older men generalists, and young men specialists) preferred different varieties depending on gender, business-orientation.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONThe farmer segments identified here, along with their unique variety preferences provide valuable information for breeders and seed enterprises, and support demand-driven amaranth breeding and seed system development. We specifically noted the need for breeding programs to understand the preferences of young amaranth specialists, both men and women, and to explore organoleptic and market-related properties of amaranth.SIGNIFICANCEOur findings on differentiated producer preferences will support scaling seed supply of amaranth in Africa to diversify farming systems with a climate-resilient and nutritious crop. The methods used and lessons learned from our citizen science exercise can be applied to enhance breeding and seed supply of other opportunity crops that are underutilized in Africa or other continents.HighlightsFarmer citizen science methods reveal seed market insights for opportunity cropsAmaranth variety preferences vary widely across gender, age, and countriesYoung amaranth producers focus on market and sensory traits compared to old producersLarge-scale farmer feedback guides opportunity crop breeding for diverse segments

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Section: Gender Implicationscontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…They assess varieties grown on their own fields with their own tools and inputs, using the labor to which they have access, in the context of their unique needs and constraints. In this regard, the tricot approach is relatively sensitive to gender and social inclusion (Voss et al, 2023).…”

Section: Trial Design and Variety Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Citizen science informs demand-driven breeding of opportunity crops

Voss,

de Sousa,

N’Danikou

et al. 2024

Preprint

Self Cite

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Validating a novel genetic technology for hybrid maize seed production under management practices associated with resource‐poor farmers in Zimbabwe

Hamadziripi,

Collinson,

Voss

et al. 2024

Plants People Planet

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Societal Impact StatementA hybrid maize seed production technology has the potential to reduce the complexity of hybrid seed production and increase seed quality. Here, we investigate the potential impact of this technology on yields when hybrid maize is recycled. Hybrid maize recycling is a practice used by resource‐poor farmers as a coping mechanism during drought years. Recycling hybrid maize produced using this technology could provide a small yet significant yield benefit to resource‐poor farmers when they chose to recycle. This study provides an example of how social considerations can be incorporated into testing strategies of new technologies to ensure equitable benefits.Summary Understanding the performance of new genetic technologies in farmers' real‐world realities, especially those relevant to resource‐poor farmers, is often overlooked but is essential to ensure equitable benefits. A new genetic technology was developed to simplify hybrid maize seed production in sub‐Saharan Africa, thereby improving farmers' access to high‐quality hybrid seed. Hybrids produced with this technology segregate 50:50 for pollen‐producing and non‐pollen producing and are designated 50% non‐pollen producing (FNP). FNP maize has higher yields in low‐input environments. As recycling hybrid maize seed remains a common practice in Zimbabwe, including among resource‐poor households, it is important to understand the impact of recycling FNP seed on the yield gains from the FNP technology. The potential impact of recycling FNP hybrid seed was assessed by testing three seed recycling scenarios on‐station and on‐farm. The extent of hybrid seed recycling and the types of households recycling hybrid maize seed over a 3‐year period were also investigated. Hybrid maize seed recycling was associated with resource‐poor farmers, although it was not continually practiced across years. Yield gains associated with FNP were retained under recycling practices, albeit reduced. The greatest yield benefit was when seed from only non‐pollen‐producing plants was used. Yield gains were associated with longer ears and more kernels per ear. While recycling hybrid maize seed reduces potential yields due to inbreeding depression, in the years when farmers cannot afford to plant hybrid maize only, recycling non‐pollen‐producing hybrid maize seed conferred a yield benefit of 116 kg ha−1.

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The tricot approach: an agile framework for decentralized on-farm testing supported by citizen science. A retrospective

de Sousa,

van Etten,

Manners

et al. 2024

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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Matching crop varieties to their target use context and user preferences is a challenge faced by many plant breeding programs serving smallholder agriculture. Numerous participatory approaches proposed by CGIAR and other research teams over the last four decades have attempted to capture farmers’ priorities/preferences and crop variety field performance in representative growing environments through experimental trials with higher external validity. Yet none have overcome the challenges of scalability, data validity and reliability, and difficulties in capturing socio-economic and environmental heterogeneity. Building on the strengths of these attempts, we developed a new data-generation approach, called triadic comparison of technology options (tricot). Tricot is a decentralized experimental approach supported by crowdsourced citizen science. In this article, we review the development, validation, and evolution of the tricot approach, through our own research results and reviewing the literature in which tricot approaches have been successfully applied. The first results indicated that tricot-aggregated farmer-led assessments contained information with adequate validity and that reliability could be achieved with a large sample. Costs were lower than current participatory approaches. Scaling the tricot approach into a large on-farm testing network successfully registered specific climatic effects of crop variety performance in representative growing environments. Tricot’s recent application in plant breeding networks in relation to decision-making has (i) advanced plant breeding lines recognizing socio-economic heterogeneity, and (ii) identified consumers’ preferences and market demands, generating alternative breeding design priorities. We review lessons learned from tricot applications that have enabled a large scaling effort, which should lead to stronger decision-making in crop improvement and increased use of improved varieties in smallholder agriculture.

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Innovative approaches to integrating gender into conventional maize breeding: lessons from the Seed Production Technology for Africa project

Cited by 4 publications

References 33 publications

Citizen science informs demand-driven breeding of opportunity crops

Citizen science informs demand-driven breeding of opportunity crops

Validating a novel genetic technology for hybrid maize seed production under management practices associated with resource‐poor farmers in Zimbabwe

The tricot approach: an agile framework for decentralized on-farm testing supported by citizen science. A retrospective

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