Bioversity Impact Assessment Briefs
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Item Mixing methods for holistic project evaluations: revisiting Nepal's home garden project through a qualitative lens(Brief, 2016) Elias, Marlène; Morgan, M.Item Andean ‘lost grains’ in Bolivia and Peru(Brief, 2013) Gotor, Elisabetta; Martin, W.Grown by the ancient civilizations of the Andes, grains such as quinoa, cañihua and amaranth have been staple crops for communities across Bolivia and Peru for over a millennia. Agricultural practices have changed dramatically over the last decade, and poor rural farmers are cultivating these traditional varieties less due to their poor economic competitiveness with global cereal crops, lack of improved varieties, arduous cultivation practices, difficulty of processing, lack of access to market chains and the negative image often associated with Andean grains as ‘food for the poor’. More recently, less nutritious, convenience foods—made of wheat, rice and maize—have rapidly replaced these ancient grains. To reverse the trend of these ‘neglected and underutilized species’ (NUS), falling into disuse, a global effort commenced in 2001 coordinated by Bioversity International. This publication is part of the Bioversity International’s series of Impact Assessment Briefs that aim to inform readers about the major results of evaluations carried out by the centre. The Briefs summarize conclusions and methods of more formal papers published in peer-reviewed journals.Item The impact of Bioversity International’s African leafy vegetables programme in Kenya(Brief, 2010) Gotor, Elisabetta; Irungu, C.An effort by Bioversity and several partners in Kenya increased production, consumption and marketing of a wide range of African leafy vegetables (ALVs) and improved household welfare. Between 1996 and 2004, Bioversity International worked with partners in Kenya to revive the interest of researchers and ordinary people in these valuable foods. An impact assessment study showed that nearly two-thirds of households growing ALVs increased their income from ALVs, while nearly half had increased their consumption of ALVs. Bioversity was ranked as the most influential partner in promoting production and use of ALVs and in raising awareness of the value of ALVs.Item How uncertain policy regulations affect germplasm acquisition and distribution?(Brief, 2010) Gotor, Elisabetta; Caracciolo, FrancescoA study of the impact of the in-trust agreements demonstrated the importance of a clear legal environment for the genebanks. Requests for repatriation of rice germplasm from the International Rice Research Institute peaked in 1994, during the period of uncertainty. This coincided with a period of decline in acquisitions by the genebank. The signing of the in-trust agreements led to a significant decline in repatriation requests. The analysis suggests that the size of the IRRI rice collection could have continued to decline if it were not for the signing of the in-trust agreements. Results moreover confirm the central role of Bioversity and policy research in the negotiations process. Concepts developed during the ITA negotiations contributed towards subsequent multilateral negotiations that eventually culminated in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources.Item The impact of the Musa International Transit Centre(Brief, 2011) Garming, H.; Gotor, Elisabetta; Cherfas, J.This brief presents the findings of a study published in 2010 that documented and assessed the performance of the International Transit Centre for Musa germplasm (ITC) in terms of the conservation and distribution of Musa germplasm. It also analysed the costs of ITC operations, including possible future developments.Item The impact of diversity field forums: improving farmer management of millet and Sorghum in Mali(Brief, 2011) Gotor, Elisabetta; Cherfas, J.The brief summarizes an evaluation of the impact of one participatory research effort known as diversity field forums (DFFs). DFFs bear some similarities to farmer field schools - an approach to improving crop management practices that involves teaching groups of farmers how to solve problems, set priorities and conduct research through facilitated, handson sessions in fields allocated by the farming community. The Forums aim to strenghten the capacity of farmers to understand, analyse and manage their own plant genetic resources by creating a physical space that facilitates the exchange of ideas among farmers, extension agents and researchers and encourages farmers to experiment with different varieties and production approaches. The project, Empowering Sahelian farmers to leverage their crop diversity assets for enhanced livelihood strategies, was funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) from 2005, coordinated by Bioversity International and implemented by a combination of local, national and international organizations. Villagers designed and conducted the field trials, with technical support from project staff, on land that they had set aside for the purpose. Farmers studied both modern varieties and landraces.Item Is cryopreservation a viable method for long-term conservation of coffee biodiversity?(Brief, 2011) Gotor, Elisabetta; Cherfas, J.This brief summarizes the findings of the 2008 study carried out by Bioversity International and its partners that investigated two major issues relating to conservation of coffee germplasm: 1. What are the real threats to and losses of coffee germplasm held globally in field genebanks? 2. How do the costs of cryopreservation compare with those of maintaining coffee field collections for long-term conservation? The study shows that the costs of cryopreservation should not be considered prohibitive to establishing duplicate, back-up collections of coffee. If cryopreservation is adopted as a complement to field genebanks, the costs of cryopreservation must be added to existing costs of field conservation. However, field collections could be reduced and at least partly between cryopreservation and field collection to ensure the longterm, cost-efficient conservation of coffee genetic resources. This study investigated coffee as a test case, but the results are relevant to other species that are difficult to conserve using the traditional method of seed drying and low-temperature storage. The underlying objective of the study was to assess the potential impact of the widespread adoption of cryopreservation for more species and in more genebanks.Item The impact of organic bananas in Alto Beni, Bolivia(Brief, 2012) Garming, H.; Gotor, Elisabetta; Cherfas, J.This Impact Brief reports on an assessment using an asset-based livelihoods approach and carried out in 2009, five years after the end of the project. Overall, about 85% of farm families in the region said their incomes had increased since the end of the project, and the community enterprise grew in terms of both sales and membership. The project clearly initiated and catalyzed the developments that resulted in these outcomes. The impact assessment also identified elements that could be used to strengthen any future similar projects; a greater ongoing investment in the community enterprise, particularly in social and human capital, and decentralization to meet farmers’ preferred methods of working are two examples.Item Evaluating the impact of the Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship Programme(Brief, 2012) Gotor, Elisabetta; Cherfas, J.The Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship Programme awards two fellowships annually to young scientists from developing countries, to enable them to carry out innovative research on the conservation and use of plant genetic resources (PGR). Since 1994, 39 scientists from 24 countries have taken part in the programme. An evaluation of the impact of the Vavilov-Frankel Fellowships (VFF) reveals that overall the VFF Programme has met its stated goals of contributing to the scientific capacity of the Fellows and their home institutes, and of fostering the conservation and use of PGR. The evaluation also indicated ways in which the Fellowship Programme could be improved, and these are now being implemented.Item Medicinal and aromatic plants improve livelihoods in Yemen(Brief, 2012) Gotor, Elisabetta; Cherfas, J.The aim of this brief is to analyze the impact of a set of interventions related to conservation and use of neglected and underutilized species (NUS) on people’s livelihoods. Specifically a simultaneous three-equation model of households’ participation on undertulized crops conservation and income generation activities is applied to evaluate the outcome of a pilot research project implemented by Bioversity International in Yemen between 2002 and 2005. Results generated show a relation between project participation and the perceived yield increase demonstrating the importance for farmers to actively participate in the project’s activities and subsequently apply agronomic practices learnt to improve their livelihood. The generated benefits incentivized farmers to continue to apply the interventions beyond the lifetime of the project ensuring thus a sustainable process in which exogenous interventions, once adopted by farmers become integrant part of farmer’s agronomic practices.Item The effectiveness of knowledge sharing: the case of ProMusa(Brief, 2015) Gotor, Elisabetta; Blundo Canto, Genowefa M.; Vezina, A.In 2013, a study was undertaken to assess the nature and effectiveness of ProMusa from the point of view of its members and subscribers, what outputs are produced and how these are translated into outcomes and disseminated outside the network. The network provides the type and quality of services that its members expect: InfoMus@ and the mailing lists are the most successful service. An efficient and timely service on disease outbreaks and other breaking news is also a fundamental tool for ProMusa’s members and subscribers, and it should be a priority.Item The scientific information activity of Bioversity International: the descriptor lists(Brief, 2011) Gotor, Elisabetta; Alercia, A.; Ramanatha Rao, V.; Watts, J.; Caracciolo, FrancescoEffective sharing of information about genetic resources depends on everyone using the same “dictionary” – which is where the descriptor lists published by Bioversity International and its partners come in. In a 2006 survey 90% or more of respondents stated that descriptor lists published by Bioversity and its partners had contributed to the development of genebank databases, increased uniformity of documentation, increased their ability to work with partners, increased efficiency in collection management, and facilitated data exchange. The utility of Bioversity’s descriptors was rated higher than those from other sources, including UPOV and USDA-GRIN, scoring an average of 3.3 on a 4-point scale. The most common constraint to using Bioversity descriptor lists was the lack of descriptors for a particular species of interest – highlighting the need for Bioversity’s continued involvement in developing additional descriptor lists.Item The history and usefulness of Bioversity International’s descriptor lists(Brief, 2011) Bioversity InternationalEffective sharing of information about genetic resources depends on everyone using the same “dictionary” – which is where the descriptor lists published by Bioversity International and its partners come in. In a 2006 survey 90% or more of respondents stated that descriptor lists published by Bioversity and its partners had contributed to the development of genebank databases, increased uniformity of documentation, increased their ability to work with partners, increased efficiency in collection management, and facilitated data exchange. The utility of Bioversity’s descriptors was rated higher than those from other sources, including UPOV and USDA-GRIN, scoring an average of 3.3 on a 4-point scale. The most common constraint to using Bioversity descriptor lists was the lack of descriptors for a particular species of interest – highlighting the need to develop additional descriptor lists.Item Bioversity International’s Gender Research Fellowship Programme: results and ways forward(Brief, 2015) Thull, D.; Elias, Marlène; Fernández, M.Item Integrating biodiversity and ecosystem services into the economic analysis of agricultural systems(Brief, 2016) Regmi, A.; Rojas Lara, T.; Kleinwechter, U.; Conwell, A.; Gotor, ElisabettaBased on existing literature, this paper outlines the relationships between biodiversity, ecosystem services and food security. It additionally reviews tools which can be used to integrate biodiversity and ecosystem services into analytic frameworks to allow a better understanding of the trade-offs between different agricultural systems and their ecosystem service provisioning, as well as the resulting impact on productivity and human well-being.Item Integrated agricultural research in Malawi(Brief, 2013) Bioversity International; Gotor, ElisabettaAround 50% of Malawi’s rural communities are living in poverty, with 25% still living in ‘ultra poverty’ with high rates of malnutrition. The cultivation of vegetable crops can provide an income, while indigenous vegetables in particular can contribute significantly to vitamin and mineral intake. While the climate is favourable for vegetable production, the lack of quality seed varieties, combined with poor pest and disease deterrents, hinder vegetable cultivation and both production and consumption has remained low. Agricultural research on improving productivity in sub-Saharan countries previously suffered from limited funding and poor intergration of key stakeholders. A more integrated approach has been proposed. With the help of Bioversity International, farmers were trained to conduct research towards improved vegetable production, marketing and ultimately, improved nutrition and incomes. This publication is part of the Bioversity International’s series of Impact Assessment Briefs that aim to inform readers about the major results of evaluations carried out by the centre. The Briefs summarize conclusions and methods of more formal papers published in peer-reviewed journals.Item Date palms in Tunisia a follow-up study(Brief, 2013) Bioversity International; Gotor, ElisabettaOver the millennia, desert dwellers have selected hundreds of different date palm varieties, each with particular characteristics. Currently, a single variety, the deglet nour, is favoured by the international market and is the most predominantly cultivated date palm in Tunisia threatening the long-term survival of alternative varieties and leading to genetic erosion. A Bioversity International project was implemented to encourage the diversification of date palms, as reliance on a single crop could threaten farmers’ future livelihoods if the vulnerable deglet nour were to fail due to pest and disease, or succumb to changes in market forces. This evaluation analyzes what impacts remain from the project 7 years beyond completion, and examines how the economic situation and the agricultural landscape of the farmers has evolved, with a view to determining valuable lessons for future project design. This publication is part of the Bioversity International’s series of Impact Assessment Briefs that aim to inform readers about the major results of evaluations carried out by the centre. The Briefs summarize conclusions and methods of more formal papers published in peer-reviewed journals.Item Home gardens in Nepal(Brief, 2013) Gotor, Elisabetta; Bioversity InternationalHome gardens have traditionally played an important role in the production of food, fodder, fuel, medicines, spices, flowers and building materials throughout Nepal. These small areas of land close to the homestead—often incorporated within a larger farming system—harbour high biodiversity, provide a large share of families food consumption and contribute income. Due to their small size, however, home gardens have been overlooked as a way of improving the nutritional diversity and livelihoods of poor rural communities. The ‘Home Garden Project’ in Nepal, set to turn this around. This publication is part of the Bioversity International’s series of Impact Assessment Briefs that aim to inform readers about the major results of evaluations carried out by the centre. The Briefs summarize conclusions and methods of more formal papers published in peer-reviewed journals.Item Livelihood implications of in situ conservation strategies of wild fruit tree species in Uzbekistan(Brief, 2015) Gotor, Elisabetta; Caracciolo, Francesco; Elias, Marlène; Trincia, C.Throughout 2006 and 2011, Bioversity International has been promoting the conservation and use of plant genetic diversity in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF).After 2013, an impact assessment study was carried out to examine whether the tangible benefits of the Bioversity International project were transferred at the household level, with specific emphasis on Uzbekistan, selected for the country relevance in terms of household characteristics and area covered by the project.In particular, the assessment focused on the effects of the interventions in the activity areas involving the enhancement of use and consumption of target fruits, as well as of their marketing value, to improve household food security and wellbeing.Item Matching Seeds to Needs - female farmers adapt to a changing climate in Ethiopia(Brief, 2014) Gotor, Elisabetta; Fadda, Carlo; Trincia, C.Between 2010 and 2012 Bioversity International worked with partners and stakeholders in Ethiopia to develop an innovative low-cost strategy for managing risks to agricultural systems posed by the adverse effects of climate change. The objective, which the project indeed achieved, was to decrease vulnerability and enhance adaptive capacity in smallholder farming communities by increasing the intraspecific diversity of important food security crops using barley and durum wheat.