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For maintaining food security and livelihood, farmers in marginal areas of production environments make use of high levels of crop genetic diversity. The exchange of seed and varieties among villagers, and also the relative isolation of local varieties in their production environments, contributes to the continued existence of locally adapted genotypes. In Tigray, one of the major barley-growing regions of Ethiopia, local varieties and local seed systems are dominant. The annual barley seed requirement is met with seed produced, saved and exchanged by farmers. In order to understand the flows of seed and varieties within and between villages, a study was conducted using a survey to gather information from 130 respondents in seven villages. Seed network analysis was used as an analytical tool to assess flows of seed and varieties and to identify farmers who play different roles in the seed system. Within the major seed exchange network, nodal or connector farmers linked seed subnetworks. The flow within villages was much more dominant than beyond. Rare varieties appeared to be sourced from farms that maintain a broad variety portfolio. Varieties seemed to disseminate informally across farms, in their target environments, following participatory varietal selection. The methodology of social seed network analysis proved to be a powerful tool for monitoring seed and variety flows. Furthermore, it identified farmers as critical partners in the conservation and on-farm management of plant genetic resources, recognized the role of plant breeders in participatory varietal selection and that of seed experts, engaged in strengthening local seed supply and in disseminating quality seed of superior varieties.

A global survey was conducted among a wide range of stakeholders to gain insight into the state of on-farm management (OFM) as a strategy for enhancing the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA). The results show that OFM is not considered a priority in national PGRFA programmes (NPGRPs), and that OFM practitioners and their organizations are not always aware of, or involved in, NPGRPs. The survey also highlighted the lack of awareness, understanding and collaboration between OFM practitioners and the managers and policy-makers associated with NPGRPs. The outcome of the analysis supports a hypothesis that OFM is, to a large extent, supported by stakeholders who are not directly engaged in the conservation and use of PGRFA, and therefore not associated with NPGRPs. This should be taken into consideration when seeking to improve the performance and impact of national programmes, and their commitment to safeguard PGRFA and contribute to food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable agriculture.

Le projet a été réalisé au Niger (pays Zarma-Songhai) à l’aide d’analyses anthropologiques et génétiques, autour de deux axes de recherche : i) l’étude des relations entre la diversité des pratiques agricoles, les flux de gènes entre variétés et l’organisation de la diversité aux niveaux agromorphologique et moléculaire ; ii) l’analyse des relations génétiques entre formes cultivées, sauvages et intermédiaires (soun). Les résultats montrent que les pratiques agricoles favorisent les brassages génétiques entre populations variétales, et la dissémination des soun à l’échelle du village et de la région, via les flux de semences. Ceci expliquerait l’abondance des soun dans les champs de la région. L’absence de différenciation génétique (au niveau des marqueurs moléculaires) entre variétés démontre aussi l’importance quantitative des flux de gènes par le biais des hybridations. Ainsi, la gestion des semences, sans doute moins autarcique qu’auparavant, les pratiques culturales et la forte allogamie du mil conduisent à un processus d’homogénéisation, au niveau régional, des variétés cultivées par les agriculteurs. Il est toutefois difficile de savoir s’il s’agit d’un processus récent. Ce processus aurait pour conséquences une déstructuration rapide des qualités d’adaptation des variétés aux conditions locales, et une augmentation de l’introgression par des gènes des formes sauvages dont la présence des soun est une manifestation. Il pourrait à l’extrême conduire à une « dé-domestication » du mil dans ces régions soumises à des pénuries de production chroniques et donc participer à l’aggravation du phénomène. The project was settled mainly in two localities in West Niger (Zarma-Songhai region). It includes both anthropologic and genetic analyses and aims at: i) studying the relationships between farmers’ practices, gene flow and the organization of diversity at morphological and molecular levels: ii) analysing the genetic relationships between domesticated, wild and intermediate forms (soun) of pearl millet based on their genetic and morphological evaluation at the field level. The purpose was to understand the origin of so-called soun (plants with intermediate domesticated/ wild phenotypes) and to evaluate the level of introgression of cultivated populations by genes from the wild. The results showed that, although diverse, farmer practices favour very large genetic admixture at the village and even regional scale, through important seed flows (seed exchanges and supply networks). A consequence of this is the near-absence of any genetic differentiation (at the molecular level) between populations of the same variety cultivated by different farmers, even in remote villages. Both the abundant seed flows and the existence of a large seed bank in the soil could explain why soun are so abundant in large areas in the region, even where no wild forms are found. Moreover, the very low level of genetic differentiation between different varieties (including between early and semi–late flowering ones) can be used as a proof of the sizeable gene flow through hybridization at the field level (different varieties are often found in the vicinity of each other or even in the same field). Farmers are able to identify the different varieties they grow and to manage them separetely. Nevertheless, different factors act together to lead both to the homogeneization of the cultivated gene pools, and then varieties, at large geographical scales and to the existence of gene flow between domesticated and non domesticated forms of pearl millet. In particular, farmers pressures during the seed selection process cannot be neither strong nor evenly applied due to the scarcity in production. We think also they are probably less strong that they used to be; cultural practices and the largely preponderant outcrossing mating system promote hybridization between different varieties; weeding is not efficient and/or discriminant enough to remote all the soun growing in the field, so that the proportion of these plants can sometimes reach several tens per cent. However, it is difficult to ascertain whether we are facing a recent evolutionary process due to dramatic social and ecological (repeated drought) changes. If this were the case, this could lead to a decrease in the level of adaptation of cultivated populations to their local environment and to an increase in their introgression by genes from the wild. At the end, this could lead to a “de-domestication” of pearl millet in this region that already suffers of scarcity in the production of this crop, reinforcing therefore this situation.

Ziel der Studie 'Online-Befragung von ErhalterInnen seltener Nutztiere oder Nutzpflanzen zu Ihren Aktivitäten und Einstellungen' ist es, erstmalig für Deutschland bzw. den deutschsprachigen Raum diesen Personenkreis zu charakterisieren. Dazu wurde eine Online-Befragung durchgeführt, die sich mit Hilfe von einschlägig bekannten Organisationen gezielt an interessierte Personen richtete. Es konnten detaillierte Erkenntnisse über Einstellungen und Ausgestaltung des Engagements gewonnen werden sowie über Art und Umfang der unmittelbaren Erhaltung seltener Nutzpflanzen bzw. Nutztiere: Es werden verschiedenste Arten und Rassen bzw. Sorten erhalten. Vermarktungsaspekte sind wichtig und 'Erhalten durch Essen' wird einhellig befürwortet. Nur knapp die Hälfte der Befragten schätzt die eigenen Fähigkeiten als ausreichend ein. Unterstützung wird sowohl in Erhaltungsaktivitäten als auch in Vermarktungsfragen gewünscht. Die Ergebnisse bieten Ansatzpunkte, wie der Personenkreis in seinem Bemühen, einen Beitrag zur Erhaltung seltener Nutzpflanzen oder Nutztiere zu leisten, unterstützt werden kann. The goal of the study 'Online Survey of Keepers of rare breeds of domestic animals and cultivated plant varieties about their Activities and Attitudes' is to for the first time characterise this group of persons for Germany and German-language speaking countries. An online survey was carried out with the help of the appropriate associations targeted to these special interest groups. Detailed information on the attitudes and form of involvement could be gained, as well as on the type and extent of the conservation of rare breeds of domestic animals and cultivated plant varieties. Very different species and races, or varieties, are kept. Marketing aspects are important and 'use it or lose it' was unanimously recommended. Only a scant half of those surveyed consider their own abilities as adequate for conservation. Support is desired both in terms of maintenance activities and in marketing questions. The results offer a starting point to show where persons contributing to the maintenance of rare plants or animals can be supported.

Zusammenfassung : Ziel der Studie ’Online-Befragung von ErhalterInnen seltener Nutztiere oder Nutzpflanzen zu Ihren Aktivitäten und Einstellungen’ ist es, erstmalig für Deutschland beziehungsweise den deutschsprachigen Raum diesen Personenkreis zu charakterisieren. Dazu wurde eine Online-Befragung durchgeführt, die sich mit Hilfe von einschlägig bekannten Organisationen gezielt an interessierte Personen richtete. Es konnten detaillierte Erkenntnisse über Einstellungen und Ausgestaltung des Engagements gewonnen werden sowie über Art und Umfang der unmittelbaren Erhaltung seltener Nutzpflanzen beziehungsweise Nutztiere: Es werden verschiedenste Arten und Rassen beziehungsweise Sorten erhalten. Vermarktungsaspekte sind wichtig und ’Erhalten durch Essen’ wird einhellig befürwortet. Nur knapp die Hälfte der Befragten schätzt die eigenen Fähigkeiten als ausreichend ein. Unterstützung wird sowohl in Erhaltungsaktivitäten als auch in Vermarktungsfragen gewünscht. Die Ergebnisse bieten Ansatzpunkte, wie der Personenkreis in seinem Bemühen, einen Beitrag zur Erhaltung seltener Nutzpflanzen oder Nutztiere zu leisten, unterstützt werden kann. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary: The goal of the study „Online Survey of Keepers of rare breeds of domestic animals and cultivated plant varieties about their Activities and Attitudes” is to for the first time characterise this group of persons for Germany and German-language speaking countries. An online survey was carried out with the help of the appropriate associations targeted to these special interest groups. Detailed information on the attitudes and form of involvement could be gained, as well as on the type and extent of the conservation of rare breeds of domestic animals and cultivated plant varieties. Very different species and races, or varieties, are kept. Marketing aspects are important and “use it or lose it” was unanimously recommended. Only a scant half of those surveyed consider their own abilities as adequate for conservation. Support is desired both in terms of maintenance activities and in marketing questions. The results offer a starting point to show where persons contributing to the maintenance of rare plants or animals can be supported.