STRATEGIES FOR BIODIVERSE PRODUCTS THE APPROACH
Transcript of STRATEGIES FOR BIODIVERSE PRODUCTS THE APPROACH
Whyavalorisationstrategy?
The enhancement of agrobiodiversity builds on thesocial acknowledgment of its multiple values(environmental, ethical and cultural values), in all theirmanifestations, from the agro-ecological systems to thediet patterns. In this regard, the appreciation of the‘diversefoodproducts’intheconsumptionpracticesiscrucial.
TheDIVERSIFOODprojecthasconsideredthepromotionandvalorisationoftheseproductsinthemarketasanintegralpartofabroader,collectiveactionaimedatstrengtheningandpromotingthewhole production-consumption systems based on more diverse genetic resources, thusguaranteeingtheirsustainableuse.
Thedefinitionandimplementationofavalorisationstrategyisthereforeconsideredasamulti-actor process, based on the interaction among the various actors involved in breeding, farming,processing and consumption of the final products. Connection with similar pathways may offerfurtheropportunitiestobroaderactionsofagrobiodiversityvalorisation.
Amulti-actorandmulti-dimensionalprocess
DIVERSIFOOD has described the valorisation strategy as composed of five action areas closelyinterdependent:• mobilisation of genetic resources: actions aimed at knowing and managing the varietiesrelevant for local farming and consumptionsystems;
• definitionofspecificquality:actionstoidentifyandcodifytheattributesofdiverseproducts;
• marketing and communication: choices andtools to manage products in the market andconvey values embodied in products andproductionssystems;
• integration with other projects: inter-connections with other projects/strategies, atlocalandbroaderscale;
• effectiveness and sustainability: capacity ofthe initiatives to contribute to agrobiodiversityenhancement,andtolastovertime.
DIVERSIFOOD INNOVATION FACTSHEET #12, February 2018
ATFIRSTGLANCE
Themarketvalorisationof‘diversefoodproducts’iscrucialtoincreasediversityinfarmingsystems.Itinvolvesmultiple
actors,fromthefieldtothetable,andrequiresanintegrated
approachtotakeintoaccountseveraldimensionsinvolved.
BUILDINGVALORISATIONSTRATEGIESFORBIODIVERSEPRODUCTS–THEAPPROACH
The valorisation strategy is also seen as a multi-dimensional process. Understanding thefunctioningofeachstageofthevalorisationprocessandthewaysitcaneffectivelyworkimpliestotakeintoconsiderationseveralaspects:
•technicalities and knowledge around theimplementation of activities and processes that arecompletelyortoacertainextentnew;
•organisationalissuesassociatedwiththe-interactionamongthevariousactorsinvolved;
•institutional elements mobilised to manage thevariousactivities;
•political and legislativeaspects that affect activitiesandprocesses;
• social and cultural aspects involved in the severalprocessesthattakeplaceinthevalorisationstrategy;
• economic conditions where the new activities andprocessescanwork.
Studiedinitiatives
DIVERSIFOODhasdevelopedfivecasestudies,chosenasexamplesofvalorisationstrategiesinFrance,UKand Italy.Theyareallmarketing initiatives forbreadproducedusing landraces/oldwheatvarieties/newlybreedwheatvarietiesthroughparticipatorybreeding:
• ITALY: three regional initiatives, involvingnetworks of farmers and processors, incooperation with Rete Semi Rurali, engagedaround cultivation of old wheat varieties,landracesandpopulations,andtraditionalbreadmaking. Participatory breeding, production ofbreadwithhealthyproperties, shortchainsandterritorial embeddedness characterise theseinitiatives.
• FRANCE: a national programme, financed by public funds, involving a wide networkincluding farmers gathered into local farmers' association belonging to Réseau SemencesPaysannes. The aim is developingnewpopulation-varieties adapted to organic agriculture,free of intellectual property, farmer-managed, suitable for producing healthy flour andbread.
• UK:promotiononthemarketofproductsderived fromahugelydiversewheatpopulationthatistheresultofanevolutionarybreedingprogrammestarted15yearsagotoproduceapopulation suited for organic and low-input farming systems. Despite the long breedingprocess,theinitiativeisatanearlystage,thusthenumberofactorsinvolvedisstillsmallandthemarketchannelsarerelativelyundeveloped.
SuggestedreadingsBrunori, G., Rossi A., D’Amico S. (2018) A Comprehensive and participatory approach to the valorisation of biodiverseproducts,inA.Isoni,M.Troisi,M.Pierri(eds)FoodDiversitybetweenRights,DutiesandAutonomies.LegalPerspectivesforaScientificCulturalandSocialDebateontheRighttoFoodandAgroecology,LITES,vol.2,Basel,CH:SpringerInternationalPublishingAG;MargretWill(2008)PromotingValueChainsofNeglectedandUnderutilizedSpeciesforPro-PoorGrowthandBiodiversityConservation.GuidelinesandGoodPractices,GlobalFacilitationUnitforUnderutilizedSpecies(GFU),Rome.
This Innovation Factsheet is the result of the collectivework of DIVERSIFOOD partners, coordinated by AdanellaRossiandSimonaD'Amico(UNIPI)withthesupportofBernadetteOehen(FiBL)andTinaKovács(ÖMKI).