Resilient seed systems: Handbook
This book (PDF) by Bioversity International and CCAFS-CGIAR is a tool that supports research and capacity building on resilient seed systems in the context of adaptation to climate change. When supportive policy and socioeconomic conditions exist, a diversity of seed production and distribution practices makes up a resilient seed system. Such strengthened adaptive capacity can contribute to greater food availability, with more nutritious and healthy crops, income generation and a sustainable resource base. This book advises how countries can design and implement a comprehensive capacity-building strategy to access and use crop diversity more effectively to adapt to climate change in specific sites. The modules of the handbook represent steps of a participatory research cycle from situational analysis to knowledge sharing and communication: 1) Situational analysis and planning; 2) Software selection and preparation of data; 3) Climate change analysis and identification of germplasm; 4) Germplasm acquisition; 5) Field-testing; 6) Seed production and distribution; 7) Germplasm conservation; 8) Participatory evaluation; 9) Knowledge sharing and communication. In the end. resilient seed systems should be able to absorb disturbances, regroup or reorganize. They should result from multiple seed and knowlede interactions and are demand driven and responsive to different needs and interests. A resilient seed system recognizes, respects and support the key roles played by women farmers as seed custodians, managers, networkers and entrepreneurs.