Genes in the Field. On-farm Conservation of Crop Diversity

f it is now accepted that continued production and use of local cultivars on farms can play a significant role in the conservation of within-species genetic diversity, it must also be acknowledged that methodologies and practices are neither fully understood nor elaborated. Indeed, the concept of onfarm conservation raises an enormous number of largely unresolved questions. There are questions concerning the effectiveness of on-farm management by farmers and local communities as a reliable mechanism for the conservation of specific local cultivars for the larger community of plant breeders and users. There are further questions concerning the role of farmers and the ways in which their needs and interests can be recognized and benefits from their work realized. There are also questions concerning the interplay between conservation and production and the progress of agricultural development. And there are questions about the proper role and relationship of farmers and scientists in crop improvement and diversity conservation endeavors. All of these topics are undergoing scrutiny and lively debate. The views expressed in this volume reflect differences in the authors' backgrounds, experiences, and interests. Those concerned primarily with farmers' needs and interests for maintaining certain production levels and meeting food and income needs may have quite different concerns from those whose focus is on the maintenance of viable and sustainable ecosystems, or those whose interest lies with the maintenance of maximum levels of potentially useful genetic diversity. Exploring and understanding these different concerns is an essential starting point for answering some of the key questions about the implementation of on-farm conservation and the role of local cultivars in sustainable development. This book provides an opportunity for various authors from widely differing backgrounds to explore some of the issues raised by conserving and improving crops in situ. A wide range of expertise and experiences will be needed to develop realistic approaches to conservation on farms. Genetic, ecological, agricultural, social, economic, and legal concerns all have to be considered and integrated in developing practical work plans at international, national, and local levels. In this book, authors with experience in different fields explore some of the problems and possibilities from their perspective. It is no longer necessary to ask whether in situ conservation of crop plants should be undertaken but rather to discuss how, when, and where it is done, and how it might be enhanced. Definite answers may be scarce. Our ambition, however, is to take the discussion a step forward and to provide a framework for discussing the many problems still to be resolved.