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Enhancing farmers’ agency in the global crop commons through use of biocultural community protocols

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Halewood

    (Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
    Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT)

  • Ana Bedmar Villanueva

    (Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT)

  • Jazzy Rasolojaona

    (Natural Justice)

  • Michelle Andriamahazo

    (Ministry of Agriculture (MinAgri))

  • Naritiana Rakotoniaina

    (Service d’Appui à la Gestion de l’Environnement (SAGE))

  • Bienvenu Bossou

    (ONG Cercle de Sauvegarde des Ressources Naturelles (CeSaReN))

  • Toussaint Mikpon

    (Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Benin (INRAB))

  • Raymond Vodouhe

    (Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT)

  • Lena Fey

    (ABS Capacity Development Initiative)

  • Andreas Drews

    (ABS Capacity Development Initiative)

  • P. Lava Kumar

    (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA))

  • Bernadette Rasoanirina

    (FaMa Cooperative)

  • Thérèse Rasoazafindrabe

    (FaMa Cooperative)

  • Marcellin Aigbe

    (NGO Jeunesse Sans Frontières)

  • Blaise Agbahounzo
  • Gloria Otieno

    (Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT)

  • Kathryn Garforth

    (Convention on Biological Diversity)

  • Tobias Kiene

    (International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture)

  • Kent Nnadozie

    (International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture)

Abstract

Crop genetic resources constitute a ‘new’ global commons, characterized by multiple layers of activities of farmers, genebanks, public and private research and development organizations, and regulatory agencies operating from local to global levels. This paper presents sui generis biocultural community protocols that were developed by four communities in Benin and Madagascar to improve their ability to contribute to, and benefit from, the crop commons. The communities were motivated in part by the fact that their national governments’ had recently ratified the Plant Treaty and the Nagoya Protocol, which make commitments to promoting the rights of indigenous peoples, local communities and farmers, without being prescriptive as to how Contracting Parties should implement those commitments. The communities identified the protocols as useful means to advance their interests and/or rights under both the Plant Treaty and the Nagoya Protocol to be recognized as managers of local socio-ecological systems, to access genetic resources from outside the communities, and to control others’ access to resources managed by the community.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Halewood & Ana Bedmar Villanueva & Jazzy Rasolojaona & Michelle Andriamahazo & Naritiana Rakotoniaina & Bienvenu Bossou & Toussaint Mikpon & Raymond Vodouhe & Lena Fey & Andreas Drews & P. Lav, 2021. "Enhancing farmers’ agency in the global crop commons through use of biocultural community protocols," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(2), pages 579-594, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:38:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s10460-020-10164-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s10460-020-10164-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. William Lacy, 2023. "Local food systems, citizen and public science, empowered communities, and democracy: hopes deserving to live," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(1), pages 1-17, March.
    2. Manohisoa Rakotondrabe & Fabien Girard, 2021. "Protecting Traditional Knowledge through Biocultural Community Protocols in Madagascar: Do Not Forget the “B” in BCP," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-36, September.

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