Tradeoffs between the use of improved varieties and agrobiodiversity conservation in the Sahel
Abstract The issue of sustainable agrifood systems, especially the existence of possible tradeoffs between agricultural intensification (through the use of improved varieties) and agrobiodiversity conservation is of high policy relevance in Sub-Saharan Africa. We measure spatial varietal diversity a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | npj Sustainable Agriculture |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-024-00038-w |
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| _version_ | 1832585425466687488 |
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| author | Abel-Gautier Kouakou Tahirou Abdoulaye |
| author_facet | Abel-Gautier Kouakou Tahirou Abdoulaye |
| author_sort | Abel-Gautier Kouakou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The issue of sustainable agrifood systems, especially the existence of possible tradeoffs between agricultural intensification (through the use of improved varieties) and agrobiodiversity conservation is of high policy relevance in Sub-Saharan Africa. We measure spatial varietal diversity and examine the effects of growing improved varieties of pearl millet and groundnut on varietal diversity on farms in Mali and Niger. We find that the diffusion of improved pearl millet varieties contributes to fewer varieties grown in Niger, whereas it contributes to more varieties grown in Mali. In the case of groundnut, the diffusion of improved varieties does not displace the other varieties grown in Mali and Niger. We conclude that in the case of pearl millet in Niger, it is important to ensure that the number and type of improved varieties released be widened to avoid loss of agrobiodiversity. For groundnut, the diffusion of improved varieties is not harming agrobiodiversity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5f9e7c02d9064edabd5fcb29743e8ec2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2731-9202 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Sustainable Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-5f9e7c02d9064edabd5fcb29743e8ec22025-01-26T12:49:04ZengNature Portfolionpj Sustainable Agriculture2731-92022025-01-01311910.1038/s44264-024-00038-wTradeoffs between the use of improved varieties and agrobiodiversity conservation in the SahelAbel-Gautier Kouakou0Tahirou Abdoulaye1Sahel Africa Hub, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)Sahel Africa Hub, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)Abstract The issue of sustainable agrifood systems, especially the existence of possible tradeoffs between agricultural intensification (through the use of improved varieties) and agrobiodiversity conservation is of high policy relevance in Sub-Saharan Africa. We measure spatial varietal diversity and examine the effects of growing improved varieties of pearl millet and groundnut on varietal diversity on farms in Mali and Niger. We find that the diffusion of improved pearl millet varieties contributes to fewer varieties grown in Niger, whereas it contributes to more varieties grown in Mali. In the case of groundnut, the diffusion of improved varieties does not displace the other varieties grown in Mali and Niger. We conclude that in the case of pearl millet in Niger, it is important to ensure that the number and type of improved varieties released be widened to avoid loss of agrobiodiversity. For groundnut, the diffusion of improved varieties is not harming agrobiodiversity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-024-00038-w |
| spellingShingle | Abel-Gautier Kouakou Tahirou Abdoulaye Tradeoffs between the use of improved varieties and agrobiodiversity conservation in the Sahel npj Sustainable Agriculture |
| title | Tradeoffs between the use of improved varieties and agrobiodiversity conservation in the Sahel |
| title_full | Tradeoffs between the use of improved varieties and agrobiodiversity conservation in the Sahel |
| title_fullStr | Tradeoffs between the use of improved varieties and agrobiodiversity conservation in the Sahel |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tradeoffs between the use of improved varieties and agrobiodiversity conservation in the Sahel |
| title_short | Tradeoffs between the use of improved varieties and agrobiodiversity conservation in the Sahel |
| title_sort | tradeoffs between the use of improved varieties and agrobiodiversity conservation in the sahel |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-024-00038-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT abelgautierkouakou tradeoffsbetweentheuseofimprovedvarietiesandagrobiodiversityconservationinthesahel AT tahirouabdoulaye tradeoffsbetweentheuseofimprovedvarietiesandagrobiodiversityconservationinthesahel |