Approach & Guiding Principles

The work of the Platform includes

  • Supporting the development of linkages and sharing of experiences between organizations and individuals working in different areas of agrobiodiversity research

  • Exchanging information and supporting access to information held by relevant groups, organizations and Platform partners

  • Identifying knowledge gaps and developing research plans to address them

  • Providing discussion fora and creating new knowledge for communities on specific research topics

  • Supporting the preparation of state-of-the-art reviews and synthesis papers

  • Disseminating information to ensure that results of research on agrobiodiversity issues are included in other relevant areas (e.g. health, education, development, environmental protection)

  • Identifying relevant policy issues that would benefit from inputs from the agrobiodiversity research community

  • Making available common methodologies, indicators and protocols

  • Linking different groups to build synergies and strengthen research collaboration (especially the agricultural development and conservation communities)

  • Providing support for the development of new cross-cutting research initiatives on Agrobiodiversity conservation, enhancement and use

  • Providing promotional and educational materials to improve public awareness of the importance of agrobiodiversity.

Guiding Principles

A set of principles will guide the Platform and ensure that it adds value to the global effort  of creating  the knowledge base that is needed to maintan and sustainably use agrobiodiversity . The principles define the strategic role within agrobiodiversity research and serve to guide the Platform’s scope of work and the range of partners the Platform will engage in. The Platform will work in ways and in areas that complement existing work and that ensure its contribution adds qualitatively to the existing agrobiodiversity research effort. It will be particularly concerned with research that:

  • Increases knowledge and understanding of how agrobiodiversity is maintained as an essential resource for sustainable development and well-being.

  • Has potential to be of global significance and influences research and policy agendas on agrobiodiversity.

  • Addresses more than one component, level or element of agrobiodiversity in agro-ecosystems and related ecosystems and examines their interactions.

  • Reflects the importance of wild species in agricultural landscapes (as medicines, food sources, and pollination and key ecosystem functions).

  • Involves farmers and local communities, respects and strengthens their customary knowledge systems and generates tools and findings that can be used by agrarian communities globally,  to improve the management of and increase the benefits from agricultural biodiversity.

  • Links custodians, managers and beneficiaries of agrobiodiversity within ecosystems, across sectors and across similar ecoregions in the developing and developed countries.

  • Integrates global agrobiodiversity issues emphasizing the common and shared responsibly to maintain and secure agrobiodiversity in both the developing and developed countries, with the priority needs of the developing countries

  • Can be used in the global fora to alert stakeholders to trends, emerging policy and scientific challenges and technical opportunities for the conservation, enhancement and the use of agrobiodiversity.

In this way the Platform will seek to ensure that it creates additional value and increased support for the conservation and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity to improve the livelihoods of people and their environments around the world.