In search of biohappiness (full article)

Professor M.S. Swaminathan, World Food Prize laureate and Father of the Green Revolution in Asia, chose the headquarters of Bioversity International outside Rome to launch his new book, In Search of Biohappiness.

“Biohappiness,” he explained, “is happiness coming from the sustainable and equitable use of natural resources for more jobs and incomes.” This, he says, is a deliberately counterpoint to other “bio” words, such as bio-piracy and bio-terrorism.

Emile Frison, Director General of Bioversity International, agreed that the book was a welcome and optimistic wake-up call. “But,” he cautioned, “unless this wake-up call is heard and acted upon, we risk moving towards a tsunami of biosadness”.

In his remarks, Professor Swaminathan drew on a lifetime’s experience working not only in the laboratory but also  among mangroves, in rainforests, and particularly with poor people in his native India. He pointed out the irony that many of the places richest in biodiversity are occupied by some of the poorest people, and pointed to examples of the kind of work that creates biohappiness.

In the Kolli Hills of Tamil Nadu, for example, the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation  [2] and Bioversity International have been working together for many years to revitalize the cultivation of minor millets  [3].

This project, supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)  [4] has shown that these crops can deliver better incomes and nutrition, at the same time as being more environmentally sustainable.

“People call these minor millets,” he said, “but really they should be called nutritious millets.”

While the details may vary from place to place, Professor Swaminathan noted that the wider use of agricultural biodiversity has global potential for improving nutrition and increasing incomes.

“Agricultural biodiversity is the basis of more resilient farming systems, which we will increasingly need to cope with climate change.”

Professor Swaminathan also drew repeated attention to the importance of traditional knowledge and, in particular, the wisdom accumulated by generations of women, who are often the driving force behind the conservation and use of agricultural biodiversity.

In conclusion, Emile Frison said how honoured he had been that Perofessor Swaminathan chose Bioversity to launch his book.

“We have always worked closely together, and this important new book contains so many good ideas for future research to make wider use of agricultural biodiversity.”