Resources

Mancini, C. et al (2017) Joining smallholder farmers’ traditional knowledge with metric traits to select better varieties of Ethiopian wheat. Nature's Scientific Reports.

Steinke, J., van Etten, J., Zelan, P.M. (2017) The accuracy of farmer-generated data in an agricultural citizen science methodology. Agronomy for Sustainable Development. 

Kidane, Y.G., et al (2017) Genome wide association study to identify the genetic base of smallholder farmer preferences of Durum wheat traits. Frontiers in Plant Science 

Beza E, et al. (2017) What are the prospects for citizen science in agriculture? Evidence from three continents on motivation and mobile telephone use of resource-poor farmers. PLOS ONE 12(5): e0175700 

Steinke, J., van Etten, J. (2017) Gamification of farmer-participatory priority setting in plant breeding: Design and validation of “AgroDuos”. Journal of Crop Improvement. 356-378.

Mengistu D, et al. (2016) High-density molecular characterization and association mapping in Ethiopian durum wheat landraces reveals high diversity and potential for wheat breeding. Plant Biotechnol J, 14: 1800–1812

Van Etten J, et al. (2016) First experiences with a novel farmer citizen science approach: crowdsourcing participatory variety selection through on-farm triadic comparisons of technologies (tricot). Experimental Agriculture, 1-22

Farmer experimentation for climate adaptation with triadic comparisons of technologies (tricot) A methodological guide

Adaptacion climatica mediante ensayos en finca: Evaluacion Participativa Masiva (EPM) Guia metodologica

Collecting weather data in the field with high spatial and temporal resolution using iButtons

A Seed Resource Box to help farmers adapt to climate change

Forgotten crop strains can rescue drought-stricken economies (Financial Times)
An opinion piece authored by Dr. Carlo Fadda.  This article is behind a paywall.

Farming Matters (BBC Radio 4)
Dr. Carlo Fadda reports from the field in Ethiopia

Traditional knowledge from the past could drive molecular plant breeding of the future (Anthropocene Magazine)
Focusing on Ethiopia, a group of Italian and Ethiopian researchers have discovered that farmers’ traditional crop knowledge can help plant breeders to pinpoint beneficial genetic traits in wheat plants. In turn, that could enable them to breed resilient and productive varieties that are tailored to farmers’ specific needs.

Can ancient Ethiopian wheat varieties provide resistance to stem rust? (Süddeutsche Zeitung)
Bioversity International scientist Carlo Fadda explains how Ethiopian durum wheat offers a unique and not fully explored source of genetic diversity that can provide resistance to diseases and climatic stresses. Interview in German and French

La ricerca più bella del decennio (La Repubblica)
Genome Wide Association Study to Identify the Genetic Base of Smallholder Farmer Preferences of Durum Wheat Traits è un capolavoro. Dall'introduzione ai ringraziamenti finali, riflette esattamente le intenzioni della ricerca, rispetta la dignità e l'intelligenza dei volontari/partecipanti, è attento alle piccole e grandi differenze culturali e sociali, al senso di giustizia che dovrebbe sottendere gli Scopi per lo sviluppo sostenibile, alla sicurezza alimentare dei più poveri in tempo di cambiamenti climatici, al contesto locale e globale.

SEEDversity, un viaggio nella biodiversità (Formicablu)
In Europa, Africa e Medio Oriente reti di contadini e agronomi utilizzano semi di varietà locali per migliorare le produzioni e garantirsi la sovranità alimentare

Farmer’s Notebook: Group Farming Project in Tamil Nadu Aims to Preserve Native Seeds (The Wire)
Bioversity International, through its ‘Seeds for Needs’ initiative, is actively involved in reviving, protecting and nurturing lost varieties of crops in south India and encouraging farmers to grow and preserve them and distribute these varieties of seeds to other farmers. Preserving varieties and creating seedbanks is vital for maintaining healthy soils and improving the handling of pests and diseases and erratic climates.