Agrobiodiversity has vast potential to reinforce climate-resilient farming systems and support rural livelihoods. Although its benefits are well known, implementation has been slow. To bridge the gap between research and policy, clear, actionable recommendations are essential.
Background
Four months after the 3rd International Agrobiodiversity Congress in Kunming—where DCZ and our partners presented insights from the Sino-German Agrobiodiversity Network—the Kunming Manifesto on Agrobiodiversity for People and Planet has been published.
This Manifesto was jointly issued by the Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), and Yunnan Agricultural University.
These institutions bring together global scientific research (through the CGIAR-affiliated Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT), national research expertise in China, and regional agricultural scholarship from Yunnan. Their collaboration aims to strengthen the role of agrobiodiversity in food systems worldwide.
Key messages
The Manifesto includes several priority areas that align closely with DCZ’s network findings:
Integration of ex situ conservation with on-farm management of traditional and underused crops is critical.
Underutilized and heirloom crops can generate local value chains, open new income avenues, and fortify rural community resilience.
Collaboration between science and practice is needed to scale up adoption of diverse crops in farming systems.
Policy implications
The joint issuance of the Manifesto underscores the urgent need for policy frameworks that:
Support farmers in maintaining and cultivating crop diversity in situ (on the land), while creating synergies with ex situ conservation efforts in gene banks.
Invest in research, extension, and market development for lesser-known, nutritionally valuable crop species.
Facilitate coordination between research institutions, government agencies, farmers’ organizations, and other stakeholders.
These steps are essential if we want to transform awareness into concrete changes — for example, integrating diverse crop varieties into public procurement, agricultural subsidies, or seed system policies.
