WELCOME TO THE AGROBIODIVERSITY TOOLBOX
As the rich variety of crops, seeds, and livestock breeds that once defined our agricultural systems is disappearing at an unprecedented rate, the urgent need for action has never been clearer. This website provides a wealth of tools and resources designed to promote the conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity. It is maintained by the Sino-German Agrobiodiversity Network. We invite you to explore, engage, and be part of the solution.
In 2023, a diverse group of experts came together to establish the Sino-German Agrobiodiversity Network. Our members include scientists, policymakers, farmers, and advocates—all united by a shared mission: to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity in agriculture.
We believe that empowering rural communities to conserve and sustainably use traditional crop varieties, seeds, and animal breeds is key to reintroducing diversity into agricultural systems. By drawing on the rich knowledge of local farmers and modern practices, we aim to strengthen biodiversity on our farms and in our fields.
What makes this network unique is the exchange between Germany and China, two countries with deep agricultural traditions. Both nations have valuable lessons to share and learn when it comes to protecting and enhancing agrobiodiversity.
If you’d like to learn more about the Sino-German Agrobiodiversity Toolbox or share your own tools and case studies with us, please reach out via email at info-dcz@iakleipzig.de.
How to use the Toolbox
The Sino-German Agrobiodiversity Network’s toolbox is a growing collection of practical tools, case studies, and resources designed to promote the conservation and use of agrobiodiversity. You can explore the >>full collection or quickly navigate to the materials that best suit your needs.
>>Tools are hands-on resources tailored for field practitioners, trainers, policy advocates, and decision-makers. Our experts contributed tools useful for >>capacity building in local initiatives for crop seed conservation and use, transdisicplinary research with farmers, >>outreach along food value chains from farm to general public, and >>policy-making for agrobiodiverse food systems. These ready-to-use materials include technical handbooks on crop seed conservation , detailed research methodologies for participatory field trials , guidance for building crop-specific value chains, and practical policy advocacy suggestions for decision-makers in Germany and China.
>>Cases feature case studies and project profiles from China, Germany, and beyond. Learn about projects and organizations engaged in ground-level work and policy advocacy, and explore lessons that could inform your own efforts. Start by discovering over 20 years of experience in seed conservation in China , find inspiration in recent advances in participatory crop breeding and climate resilience research, or explore successful regional value chains built on agrobiodiversity.
>>Resources direct you to other organizations and information that support the promotion of crop diversity within agrobiodiverse food systems. Looking for partners in the field? Seeking databases on crop diversity? These resources include links to initiatives and networks in Europe and China, crop variety databases , and Germany’s Red List of Endangered Local Crops .
Don’t forget to connect with our network’s >>experts and stay updated on the latest >>news from the Sino-German Agrobiodiversity Network!
The Sino-German Agrobiodiversity Network was initiated by the Sino-German Agricultural Centre (DCZ), with funding from the Innovation and Transformation Dialogue of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). Together, we are fostering cross-border collaboration to preserve and enhance the world’s agricultural biodiversity for future generations.