Mainstreaming agricultural biological diversity across sectors through NBSAPs: Missing Links to Climate Change Adaptation, Dietary Diversity and the Plant Treaty

This Information Note presents a summary of an analysis of the revised NBSAPs that were submitted by 119 countries to the CBD Secretariat prior to 20 November 2016. The study focused on how agrobiodiversity has been mainstreamed across sectors through the NBSAP

Testing the DRAMMA Model of Leisure and Subjective Wellbeing on College Students

Background: College students’ declining mental health is a growing concern among institutions of higher education. Although many campuses have provided additional mental health counselors, identifying other mechanisms that facilitate and enhance mental health and wellbeing is also justified. Aim: Using the DRAMMA model as a theoretical framework, this research examined how leisure influences college students’ subjective wellbeing. Methods: An online survey methodology was utilized to measure the psychological outcomes of leisure participation (DRAMMA), leisure satisfaction, and subjective wellbeing of 704 students attending a large 4-year Midwestern residential college. Results: This quantitative study found the five psychological mechanisms of the DRAMMA model (detachment-recovery, autonomy, mastery, meaning, and affiliation) influenced students’ leisure satisfaction and subjective wellbeing. Conclusion: The findings support the need for higher education professionals to create leisure experiences that provide meaning and affiliation to promote subjective wellbeing and improve mental health

Improving food-system efficiency and environmental conservation using agricultural biodiversity in Busia County: a pilot study

Abstract Background Despite the abundance of edible biodiversity, both wild and cultivated, malnutrition and food insecurity persist in Busia County, Kenya, where poverty indices range from 63% to 74% and 25% of children younger than 5 years are stunted, 11% are underweight, and 4% are thin for their age. Much of this biodiversity, used in traditional food preparations, has the potential to provide access to key micronutrients for healthy and balanced diets and to act as an important source of community resilience to climate change and economic turbulence. Yet, low consumer awareness of the value of local biodiversity, poorly developed value chains, and negative perceptions of traditional foods have led to the disappearance of many nutrient-rich species and the shift to unhealthy diets. We aimed to show that heightened knowledge of the value of biodiversity and improved value-chain efficiencies can help to conserve biodiversity and improve local food systems. Methods We developed a farmer business school model and provided training to 25 farmer groups across seven sub-counties in Busia County, Kenya, on the sustainable production of traditional vegetables, post-harvest handling, contract farming, nutrition, and value addition. We also analysed selected species for nutritional content, tested a food procurement model supporting market linkages between farmers and local institutions, and carried out nutrition education activities to improve the capacity of schools and clinics to incorporate traditional foods into meals. Findings We found that traditional vegetables were rich in iron—for example, cowpea leaves contained 17 times more iron than did kales. After making the nutritional data available to all value chain actors during implementation of the food procurement model, we recorded a 12% increase in the number of households cultivating local biodiversity, both for household consumption and off-farm sales, along with a 75% increase in the plot size devoted to traditional vegetable cultivation. Furthermore, household incomes increased by a mean of 47% (SD 30) as a result of direct links with institutional markets. The effects of increased market linkages on education, economic, and health benefits will be measured in a second phase of the project to start in 2018. Interpretation The project has positively affected the abundance, composition, and distribution of species and revived interest in local food biodiversity, in addition to producing benefits around diverse diets. Experience in implementing the Busia model has been used to inform global policies that aim to mainstream biodiversity in sustainable food systems using public procurement, particularly schools, as a platform for improving nutrition. Nationally, a biodiversity policy was developed for Busia County that recognised the importance of local biodiversity, including for improved livelihoods, community resilience, and health and nutrition. Funding Global Environment Facility, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, and the MacArthur Foundation

Molecular characterisation of the oldest domesticated Turkish einkorn wheat landraces with simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers

Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L. ssp. monococcum) is an ancient diploid wheat species with many useful traits and used as a wheat gene discovery model. In this research, a total of 41 diploid and tetraploid wheat accessions were tested using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. A total of 33 genotypes of T. monococcum along with four genotypes each of tetraploid wheat (T. dicoccon and T. durum) were used as plant material. The analysis utilized 10 polymorphic markers, including a total number of 41 alleles with an average frequency of 4.1 alleles per locus during exploration of the level of genetic variations. Various diversity analyses, which are the effective number of alleles (Ne), gene diversity (h), Polymorphic Information Content (PIC), and Shannon's information index (I), were performed for 10 'A' genome wheat SSR markers. The results showed a narrow variation in einkorn genotypes, supported by Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA), with 66% maximum variation in all genotypes. The structure analysis divided the whole germplasm into two populations. A dendrogram was constructed to determine the genetic similarities using the unpaired group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA), which separated tetraploid wheat from other genotypes/accessions. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) co-supported the clustering of UPGMA and structure by differentiating the diploid and tetraploid wheat. These findings will help understand the genetic relationships among these wheat accessions and their use in breeding programs in the future works

Wild food plants and trends in their use: from knowledge and perceptions to drivers of change in West Sumatra, Indonesia

Wild food plants (WFPs) are often highly nutritious but under-consumed at the same time. This study aimed to document the diversity of WFPs, and assess perceptions, attitudes, and drivers of change in their consumption among Minangkabau and Mandailing women farmers in West Sumatra. We applied a mixed-method approach consisting of interviews with 200 women and focus group discussions with 68 participants. The study documented 106 WFPs (85 species), and Minangkabau were found to steward richer traditional knowledge than Mandailing. Although both communities perceived WFPs positively, consumption has declined over the last generation. The main reasons perceived by respondents were due to the decreased availability of WFPs and changes in lifestyle. The contemporary barriers to consuming WFPs were low availability, time constraints, and a limited knowledge of their nutritional value. The key motivations for their use were that they are free and “unpolluted” natural foods. The main drivers of change were socio-economic factors and changes in agriculture and markets. However, the persistence of a strong culture appears to slow dietary changes. The communities, government and NGOs should work together to optimize the use of this food biodiversity in a sustainable way. This integrated approach could improve nutrition while conserving biological and cultural diversity

Brazilian underutilised species to promote dietary diversity, local food procurement, and biodiversity conservation: a food composition gap analysis

Abstract Background Brazil is home to a large portion of the world's biodiversity, but, paradoxically, the country's agriculture and food security are very reliant on exotic or introduced crops or species. Native species are being neglected and forgotten with natural landscapes and traditional foods being replaced by monocultures of commodity crops and pasture for livestock, causing habitat and biodiversity loss. At the same time, Brazil faces dietary simplification and high levels of malnutrition. Much of the neglected native biodiversity is highly nutritious and exploring these food sources could help provide sustainable solutions to diversifying diets, tackling malnutrition problems, and promoting agricultural development through local food procurement, while also promoting biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation and resilience. However, notable knowledge and evidence gaps still need to be addressed to better integrate biodiversity for enhancing food and nutrition security, including scientific data on the nutritional value and composition of native underutilised species. In Brazil, the Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition (BFN) project generated food composition data, developed recipes, and increased appreciation and awareness of the value of underutilised, nutrient-rich biodiversity through strategic research partnerships with universities and research institutes. Methods For this food composition gap analysis of native Brazilian biodiversity, the BFN project established partnerships with universities and research institutes for the generation of food composition data (macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals) and the development of recipes for 70 native underutilised species of fruits and vegetables of economic potential. Food composition data was gathered by doing a literature review, using compilation methods developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Network for Food Data Systems. Food composition analysis is being done for data that was missing or incomplete. Data is being made available on a food composition and recipes database developed with the Information System on Brazilian Biodiversity. Findings From May, 2014, to March, 2016, the nine partner universities in Brazil compiled existing food composition data for 59 of the 70 selected indigenous Brazilian fruit and vegetable species for which data were available. Food composition analysis is being done for missing or incomplete data (especially for vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibre) for all 70 species and will be finalised in 2018. Results thus far show that many of the studied species are high in vitamins, such as the high concentrations of vitamin A encountered in the pulp of peach palm (Bactris gasipaes; 317 μg retinol activity equivalent [RAE] per 100 g), tucuma (Astrocaryum aculeatum; 808 μg RAE per 100 g) and buriti (Mauritia flexuosa; 1204 μg RAE per 100 g). High vitamin C concentrations were found in the pulp of camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia; 1620 mg/100 g), guabiroba (Campomanesia xanthocarpa; 428 mg/100 g) and mangaba (Hancornia speciosa; 209 mg/100 g). Protein concentrations were high in seeds of chicha (Sterculia striata; 19 g/100 g), pequi (Caryocar brasiliense; 29 g/100 g) and baru (Dipteryx alata; 29 mg/100 g). Interpretation The data is being used as an advocacy tool for promoting native species in public initiatives including policy incentives for improving their production and market chains. By working through regional partners, capacities were developed in different regions, directly engaging more than 100 students and professors. These groups act as multipliers, building additional human capacity and operating as opinion leaders and policy advisors, including the provision of research and technical backstopping for municipal managers, school managers, nutritionists, and cooks responsible for implementing the National School Feeding Programme, thus the partnership is likely to favour the inclusion of biodiversity in school meals. Funding Global Environment Facility