Spatial-scale dependencies in the predation of seeds by rodents

Summary 1. Previous studies have shown rates of seed predation in deciduous woodland to be high (on average 60%) and extremely variable in space and time. 2. Post-dispersal seed predation by forest rodents was examined simultaneously in five areas of deciduous woodland surrounding Durham City, Co. Durham. 3. This study investigated the influence of seed density, seed burial and seed species in determining the rates of seed encounter and exploitation by rodents of both native and exotic seed. The effect of within- and between-sites differences were also examined. 4. Live-trapping studies and the use of exclosure treatments revealed that Apodemus sylvaticus and Clethrionomys glareolus were the major seed predators. Together, they were responsible for removing between 55-80% of the experimental seed supply. 5. Seed burial accounted for a high proportion of the variation and significantly reduced the frequency of rodent encounter compared to surface seeds at both seed densities. Furthermore, it increased the variation in encounter due to density, species and site effects. It had no significant influence, however, on the extent to which groups of ten seeds were exploited once encountered. 6. Variations in the frequency of seed encounter and exploitation were both strongly affected by changes in seed density, with high densities increasing the chance of seed detection and removal. Significant species effects were also detected for seed encounter and exploitation. 7. Seed predation was spatially patchy, between and within experimental sites, possibly reflecting variation in the spatial distribution of seed predators. 8. The selective nature of the seed predators, plus the relative patchiness of predation intensity in space, suggest that post-dispersal seed predation may play an important role in determining the distribution and/or abundance of deciduous woodland plants

Promoting nutrition sensitive and climate smart agriculture through increased use of traditional underutilised species in the Pacific

Poster presented at Tropentag 2014. International Conference on Research on Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Rural Development. "Bridging the Gap between Increasing Knowledge and Decreasing Resources" Prague (Czech Republic) Sep 17-19 2014

Unlocking the potential of wild edibles

Many wild edible species are disappearing due to environmental pressures or to neglect as populations worldwide move away from traditional food systems towards more simplified and energy-rich diets and become averse to consuming traditional dishes that are perceived as “food for the poor”, only to be drawn upon in times of food scarcity

Opportunities for mainstreaming biodiversity for food and nutrition into institutional food procurement programs in Brazil

Brazil has a well-established political and regulatory framework aimed at promoting food and nutritional security. This framework represents an innovative and ethical social contract aimed at achieving social inclusion, sustainable livelihoods and citizenship. It includes the Food Acquisition Program (PAA) and the National School Meals Program (PNAE), institutional food procurement programs which provide equitable support to family farming by acquiring their products at a fair price and directing them to public schools, public programs and social organisations. PNAE and PAA have been identified by the GEF-funded Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition Project (BFN) as entry-points for potentially improving nutrition and livelihoods with links to native biodiversity. At least 30% of the food purchased with federal funds through PNAE must be bought directly from family farmers. Both initiatives include ethical standards and incentives of up to 30% in the price for organic or agroecological produce, prioritising purchases from quilombolas and indigenous communities, while also supporting family agriculture organisations to rescue, produce, store, and distribute seeds of local or traditional varieties. This creates new opportunities for the use of resources from Brazilian ecosystems, promoting institutional markets for biodiversity products while providing incentives for the management and sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity. However, assessments reveal that the proportion of food products from native biodiversity purchased overall by PNAE and PAA are low, which also reflects the current status of Brazilian agriculture, based mostly on exotic species. In order to better mainstream biodiversity into PNAE and PAA, the BFN Project in Brazil is working to increase awareness on the importance and nutritional value of native biodiversity species. Advocacy workshops, capacity building, as well as strategic alliances and partnerships with policy makers and other stakeholders are an important element of this, as are contributions to policy instruments that impact both programs. BFN also engages with Federal Universities, which are also collaborating centres for the implementation of PNAE, in research partnerships and activities to conduct analysis on the nutritional composition of 70 prioritised native fruit species and work with traditional communities to assess the knowledge and use of biodiversity foods

Diversifying institutional food procurement – opportunities and barriers for integrating biodiversity for food and nutrition in Brazil

The Brazilian Food Procurement Program (PAA) and the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) were identified by the GEF-funded Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition Project (BFN)1 as policy instruments with the greatest potential for diversifying institutional food procurement and improving di- ets while supporting family farming. This paper discusses the opportunities identified for mainstream- ing biodiversity through PAA and PNAE, targeted activities undertaken as well as two case studies. The first case study presents findings linked to the implementation of the PNAE in quilombola communi- ties in Goiás, while the second describes results of the inclusion of Juçara fruits (Euterpe edulis Mart.) in school meals in São Paulo. The paper concludes by highlighting some of the key barriers to better biodiversity mainstreaming and institutional food procurement together with some recommendations

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