Unlocking genebanks for farmer resilience: Assessing the impact of ‘Germplasm User Groups’ in enhancing farmers’ access to diversity

Heaton, Matt, Jamora, Nelissa, Asamoah, Obed, Demie, Dereje Tamiru, Oladimeji, Bisola Khadijat, Mwansa, Natasha and Recha, Tobias Okando (2025) Unlocking genebanks for farmer resilience: Assessing the impact of ‘Germplasm User Groups’ in enhancing farmers’ access to diversity. Plant Genetic Resources. ISSN 1479-263X

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract

National genebanks offer diverse collections of locally adapted crops which can support farmers’ climate resilience, nutritional security and economic innovations, yet are often overlooked in climate adaptation strategies. Across much of the world, national genebanks are unknown to farmers, or poorly connected for varietal exchange. This paper examines the impacts of establishing ‘Germplasm User Groups’ (GUGs) across five African countries to connect farmers with genebanks as rapid responders to local agricultural challenges. GUGs conducted farmer participatory research to evaluate genebank materials and establish pathways for the exchange of knowledge and crop diversity in farming communities. Drawing on surveys and interviews from over 1,600 smallholders, we found GUGs increase farmer understanding of genebanks, improve access to crop diversity and increase farmer exchanges with national genebanks. As well as material exchange, smallholders welcome the learning opportunities from GUGs to address local farming challenges. On average, GUG members share genebank seed with four other farmers, demonstrating the potential spillover effects of this model for sharing crop diversity. We close with recommendations to improve the working of GUGs and offer guidance for other countries looking to adopt the system as a rapid approach strategy to build local resilience in the face of climate change.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Supplementary material: The supplementary material for this article can be found https://doi.org/10.1017/S1479262125100178. Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank the Global Crop Diversity Trust and the German Development Bank (KfW), for supporting this assessment as part of the Seeds for Resilience Project.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	genebank,genetic resources,agriculture,resilience,crop diversity,sub-saharan africa,agricultural and biological sciences(all) ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Global Development (formerly School of International Development)
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Behavioural and Experimental Development Economics
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	02 Sep 2025 09:30
Last Modified:	02 Sep 2025 09:30
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/100254
DOI:	10.1017/S1479262125100178

Actions (login required)

View Item