13 TH GFAR STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING NAIROBI, KENYA 26 OCTOBER 2003

Transcription

1 GLOBAL FORUM ON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FORUM MONDIAL DE LA RECHERCHE AGRICOLE FORO GLOBAL DE INVESTIGACION AGROPECUARIA GFAR-SM-03-11a 13 TH GFAR STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING NAIROBI, KENYA 26 OCTOBER 2003 Updates on GPPs and pending projects PROGRESS REPORT OF THE GLOBAL FACILITATION UNIT FOR UNDERUTILIZED SPECIES

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3 PROGRESS REPORT TO THE GFAR STEERING COMMITTEE 1 NAIROBI, KENYA, OCTOBER 26, 2003 (Reporting Period: November 2002 to October 2003) During the meeting of the GFU s steering committee in March 2003 it was agreed to include GFAR as a member of the SC. The Executive Secretary will be the GFAR representative. The reader is kindly reminded of the expected outputs of the Facilitation Unit as agreed by the steering committee of the Facilitation Unit: 1. Improved access to information is available and systems are in place to maintain it 2. A platform for discussion of concepts, strategies and instruments to promote and to facilitate the sustainable use of underutilized species is created and maintained 3. Access of stakeholders to financial resources is facilitated 4. The modalities for developing a sustainable mechanism to support underutilized species are determined With regard to the first output the following progress was made since the last report in Manila a year ago The GFU s website has just been launched. The aim of the site is to be the internet gateway to information on underutilized species for a large and diverse clientele including researchers, development workers, policymakers, donor organizations, farmers, consumers, etc. The site is not intended to duplicate existing efforts, but rather to provide an umbrella or portal to all sources of information about underutilized species available. The kind of information accessible through this portal ranges from details of specific crops to a database of experts. It also gives access to relevant publications. Besides making knowledge available for download, the site also intends to offer a platform for communication among interested parties and placement of information by users. The web site s URL is The portal is hosted at IPGRI. After analyzing various options this decision was taken during the last steering committee meeting in March. All members appreciated IPGRI s offer and support to this site. IPGRI has committed itself to host the portal for the time being, while the GFU is still using its resources to maintain and update it. IPGRI, however, would be pleased to collaborate with other agencies to seek resources for a long-term solution. The GFAR Executive Secretary said that the secretariat would make efforts to try to find a home within the GFAR constituencies. Articles about the GFU have been published in a series of newsletters of different organizations and it was agreed with the editors, that regular contributions on topics related to underutilized species can be submitted by stakeholders and will be published. We are currently compiling articles from different stakeholders for a special issue on underutilized species of the LEISA magazine (Low External Inputs and Sustainable Agriculture), which will be published early Report prepared by Dr. Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon, GFU Coordinator. 1

4 A survey directed to the NARS was done. The purpose of that survey was to find answers to the following questions: What are the current research activities related to underutilized species? Which species are considered to be underutilized? What are the reasons for underutilization? What are the needs of the NARS to improve research on underutilized species? The main results are given below: 1) Most organizations working on underutilized species (61.7%) are dealing with the conservation of these species, followed by production related topics (46.7%). About a fourth of the organizations are dedicated to processing and marketing. Information management, the promotion of the species and policy issues are of inferior importance to the organizations ( %). 2) The respondents listed 180 species or genera or groups of plants being underutilized in their countries. Some of them are in general terms not considered underutilized (e.g. Beta vulgaris, Zea mays) and do not fulfill the criteria the GFU has set to classify a species as underutilized: a. Low external inputs for production required b. Suitable for organic production c. Suitable for cultivation on marginal land (low soil fertility, etc.) d. Suitable to stabilize fragile ecosystems e. Fit into smallholders farming systems f. Possess traditional, local and/or regional importance g. Easy to store and process by resource poor communities h. Market opportunities available i. Possess high nutritional and/or medicinal value j. Offer multi-purpose uses 3) As main reasons for the underutilization of these species respondents mentioned poor public awareness, limited market opportunities and lack of enabling policies. Production constraints, insufficient information to the producers and socio-cultural/political issues are other important reasons. 4) Regarding the information needs in order to support research on underutilized species the survey revealed that information about potential sources to fund research is of utmost interest (52%). Information about the economic, ecological, nutritional, social and other values as well as market information and agronomic data is also of great demand (44-40%), followed by the need for information on training opportunities, other specialists working on the same species and post-harvest technologies (38, 37 and 34%). 2

5 Lack of enabling policies 30,4 Lack of human resources Lack of post-harvest and processing technologies 7,1 17,9 Total responses: 56 Skipped questions: 6 Production constraints 26,8 Poor availability Insufficient funding 10,7 12,5 Socio-cultural and political issues Insufficient information to the producer 25,0 26,8 Poor public awareness 41,1 Limited market opportunities 30, Percentage We recently have conducted a global survey among different stakeholder groups to get an overview on current and past activities on underutilized species beyond research activities and on the organizations being involved. The data obtained will be compiled in a searchable database. This will allow improved networking and development of synergies among stakeholders. An essential part of the information will be an expert list, which will allow interested actors to contact each other in their particular field of expertise. We are confident that this kind of information will be useful to stakeholders and will contribute to active and fruitful interactions among the underutilized species community. It will provide an opportunity to make the work and expertise of an organization or an individual known to a large community. The information obtained is currently further analyzed. The analysis focuses on: Who are the key actors? Who does what? Interest of key actors? Level of conformity of their strategies with mainstream strategies Overlaps and gaps in their activities Potential synergies between actors Identification of strategic topics This will allow the GFU to link up complementary stakeholders in a targeted way and to assist them more effectively. The identification of the strategic topics helps developing supporting activities around these topics in order to further facilitate the sustainable utilization of underutilized species. During the International Workshop on Underutilized Plant Species organized by the GFU in May 2003 and through other interactions with stakeholders it became clear that exploiting the economic potential of underutilized species is most attractive for many countries and communities and represents the driving force for conservation of these species. The growing demand in developed and developing countries for more variety and novelty in food and other products is creating new markets for underutilized species. This situation can generate new opportunities for additional income for poor farmers in less favored environments where these species have a comparative advantage over staples and other commercial crops. However, 3

6 producers and exporters are often lacking information on what the market demands and do not have the necessary contacts with potential importers/buyers. The GFU was requested to provide support in these areas. Therefore a study on Market opportunities for underutilized species products What does the market want? has been commissioned. It will provide an overview of the interest of commercial food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and other companies in Europe and the USA for underutilized species products. The survey focuses on fair trade companies in order to guarantee benefit sharing to the producers, but also include conventional business companies for the purpose of a broader view. The information gathered will be made available to the stakeholders together with a list of contacts of the interested companies for a further and detailed market research on particular species and their products. A potential trade barrier for commercialization of underutilized species products in Europe is the EU Novel Food Regulation. This regulation refers to food that has not been consumed within the EU to a significant degree before May If a food is considered novel, an assessment of the food s safety by the member state s competent authority is required before it can be placed on the market. The process scrutinizes the novel food against the objectives of the Novel Food Regulation, which are to ensure that it does not represent a danger for the consumer nor that its consumption is nutritionally disadvantageous. The person or firm that wants to place a food item on the EU market has to first evaluate whether the food is novel or not and to present evidence to support the case. If the product is novel, the applicant has to provide scientific evidence that proves the safety of the food for the consumers. It is not enough to say that the product has been consumed in its country of origin for a long period. The Regulation has in some cases led to the rejection of a food items within the EU. Many novel food items are derived from underutilized species. The costs, complexity, duration and uncertain outcome of the NFR procedures have discouraged the typically small firms in this sector to file applications. Against this background the GFU together with the GTZ Project on Agro-biodiversity has commissioned a study to analyze the implications of the NFR on trade with underutilized species. The study is available to all interested parties on our website. Information on novel food regulations of major non-eu countries will be made available soon and cases of countries/products, which have been negatively affected by this EU-Regulation are currently compiled. On the second output the following activities have been carried out Case studies on the social, economic and ecological impacts of the promotion of underutilized species have been initiated/conducted. The species selected are Devil s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens.), Physic Nut (Jatropha curcas), Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa). Other studies will follow. The purpose of theses case studies is to identify criteria for best practices and to develop concepts and strategies to be applied in future development programs for underutilized species. The Devil s Claw study is available on the website. The results of the Novel Food study have been presented to the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development BMZ. It has been pointed out that the Regulation might be in conflict with the Ministry s and EU s objective to facilitate the access of developing countries to international markets. A meeting at the German Ministry of Consumer Protection, Nutrition and Agriculture BMVEL was organized involving also BMZ, the German Agency for Technical Cooperation GTZ, the International Potato Center CIP and GFU. A proposal, prepared by CIP, containing suggestions for an amendment of the Regulation that considers the interests and needs of developing to export these products to the EU was discussed. In a joint CIP-GTZ-GFU activity an update of the proposal is currently prepared for official submission to BMVEL. The Ministry committed itself to analyze the suggestions for their compliance with German Food Law and then to submit them to the EU working group on Novel Food for their potential consideration during the upcoming revision of the Regulation. 4

7 The GFU participated in the agricultural fair International Green Week, which took place in Berlin, Germany, from 17 to 26 January The purpose was to draw the attention of the general public visiting the fair to the important role underutilized species play with regard to increased food security, food quality and the potential they possess to create income for poor people in many parts of the world through processing and marketing. A stand, with information purpose, was organized for the entire period of the fair and public awareness activities consisted in the following: Display of Books/Publications/Information sheets/poster on the GFU and its mandate/video: the documentary Comeback der alten Pflanzen (The return of the old plants) in German and realized by the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) in cooperation with IPGRI was projected. Also the IPGRI/IFAD project Enhancing the contribution of neglected and underutilized species to food security, and to incomes of the rural poor was presented with informative material. The participation of a representative of the Bolivian NGO PROINPA ( was facilitated. He shared the GFU stand for the display of a variety of underutilized Andean grains (quinoa, kañawa, Amaranthus and tarwi) packed and processed in different ways. During the event many visitors, belonging to the general public, academic environment (teachers and students of all levels), to the scientific and marketing world, showed great attraction to the subject presented. The general public was particularly interested in tasting the products displayed, and in information were to buy them and how to prepare them. People belonging to the academic environment where interested in learning about organizations doing research in the field of underutilized plant species, what partnership collaborations could be built, the nutritional characteristics and marketing opportunities of underutilized species. The opportunity was taken to lobby for the topic and the GFU by visiting targeted stands such as food exporters/importers, government representatives from developing countries, food processors, environmental organizations and journalists. An International Workshop on Underutilized Plant Species was held in May 2003 in Leipzig, Germany. The workshop was jointly organized by the GFU, Capacity Building International InWEnt, and the German Agency for Technical Cooperation GTZ. The German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development BMZ, the International Fund for Agricultural Cooperation IFAD and the Technical Center for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation CTA sponsored the workshop. The meeting has convened more than 50 representatives of government bodies, the private sector, development agencies, NGOs, networks, donors and research institutions. Objectives The objectives of the workshop were to identify the strategic elements for the promotion and sustainable utilization of underutilized plant species and to recommend next steps and potential actors for their implementation. Scope and focus The participants came together to discuss the future possibilities to enhance the use of underutilized plant species for improving the livelihoods of poor people. The workshop therefore had a clear development mission and the focus was on underutilized species within pro-poor development. Particular focus was on four areas to which underutilized species can make a significant contribution: Food security and health Income generation and local economies Non-material benefits Biodiversity and environmental services 5

8 Outputs 1) In view of the range of existing terms used for underutilized plant species, which include minor, neglected, local, traditional, underexploited, underdeveloped, orphan, lost, new, niche, promising and alternative, and which all have their limitations, advantages and disadvantages the participants agreed on the following working definition: Underutilized plant species are those with a potential, not fully exploited, to contribute to food security and poverty alleviation. The promotion of their use should happen in a sustainable fashion A particular point of discussion was the range of species to be included (e.g. traditional varieties of major crops, which remain underutilized) and the level of utilization to be characterized as underutilized. The clarification of these issues was beyond the scope of the workshop and will remain as an important future task. 2) It was recognized that due to the diversity of underutilized plant species it is important to identify groups of species, which share key commonalties with regard to the four areas of contributions. This is not for the purpose of prioritizing plant species at an early stage, but rather to be able to develop more targeted promotion strategies based on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats identified for each of these plant groups. Useful groups were: adaptability to different agroecological zones; degree of skills and knowledge available; type of available knowledge; functions of the plants; domestication status; status of the species; identified added value at different levels. 3) Several approaches generally used for the promotion of underutilized species (commodity chain approach, livelihoods approach, resource to consumption approach, integrated natural resource management approach, high-level influence on policy approach, participation and rights approaches, culture-based approaches) were discussed. All approaches have their individual strengths and weaknesses, which suggests that no single approach can be successful- a combination of different approaches will be required, depending on the objective of the promotion of underutilized plant species, the type of species and the respective project context. The participants identified the following key characteristics required within an approach to successfully target and benefit poor people with the promotion of underutilized plant species and to minimize the available risks and weaknesses of each approach: Recognition of underutilized plant species as public goods in order to ensure the continued availability and accessibility of the plant genetic resources to present and future generations Fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the use of underutilized plant species for sustainable agriculture and food security. Strengthening the capacity of marginalized people in the negotiation with private sector and government. Access to information for all stakeholders in order to ensure equal positioning in decision making. Participatory and multi-stakeholder oriented approaches to provide for inclusion and consideration of different interests and needs 4) The participants established eight intervention areas, which allow for targeted support to underutilized species. These areas are: Conservation/improvement of and access to plant genetic resources; policy and legislation; capacity building; information generation and management; awareness creation and lobbying; marketing; post-harvest handling and processing; and inter-sectoral interventions. 6

9 5) Strategic elements relevant for the promotion and sustainable utilization for underutilized plant species have been identified under each area of intervention (see table 1). 6) Actors have been identified that should contribute to the implementation of the strategic elements under the different areas of intervention. The actors depend largely on the level (local, national, regional and international). It is beyond the scope of this report to list all the actors identified and the actions assigned to them. Here, some of the actors are given in a particular intervention area: Policy and legislation: international research organizations: national focal points of the CBD and the International Treaty; donors; NGOs such as IUCN, WWF; FAO, international organizations such as WIPO; farmers unions; cross community networks; national ministries. Marketing: private sector; NGOs; national governments; inter-governmental organizations. Inter-sectoral interventions: FAO; UNESCO; NGOs; development organizations; national governments. For the Facilitation Unit there will be several areas, where it should become active: Clarification and a common understanding of the term underutilized species Assistance to stakeholder in developing project proposal taking into consideration the findings of the workshop Information management Awareness creation and lobbying Influencing policies and legislation Capacity building Conclusions 1) Despite the absence of a commonly accepted definition/terminology for underutilized species some key features of underutilized species seem to be agreeable, which include public good, asset of poor people, local or regional importance. Any future definition should show a link to other related terms such as genetic resources and (agro)biodiversity. 2) The analysis of promotion strategies for underutilized plant species led to the recognition of the complexity of the issue and the need for context specific interventions. The workshop achieved to establish clusters of underutilized plant species with key commonalties, which need to be considered when underutilized plant species are promoted for different objectives. 3) The rural and urban poor should be placed in the center of the debate and their needs should be considered at all levels. The participants agreed that institutional and policy mechanisms need to be established to effectively target and benefit the poor. 4) It is important to establish partnerships and to mainstream the work on underutilized plant species into ongoing initiatives in order to be successful and to attract attention. A common problem is the fragmentation of efforts. Researchers, farmers and other stakeholders need to work more closely together. Furthermore there is a need to define the exact role of research, as many of the identified weaknesses and threats are not clearly research related. In order to achieve the above, the participants pointed out the importance of multi-stakeholder processes, which are inclusive to all stakeholders. A particular focus should be on gender integration and cultural diversity. It was concluded that a combination of approaches would be required to successfully target the poor. The participants have established key elements of an effective promotion approach. 5) Strong emphasis should be given to involve the private sector in future promotion strategies. Underutilized plant species will remain underutilized until and unless markets are 7

10 found for them. The private sector has a role to play in identifying and establishing these markets for. However, past and ongoing experiences show that in many cases the private sector is either unwilling or unable to become involved in commercializing underutilized plant species. This is because it is extremely costly to invest in unknown and untested products. There is a huge risk because it is not know how these products will sell. Product development costs are high and marketing is difficult due to zero knowledge of consumers about the products. If rural producers are to benefit from underutilized plant species commercialization the capacity of the private sector must be increased and it must be encouraged through incentives associate with specific underutilized plant species. 6) There is need for establishing communities of practice, which can exchange and build on existing experiences. Specific topics for these communities of practice are impact assessment and development of indicators to allow for monitoring and evaluation of initiatives and to maintain a pro-poor focus. This is relevant to be able to provide evidence of positive impact to donors and others, who do not fully recognize the importance of underutilized plant species. Furthermore it will help to improve the approaches taken to optimize impact. 7) The strategic elements for the promotion should build on existing strengths of underutilized plant species and target the identified opportunities. They are therefore context specific and require a detailed analysis. A complete workshop synthesis will be available next month. 8

11 Table 1: Strategic elements under various intervention areas INTERVENTION AREAS/STRATEGIC ELEMENTS FOOD SECURITY AND HEALTH INCOME GENERATION NON-MATERIAL BENEFITS BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES Plant species conservation/improve ment and access Post harvest handling and processing Policy, legislation Awareness creation and lobbying Crop improvement Selection and evaluation of cultivars Conservation of germplasm Targeted collection of new germplasm Improve seed supply systems Improved storage technologies Up-scale exising technologies Link to food safety aspects/novel food regulation Conduct food security and health needs assessment Public awareness creation through recipes for food preparation Crop improvement Selection and evaluation of cultivars Conservation of germplasm Targeted collection of new germplasm Validate/ improve processing and storage technologies Promotion of value-adding Establish IPR legislation Promote cultural/local products Broadening the clientel (restaurants, shops, etc.) Conservation of germplasm Farmer experimentation and innovation Establish IPR legeslation Community biodiversity registers Establishment of policy working groups and local policy dialog fora Integrate cultural values into extension programmes Link to CBD and other treaties Cultural festivals and fairs Inform communities about rights and policies Social mobilisation through stakeholder analysis and institutional mapping Targeted collection of new germplasm Support to genebanks to expand collection efforts Require (agro)biodiversity impact evaluation for new projects and assess existing projects Survey existing legal and institutioonal regime and recommend changes to eliminate obstacles Pro UPS policies integrated in international development policies/programmes Regulatory framework for equitable benefit sharing Ratification of ITPGR Lobbing with conservationists Develop clear extension messages in local languages for farmers Optimum use of mass media (rural radio, fairs, folk songs etc.) 9

12 STRATEGIC ELEMENTS FOOD SECURITY AND HEALTH INCOME GENERATION NON-MATERIAL BENEFITS BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES Marketing Optimise market potential Establishment of information systems on markets, prices, etc. Explore national and international markets Certification of products Capacity building Information generation/management Inter-sectoral interventions Enhance capacities of producers Include UPS in training curricula of universities Documentation/ Synthesis of existing information and success stories Identification of focal point for information sharing Information generation on nutritious value of UPS Documentation of indigenous knowledge on nutritional/medicinal properties Mainstream UPS into other sector initatives Networking through interagency working groups and committees Enhance capacities of UPS clients, Link local and scientific knowledge Assess institutional capacities and roles Synthesis of existing information Development of information tools and decision support systems Link to credit facilities Education of young generations (community level) Include UPS in training curricula of schools Link local and scientific knowledge Local leadership capacity building Synthesis of existing information Identification and documentation of species (community biodiversity register) Knowledge generation through farmer experimentation and innovation Link to broader cultural programmes Link to UNESCO program Changes in market regime to avoid over-exploitation and equitable sharing of benefits Develop certification systems Training of intermediary organisations (CBOs, NGOs, GO, private sector) Provide training modules based on UPS (IARC) R&D based NGOs network building in poor regions Training to farmers (CBOs) on technical, organisational aspects Assessment of the status of existing information on UPS at national levels Synthesis of existing information Creation of functional data bases on UPS Linkage with data bases of the Env. Con./CBD/CCD etc. Creation of info resources in translation of multiple media 10

13 As a follow-up of the workshop and other interactions with stakeholders where the GFU has been requested to assist countries in building the necessary human capacities required to realize the economic potential of underutilized species an expert meeting is currently being organized in close cooperation with the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute IPGRI. The meeting will bring together specialists in market assessment, adding value strategies, from fair trade companies and farmers organizations, local entrepreneurs, practitioners, legal experts and training institutions to discuss strategies for the marketing of underutilized species and to identify areas were human resources development is most needed. The output of the meeting will be a n action plan for human resources development containing proposals for short training courses to be conducted at national and/or regional level that target various stakeholder groups, and the potential implementing training institutions. No major activities were done related to the outputs 3 and 4. 11