The Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation (WDI) has launched the 2021 Plant Genetic Resources and Resilient Seed Systems for Sustainable Food Security Course.

Increasing stresses on agricultural systems have resulted in an intensification of the use of natural resources for agricultural production. Many have risen concerns on the future of food and nutrition security, especially for smallholder farmers and their communities. The actual seed systems appear not sustainable if we are to feed more than 9 billion people in 2050. For agriculture to be sustainable, new approaches in seed systems ought to transit from conservation towards resilience.

Upon completion of the course you will:

• Be familiar with contemporary approaches towards crop conservation and sustainable use of plant and genetic resource for food and agriculture (PGRFA) and resilient seed systems;
• Be able to identify opportunities in your local context to integrate resilient seed systems and food security in implementation strategies;
• Learn mechanism and procedure for acquiring (new) planting material;
• Linking ex-situ conservation (seed conserved in a genebank) with on-farm management of PGRFA through a community seed bank, seed fairs, diversity blocks);
• Designing a successful intervention for resilient seed systems and food security;
• Learn about supportive policies and laws boosting seed systems towards resilience.

Course Date

• Date: Mon 18 October 2021 until Fri 17 December 2021
• Duration: Part-time, 14hrs per week (9 weeks)
• Venue: Facilitated online sessions

Criteria

The training is designed for professionals in public, civil, research, education and/or development organisations, with an interest in agriculture, agrobiodiversity, seeds and food security. Applicants should have at least a BSc degree, have three years of professional experience in a relevant field, and be fluent in English.

For more information, visit CDI.