1. Slikanje in snemanje na tem predavanju ni dovoljeno. Nadaljnje razmnoževanje izročkov ni dovoljeno. Kopiranje tekstov objavljenih na tej predstavitvi je podvrženo avtorski zakonodaji

2. dr. Marija Gregori BC Naklo 1st Scientific Conference VIVUS CONFERENCE ON AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENTALISM AND HORTICULTURE »Transmission of Innovations, Knowledge and Practical Experience into Everyday Practice« 19th – 20th April 2012 AGROBIODIVERSITY FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE marija.gregori@gmail.com

3. 1st Scientific Conference VIVUS »Transmission of Innovations, Knowledge and Practical Experience into Everyday Practice« 19th – 20th April 2012 CHALLENGES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT -Energy crisis -Climate change -Food insecurity -Loss of biodiversity

4. 1st Scientific Conference VIVUS »Transmission of Innovations, Knowledge and Practical Experience into Everyday Practice« 19th – 20th April 2012 “MODERN” AGRICULTURE – “GREEN REVOLUTION” Since the 1900s, some 75 % of plant genetic diversity has been lost as farmers worldwide have left their multiple local for genetically uniform, high-yielding varieties. 30 % of livestock breeds are at risk of extinction; six breeds are lost each month. Today, 75 % of the world’s food is generated from only 12 plants and 5 animal species. Of the 4 % of the 250 000 to 300 000 known edible plant species, only 150 to 200 are used. Only four – rice, maize, wheat and soybean – contribute nearly 65 % of calories and proteins obtained by humans from plants. Sources: FAO

5. ADDRESSING CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSSES LINKED TO AGRICULTURE Linking agricultural biodiversity and food security: the valuable role of agrobiodiversity for sustainable agriculture L A THRUPP

6. 1st Scientific Conference VIVUS »Transmission of Innovations, Knowledge and Practical Experience into Everyday Practice« 19th – 20th April 2012 AGROBIODIVERSITY Figure source: http://www.fao.org/docrep/007/y5609e/y5609e01.htm - or genetic resources for food and agriculture

7. 1st Scientific Conference VIVUS »Transmission of Innovations, Knowledge and Practical Experience into Everyday Practice« 19th – 20th April 2012 Conceptual diagram showing the relationships between Functional AgroBiodiversity and ecosystem services with benefits to agriculture and society as a whole (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005).

8. 1st Scientific Conference VIVUS »Transmission of Innovations, Knowledge and Practical Experience into Everyday Practice« 19th – 20th April 2012 AGROBIODIVERSITY?

9. 1st Scientific Conference VIVUS »Transmission of Innovations, Knowledge and Practical Experience into Everyday Practice« 19th – 20th April 2012 Source: Altieri, M.A., and C.I. Nicholls, 1999. Biodiversity, ecosystem function, and insect pest management in agricultural systems.

10. 1st Scientific Conference VIVUS »Transmission of Innovations, Knowledge and Practical Experience into Everyday Practice« 19th – 20th April 2012 CHALLENGES TO AGROBIODIVERSITY Human population growth (food security) Pollution and diseases Habitat loss and degradation Introduction of invasive alien species Over-exploitation of natural resources Global climate change Energy crisis

11. 1st Scientific Conference VIVUS »Transmission of Innovations, Knowledge and Practical Experience into Everyday Practice« 19th – 20th April 2012 ANTHROPOGENIC THREATS Biodiversity is being eroded through: – Soil mismanagement (erosion, pollution) – Salinization of irrigated areas – Dry-land degradation from overgrazing – Over-extraction of ground water – increasing susceptibility to diseases and pests Erosion Salinization Overgrazing Drought Deep water-table

12. EROSION OF GENETIC RESOURCES Results when: – modern varieties (hybrids) displace traditional ones – minor and underutilized crops are neglected (alternative crops)  The ignorance of cultivation of underutilized (i.e. millets and sorghum, flax, buckwheat, spelt, einkorn, kamut… ) also classified as 'minor crops, alternative crops‘ is also a cause for the considerable erosion of biodiversity. 1st Scientific Conference VIVUS »Transmission of Innovations, Knowledge and Practical Experience into Everyday Practice« 19th – 20th April 2012

13. 1st Scientific Conference VIVUS »Transmission of Innovations, Knowledge and Practical Experience into Everyday Practice« 19th – 20th April 2012 http://www.gnis-pedagogie.org/pages/classbio/chap1/2.htm

14. IN SITU CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY Biodiversity conservation in the natural habitat of a species in the form of: – Living collections – Germplasm banks (in the form of seeds, embryos, in vitro tissues, cells, tissue culture seedlings) 1st Scientific Conference VIVUS »Transmission of Innovations, Knowledge and Practical Experience into Everyday Practice« 19th – 20th April 2012

15. 1st Scientific Conference VIVUS »Transmission of Innovations, Knowledge and Practical Experience into Everyday Practice« 19th – 20th April 2012 EX SITU CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY It seems difficult to conserve some species in their natural environment therefore it becomes necessary to protect them in the form of ex situ conservation by establishing: – Botanical gardens and – Germplasm nurseries

16. Polyculture promotion along with monoculture Promotion of awareness about the biodiversity importance Changes in the attitude of scientists, students, teachers and general public towards biodiversity Government policies also need to be redesigned for practically effective biodiversity conservation Subsidies to farmers for the alternative crops and old crop cultivars cultivation Promotion of research relating to evaluation of national germplasm of cultivated crops to maintain their viability Establishment of cultivated crops gene banks at regional level… 1st Scientific Conference VIVUS »Transmission of Innovations, Knowledge and Practical Experience into Everyday Practice« 19th – 20th April 2012 TO BE DONE… »Ekološka pridelava in hranjenje semena nekaterih pomembnejših kmetijskih rastlin«

17. 1st Scientific Conference VIVUS »Transmission of Innovations, Knowledge and Practical Experience into Everyday Practice« 19th – 20th April 2012 CHALLENGES FOR THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH Balancing agricultural water supply and demand -Growing world population -Future water for food demand (coping with pressures on natural resources) Soil Resource base -Soil degradation (degradation of soil biodiversity) -Conversion to other land uses (non agricultural uses) -Science-based sustainability (organic farming can be done anywhere)

18. 1st Scientific Conference VIVUS »Transmission of Innovations, Knowledge and Practical Experience into Everyday Practice« 19th – 20th April 2012 CHALLENGES FOR THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH Competition in agriculture for food, fiber and fuel -Food security, energy security, biofuels, environmental security, genetic technology Food safety – the challenges in changing food and farming practices -Plants for the future -Functional biodiversity -Genetic resources

19. 1st Scientific Conference VIVUS »Transmission of Innovations, Knowledge and Practical Experience into Everyday Practice« 19th – 20th April 2012 marija.gregori@gmail.com “Working with nature, and not against it!” Thank you for Your attention!