Transforming a traditional commons-based seed system through collaborative networks of farmer seed-cooperatives and public breeding programs: the case of sorghum in Mali

• DOI: 10.1007/s10460-020-10170-1
• Publication Date: 2020-10-19T12:06:03Z
• Authors: Fred Rattunde; Eva Weltzien; Mamourou Sidibé; Abdoulaye Diallo; Bocar Diallo; Kirsten vom Brocke; Baloua Nebié; Aboubacar Touré; Yalaly Traoré; Amadou Sidibé; Chiaka Diallo; Soriba Diakité; Alhousseïni Breta...; Anja Christinck
• Keywords: production de semences; 330; [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_6937; gestion des ressources naturelles; 650; modèle; Mali; 630; Plant breeding; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_49902; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7247; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7249; Farmer cooperatives; Seed Systems; Legume Crops; Commoning; système de culture; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_8157; Sorghum; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_32886; amélioration génétique; 2. Zero hunger; variété; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_2805; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_10967; approche participative; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences; Sorghum bicolor; 15. Life on land; Seed systems; variation génétique; sorgho en grain; Commons; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_4881; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_4540; Plant Breeding; sécurité alimentaire; agriculteur; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_9000115; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5956; 0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_9000119; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1971; variété indigène; http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_15975; amélioration des plantes

Abstract Malian farmers’ traditional system for managing seed of sorghum, an indigenous crop vital importance food security and survival, can be conceptualized as a commons. Although this maintains wide range varieties helps ensure access to seed, its ability create widely disseminate new meet evolving opportunities challenges is limited. A network farmer groups, public breeding programs, development organizations collaborating in decentralized creation dissemination sorghum Mali examined regarding (1) how the developed what activities it conducts; (2) resulting varietal diversity, performance organizational models; (3) elements that were maintained, strengthened or transformed. single-case study approach was used relies on published literature, official catalogues released database seed-cooperative requests foundation seed. The functioning varietal-, seed-, organizational- outcomes are documented maintained analyzed. evolution network’s reliance commoning social process strengthening core Seed Commons features discussed with view contributions targeted potential replicability. case demonstrates creating framework collaboration, enabling actors take collective responsibility while maintaining distributed decision-making at local level, opens transforming farming- food-systems towards sustainability resilience.