Strengthening agroecological resilience through commons-based seed governance in the Philippines

• DOI: 10.1007/s10668-022-02844-z
• Publication Date: 2022-12-21T13:03:10Z
• Authors: Lea Kliem
• Keywords: Agroecology; Resilience

Abstract The Filipino agricultural sector is exposed to multiple climatic, economic, and social risks that will likely intensify in the near future. Building agroecological resilience has been proposed protect small-scale farmers’ livelihoods improve food security context of (unexpected) shocks disruptions, slow system changes such as climate change. This paper argues commons-based seed production, based on collective management ownership seeds varieties, can play a central role building capacities smallholder communities. I explore this by applying an indicator-based framework assess contribution farmer network Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG) resilience. find networks’ governance builds various ways. By equipping farmers with tools regain control over production breeding, they become stewards actively evolving collection varieties. situ maintenance development traditional, open-pollinated varieties diversified trial backup farms build up buffering foster agrobiodiversity local adaptation. A focus regionally available natural resources reduces vulnerabilities external factors. Adaptive are strengthened through high degree flexibility responsiveness achieved self-organization polycentric organizational structures. Broad participation, shared learning spaces for experimentation support respond diverse challenges. Commons-based approaches thus strengthen long-term systems.