Case Study: Conservation of two Bahamian hot pepper varieties

Presented atLATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN REGIONAL

WORKSHOP ON SUSTAINABLE USE

13-16 September 2005, Buenos Aires

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The Bahamas…

Total land mass, about 5400 sq miles

– 700 islands and cays– Low lying lands, no rivers– No rivers

distributed over 100,000 sq. miles of the Atlantic Ocean

population approx. 300,000– 68% New Providence– 16% Grand Bahama

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Tourism – 60 % GDP

Financial Sector– 8 % GDP

Agriculture & Manufacturing

– 10 % GDP

Other– 22 %

The Bahamian Economy

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Food Supplies

– IMPORT based economy

– 80% + retail food supply from the US

– Local Agriculture: Citrus fruits Bananas Vegetables Pork Poultry Root crops

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The Current Status : Seed Imports

Mainly from USA, also from UK, New Zealand;

Forage, lawn grasses, ornamentals, vegetables, fruits

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Hot Pepper Seed Production

Efforts are being made to improve the production and maintenance of the Bahamian Goat and Finger peppers.

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Insect Proof Structures

Isolation cages for multiplication of true to type plants

Nursery structure:– Note the double entrance

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Seedling Production

Taking care of seedlings in the nursery

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Quality Declared Goat Pepper Seeds

Improved seeds produced and packaged for distribution to local farmers

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DNA Fingerprinting

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WHY TEST ?

Preserve natural resources:Preserve natural resources:– Unique plant & animal species

preservation

Potential to exploit niche marketsPotential to exploit niche markets– Certified non - GMO products

Increase Crop Hardiness & YieldIncrease Crop Hardiness & Yield – Selection of seeds with desired

characteristics

Identification of imported GMOs Identification of imported GMOs – accidental /deliberate imports

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The Current Status : Seed Testing

Gladstone Road LaboratoryGladstone Road Laboratory

– Viability– Storage– Phenotype– Seed improvement

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The Current Status : Seed Testing

Available resourcesAvailable resources :– Seed TechnologistsSeed Technologists– Science OfficersScience Officers– Seed GerminatorSeed Germinator– Moisture analysisMoisture analysis

SEED WEIGHING USING A PRECISION SCALE

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The Bahamas & Convention on Biological Diversity

became a signatory on Sept.2nd 1993

Convened stakeholder workshops to develop a National Biosafety Framework (NBF)

Participating in ongoing capacity building exercises

Draft NBF legislation prepared (not yet tabled)

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Where do we go from here?

Regulatory oversight Legislation Public Education Communication Capacity Building

– Testing facilities– Training

Address questions and concerns

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Presented by Presented by

Dr. Kenneth Richardson Dr. Kenneth Richardson

Senior Agricultural OfficerSenior Agricultural Officer

The Ministry of Agriculture & FisheriesThe Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries

The BahamasThe Bahamas

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Resources…

www.fao.org/biotech/stat/asp http://gmo-crl.jrc.it/ http://www.gmabrands.com www.usda.gov www.ngfa.org www.portfolio21.com www.best.bs www.grains.org

www.fpc.state.gov www.fas.usda.gov http://europa.edu.int www.ams.usda.gov www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook http://schoolsforchiapas.org/Maya_seeds/

Purpose.htm