Whyavalorisationstrategy?

The enhancement of agrobiodiversity builds on thesocial acknowledgment of its multiple values(environmental, ethical and cultural values), in all theirmanifestations, from the agro-ecological systems to thediet patterns. In this regard, the appreciation of the‘diversefoodproducts’intheconsumptionpracticesiscrucial.

TheDIVERSIFOODprojecthasconsideredthepromotionandvalorisationoftheseproductsinthemarketasanintegralpartofabroader,collectiveactionaimedatstrengtheningandpromotingthewhole production-consumption systems based on more diverse genetic resources, thusguaranteeingtheirsustainableuse.

Thedefinitionandimplementationofavalorisationstrategyisthereforeconsideredasamulti-actor process, based on the interaction among the various actors involved in breeding, farming,processing and consumption of the final products. Connection with similar pathways may offerfurtheropportunitiestobroaderactionsofagrobiodiversityvalorisation.

Amulti-actorandmulti-dimensionalprocess

DIVERSIFOOD has described the valorisation strategy as composed of five action areas closelyinterdependent:• mobilisation of genetic resources: actions aimed at knowing and managing the varietiesrelevant for local farming and consumptionsystems;

• definitionofspecificquality:actionstoidentifyandcodifytheattributesofdiverseproducts;

• marketing and communication: choices andtools to manage products in the market andconvey values embodied in products andproductionssystems;

• integration with other projects: inter-connections with other projects/strategies, atlocalandbroaderscale;

• effectiveness and sustainability: capacity ofthe initiatives to contribute to agrobiodiversityenhancement,andtolastovertime.

DIVERSIFOOD INNOVATION FACTSHEET #12, February 2018

ATFIRSTGLANCE

Themarketvalorisationof‘diversefoodproducts’iscrucialtoincreasediversityinfarmingsystems.Itinvolvesmultiple

actors,fromthefieldtothetable,andrequiresanintegrated

approachtotakeintoaccountseveraldimensionsinvolved.

BUILDINGVALORISATIONSTRATEGIESFORBIODIVERSEPRODUCTS–THEAPPROACH

The valorisation strategy is also seen as a multi-dimensional process. Understanding thefunctioningofeachstageofthevalorisationprocessandthewaysitcaneffectivelyworkimpliestotakeintoconsiderationseveralaspects:

•technicalities and knowledge around theimplementation of activities and processes that arecompletelyortoacertainextentnew;

•organisationalissuesassociatedwiththe-interactionamongthevariousactorsinvolved;

•institutional elements mobilised to manage thevariousactivities;

•political and legislativeaspects that affect activitiesandprocesses;

• social and cultural aspects involved in the severalprocessesthattakeplaceinthevalorisationstrategy;

• economic conditions where the new activities andprocessescanwork.

Studiedinitiatives

DIVERSIFOODhasdevelopedfivecasestudies,chosenasexamplesofvalorisationstrategiesinFrance,UKand Italy.Theyareallmarketing initiatives forbreadproducedusing landraces/oldwheatvarieties/newlybreedwheatvarietiesthroughparticipatorybreeding:

• ITALY: three regional initiatives, involvingnetworks of farmers and processors, incooperation with Rete Semi Rurali, engagedaround cultivation of old wheat varieties,landracesandpopulations,andtraditionalbreadmaking. Participatory breeding, production ofbreadwithhealthyproperties, shortchainsandterritorial embeddedness characterise theseinitiatives.

• FRANCE: a national programme, financed by public funds, involving a wide networkincluding farmers gathered into local farmers' association belonging to Réseau SemencesPaysannes. The aim is developingnewpopulation-varieties adapted to organic agriculture,free of intellectual property, farmer-managed, suitable for producing healthy flour andbread.

• UK:promotiononthemarketofproductsderived fromahugelydiversewheatpopulationthatistheresultofanevolutionarybreedingprogrammestarted15yearsagotoproduceapopulation suited for organic and low-input farming systems. Despite the long breedingprocess,theinitiativeisatanearlystage,thusthenumberofactorsinvolvedisstillsmallandthemarketchannelsarerelativelyundeveloped.

SuggestedreadingsBrunori, G., Rossi A., D’Amico S. (2018) A Comprehensive and participatory approach to the valorisation of biodiverseproducts,inA.Isoni,M.Troisi,M.Pierri(eds)FoodDiversitybetweenRights,DutiesandAutonomies.LegalPerspectivesforaScientificCulturalandSocialDebateontheRighttoFoodandAgroecology,LITES,vol.2,Basel,CH:SpringerInternationalPublishingAG;MargretWill(2008)PromotingValueChainsofNeglectedandUnderutilizedSpeciesforPro-PoorGrowthandBiodiversityConservation.GuidelinesandGoodPractices,GlobalFacilitationUnitforUnderutilizedSpecies(GFU),Rome.

This Innovation Factsheet is the result of the collectivework of DIVERSIFOOD partners, coordinated by AdanellaRossiandSimonaD'Amico(UNIPI)withthesupportofBernadetteOehen(FiBL)andTinaKovács(ÖMKI).