October 2014: A publication by Bioversity International presents the results of a pilot project on the use of agricultural biodiversity for mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. Initiated in Papua New Guinea in 2011, the project ‘Seeds for Needs,’ implemented in partnership with the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) of Papua New Guinea, combines information from sweet potato and taro genebanks, and geographic information systems (GIS) to predict future climate scenarios and shortlist the most useful crop varieties for farmers in adapting to climate change.

Papua New Guinea has rich agricultural biodiversity, with farmers growing over 200 species. Of the country’s seven million people, 70% depend on agriculture, which is strongly affected by environmental factors, including climate variation. Part of a global initiative by Bioversity International in 11 countries in Africa, the Americas and Asia-Pacific, the Seeds for Needs project in Papua New Guinea stems from the expectation that, in coming years climate change may further increase the frequency and intensity of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, which can cause either hurricanes or drought. The last severe episode of El Niño in the country, in 1997-1998, caused prolonged drought, widespread crop loss, hunger and loss of crop seeds and planting materials.

According to Bioversity International, the majority of farmers involved in the project have continued to use the crop varieties shortlisted by the initiative, with many sharing them with family and neighbors.

In addition to presenting the project, the short publication examines related gender and cultural aspects, and presents the views of several farmers involved in the project. Speaking on experience with the project, farmers from a mountain valley in Papua New Guinea explain how they have adopted new farming practices, including the use of spacing, crop rotation, planting of different crops, and planting at specific times to control pests and diseases.

Bioversity International is a global research-for-development organization that promotes sustainable global food and nutrition security. The organization is a part of the CGIAR consortium, and the Seeds for Needs initiative contributes to the CGIAR’s Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security. [Bioversity International Publication Webpage] [Publication: Seeds for Needs: Papua New Guinea] [Seeds for Needs Project Video on Youtube] [Bioversity International Website] [Seeds for Needs on Twitter]