The Bolivian National Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Innovation (INIAF) has recognized "custodian farmers" as key actors in the conservation of agricultural biodiversity, giving them equal status to gene bank managers in the Bolivian National Plant Genetic Resources System.
30 May 2014: The Bolivian National Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Innovation (INIAF) has recognized “custodian farmers” as key actors in the conservation of agricultural biodiversity, giving them equal status to gene bank managers in the Bolivian National Plant Genetic Resources System.
The formal recognition was made through a ‘Manifesto of Gratitude’ that was signed by INIAF during a custodian farmer workshop, which convened on 30 April 2014, in La Paz, Bolivia. The workshop also established a Network of Custodian Farmers as part of the National Network of Centres of Biodiversity, which coordinates actors contributing to in situ conservation of agricultural biodiversity.
The Network of Custodian Farmers was initiated by the Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) Project supported by Bioversity International and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). A press release issued by the NUS project notes that this is the first time a government has officially recognized custodian farmers as equal actors to gene bank managers in conserving agricultural biodiversity.
Bioversity International is a part of the CGIAR consortium. [Bioversity International Press Release][NUS Project Press Release][INIAF Press Release (in Spanish)][INIAF Manifesto of Gratitude]