Public database for the evaluation of underutilised crops
The current agricultural system is largely characterised by standardised cropping systems and supply chains and low variation in species and genetic diversity. There is a need to evaluate underutilised genetic resources (plant species, varieties, or breeds that have potential for contributing to food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture, and rural livelihoods but are not widely used) to improve the resilience of the system.
The DIVERSIFOOD project conducted trials on underutilised crops within varying pedoclimatic and socio-economic contexts. Public information resources were developed as part of the project, including:
- An inventory of underutilised crops, including information on their environmental, agronomic and quality aspects and their potential uses in a Europe.
- A database and user guide to communicate the results of underutilised crop trials within the project, integrating 16 datasets from 55 individual experiments (with each experiment being linked to one location in one crop season).
Locations were spread across 10 partner countries, including the UK, Netherlands and France. The database was not intended to be a final product, but a common resource which evolves overtime to include ongoing research. Much of the research involved in DIVERSIFOOD, including crop evaluation, has continued through the LIVESEEDING project (2021-2025).
These resources are intended to facilitate further participatory crop evaluations, by enabling communities engaged in testing and using a diversity of plant genetic resources to collect, share, and base their decisional processes on structured evidence. For the Irish context, as elsewhere it is important to explore crop varieties that are resilient and responsive to social and climate change and local weather extremes, and these resources may be useful in this process.
Find out more about this innovation by contacting Claire at claire@erinn.eu.
