ABSTRACT
Despite its demonstrated efficiency, participatory plant breeding (PPB) has not gained widespread acceptance. Selection theory and variety adoption dynamics provide the scientific basis of PPB. Decentralized selection (selection in the target environment) yields greater genetic gains, particularly with heterogeneous target populations, as is common in marginal environments. Moreover, when the efficiency of a plant breeding programme is measured by both the genetic gain and by a measure of adoption, PPB has been shown to increase the probability of adoption, biodiversity and hence nutritional quality; it also has a higher benefit/cost ratio than non-participatory breeding. However, PPB has failed to gain favour even in institutions working to reduce poverty and malnutrition, promote improved livelihoods and assist marginal farmers. Its wider adoption has been hindered by reluctance to accept the implicit paradigm shift regarding seed sovereignty and food sovereignty. We propose evolutionary participatory plant breeding (EPPB) as an alternative: it has many of the advantages of PPB, but is more effective in bringing back diversity in farmers’ fields without necessarily requiring the support of a scientific institution.
