The Darwin Initiative in Guatemala: Agricultural Biodiversity
The Development Fund is enhancing our work on climate adaptation and food security in Guatemala through a new programme: The Darwin Initiative.
Strengthening local food systems
The Darwin Initiative is a British government grant scheme that contributes to the conservation of biodiversity and the improvement of living conditions for the local population.
The three-year programme aims to strengthen local food production systems through participatory plant breeding, networks of seed banks, and the collection of wild seed types. In addition to our partner Asocuch in Guatemala, farmer organisations and research institutions from Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras are also participating.
These are the main objectives:
- At least 3,000 rural families will gain access to new improved varieties produced through participatory plant breeding in 100 communities.
- At least 5,000 families will benefit from 36 seed banks.
- At least 20 communities will contribute to preserving local seed varieties important for food and nutrition security.
- Women will gain increased influence with access to and use of plant varieties that meet their preferences.
Participatory plant breeding
The programme aims to strengthen agro-biological diversity by developing varieties through participatory plant breeding, with a special focus on beans and maize. It is a goal that these plant varieties will be adapted to climate changes, such as warmer and drier weather. Farmers will therefore receive training in participatory plant breeding and quality seed production.
Strengthening food security
Beans are an important protein source for millions of Central Americans every day. The programme will collect local bean varieties and make them available for breeding at the regional level (Central America). One goal of the programme is to strengthen the collaboration between local seed banks and national gene banks in the region. By producing seeds of maize and beans that withstand climate changes, food security in Central America will be improved.
Exchanging experiences
The programme started with a gathering in August 2023 in Antigua, Guatemala, involving various agricultural and research stakeholders from the four countries. Representatives from Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras exchanged experiences about plant breeding and the distribution of maize and bean varieties.
