2nd International Home Gardens Workshop
Human aspects  Home Gardens  Socioeconomics and Policy

Contribution of home gardens to in situ conservation
of plant genetic resources in farming systems

17–19 July 2001, Witzenhausen, Germany

PROCEEDINGS FORTHCOMING

Sponsored by

- German Foundation for International Development (DSE),
- Food and Agriculture Development Centre (ZEL),
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH,
- International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI),
- University Gesamthochschule Kassel (GhK),
- International Centre for Advanced Education (IBZW)

General Information

Home gardens are micro-environments containing high levels of species and genetic diversity within larger farming systems. These gardens are not only important sources of food, fodder, fuel, medicines, spices, construction materials and income in many countries around the world, but are also important for in situ conservation of a wide range of plant genetic resources. Home gardens are dynamic systems; their structure, composition, and species and cultivar diversity are influenced by changes in the socioeconomic circumstances and cultural values of the households that maintain these gardens. Understanding the factors and decision-making patterns that affect the management of home gardens is crucial for including home gardens as a strategic component of in situ conservation of agro-biodiversity. 

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through GTZ, (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit) has supported a three-year IPGRI research project on plant genetic resources in home gardens. This project has been implemented in partnership with national plant genetic resources programmes in five countries, Ghana, Vietnam, Guatemala, Cuba and Venezuela. The IPK-Gatersleben has served as the partner German institution working in the areas of genetic resources documentation and characterization. Based on the results that are emerging, the project is providing a framework for including home gardens as a distinct and important component of in situ conservation of agrobiodiversity. The case studies have also begun to establish a clear link between home garden diversity and household livelihoods and food security. As described in the project document agreed with our German partners BMZ/GTZ in 1998, we are planning the final home gardens project workshop.

  Workshop Objectives

The 2nd International Workshop on the Contribution of Home Gardens to the In Situ Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources in Farming Systems is convened as a technical meeting to present and review concrete results from the five countries and discuss ways to apply these results directly towards agrobiodiversity conservation and to improve food security and household incomes. The objectives are to:

• Present the results of the country research teams

• Discuss the research impacts and mainstreaming of outputs

• Formulate the final recommendations and follow up actions

An IPGRI/DSE publication of the papers and results presented at the workshop is envisaged, and we would appreciate receiving papers in a finished state for technical review. Other countries and stakeholders have joined in this research since the IPGRI-GTZ project began, they will be represented at the workshop to further extend and develop a holistic approach to agrobiodiversity conservation in home gardens.

Seminar Contents and Working Methods

The technical content of the meeting is organized around the three main research outputs of the global project:

• The structure and function of PGR diversity in home gardens and its documentation

• The genetic diversity of key species for conservation in home gardens

• Complementary conservation strategies for home gardens linked to household livelihoods and food security 

The technical discussions will be organized over three days. There will be plenary presentations to review and discuss project research results, plenary discussions and smaller working groups. Priority is given to discussion and participation over presentations. Presentations are not to exceed 30 minutes and contain the key methodological approaches and innovations as well as the key results and conclusions. For further detail, the presentations will be accompanied with full papers that participants may refer to. Sessions will have assigned rapporteurs and secretariat members to record the conclusions and proposed follow up actions. Special attention is given to the active involvement of all participants in the work­shop.

Target Group

The workshop is for Agrobiodiversity researchers from national plant genetic resources programmes, universities, regional and international organizations, and partners from development and donor organizations.

Contact Information

DSE Contact, organizing the international workshop:

• Dr Eckhard Hehne, Programme Director Plant Genetic Resources, DSE/ZEL, Referat 72.3, Eilenburger Strasse 14, D-04509 Zschortau, Germany

Tel: +(49)34202-845-0; Fax: +(49)34202-845-777; Email: zelzt@dse.de

IPGRI Contact, technical content:

• Dr Pablo Eyzaguirre, Senior Scientist, IPGRI Manager for the Home Gardens Project, Via dei Tre Denari 472/a, 00057 Maccarese, Rome, Italy

Tel: +(39)06-6118267; Fax: +(39)06-61979661; Email: p.eyzaguirre@cgiar.org

IBW Contact, logistics:

• Mr Michael Glameyer, Managing Director, Internationales Bildungzentrum Witzenhausen, Postfach 1362-Steinstrasse 19, D-37203 Witzenhausen

Tel: +(49)5542-60726; Fax: +(49)5542-60728; Email: info@ibw-witzenhausen.de

Venue and Accomodation

The workshop will take place in Witzenhausen at the university of Kassel, Faculty of Agriculture (GhK); Nordbahnhofstrasse 1a; 37213 Witzenhausen.

The workshop will take place in Witzenhausen at the University of Kassel—Faculty of Agriculture. Project-related participants will be accommodated by the International Centre for Advanced Training (IBW) in single rooms. For the entire duration of the workshop, IBW will bear the costs of board and lodging. All extra expenses for beverages, laundry, telephone, taxi, etc. have to be borne by the participants. Guests or visitors are also welcome to contact IBW, which can provide accommodation on site (100DEM/night, breakfast included) depending on the room availability.

Staff and Responsibilities

Seminar Organization and Coordination

• Dr Eckhard Hehne, Programme Director, DSE, Food and Agriculture Development Centre, Zschortau

• Prof. Dr G. Fischbeck, Chairman, Technische Universität München, Lehrstuhl für Pflanzenbau und Pflanzenzüchtung

• Dr Jan Engels, Director, Genetic Resources Science and Technology, International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), Rome

• Dr Pablo Eyzaguirre, IPGRI, Senior Scientist, Home Gardens Project Manager

• Prof. Karl Hammer, Agricultural International Development and Ecological Environment Protection Professor, University of Kassel

• Mr Michael Glameyer, IBW Managing Director

Moderation 

• Dr Theda Kirchner, DSE, Zschortau 

• Dr Olga Linares, Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC

Seminar Secretariat 

• Mrs Annie Huie, IPGRI, Rome 

• Miss Audrey Fabre, IBW, Witzenhausen

Preliminary Program

Monday, July 16th 2001

Arrival at Frankfurt Airport—Transfer to Witzenhausen by bus (participants sponsored by DSE) Registration of participants and visitors 

Tuesday, July 17th 2001

• 8.00     Registration of visitors and guests




• 9.00     (Chairman: Prof. Karl Hammer)
             Official opening of the Workshop by a GhK representative
             Welcome by a DSE representative
             Welcome and Workshop Objectives by IPGRI director, Genetic Resources Science
             and Technology, Dr Jan Engels
             Introduction of the Workshop by Prof. Dr Fischbeck




• 10.15     Coffee break




• 10.45    (Chairman: J. Engels)         Home gardens: food security, livelihoods and
              agrobiodiversity conservation. Dr Pablo Eyzaguirre

• 11.00     Home gardens and genetic diversity in ecosystems. Dr Toby Hodgkin
  

• 11.30     Documentation of genetic resources in home gardens. Dr Helmut Knüpffer
  

• 12.00     General discussion of key themes
  

• 12.15     Presentation of Cuban Research Results
  

• 13.00     Lunch
  

• 14.00     (Chairman: Representative of the Vietnam team)
          Presentation of Guatemalan research results
  

• 14.45    Presentation of Venezuelan research results
  

• 15.30    Presentation of Ghanaian research results
  

• 16.15    Coffee Break
  

• 16.45    Presentation of Vietnamese research results




• 17.30    Close session




• 19.00    Evening event in the Greenhouse, including a guided tour of Germany's ’Largest Tropical Homegardens' (snacks provided)

Wednesday, July 18th 2001

• 9.00    Characterizing genetic diversity of key home garden species, Dr David Williams

• 9.45    Plenary discussion of Agrobiodiversity ecosystem and genetic diversity management issues across countries. Moderator: Dr O. Linares
  

• 10.30     Coffee break

• 9.00     Working groups on thematic topics—Session 1

-         Group A: PGR conservation in home gardens: ecosystems and key species

-         Group B: In situ conservation strategies for home gardens as components of complementary conservation strategies for plant genetic resources

-         Group C: Documentation and measurement of genetic diversity in home gardens

·   13.00     Lunch

·      14.00              Report of the three working groups with plenary discussion

·      16.00              Coffee break

·      16.30              Implications for countries outside the project: Nepal and Ethiopia  

•  17.30              Close session

·      19.00              Dinner Reception

Thursday, July 19th 2001

·   9.00            (Chairman: P. Eyzaguirre) Contributions of homegardens to our knowledge on cultivated plant species: the Mansfeld approach.  K. Hammer 

·      9.30              Documenting plant genetic resources in home gardens: contributions to national and global databases—online presentation. Dr J. Ochsmann, Dr H. Knupffer, Dr V. Afanasyev, Mr K. Roose  

•  10.00            Contributions of home garden agrobiodiversity to development, nutrition, and household livelihoods. P. Eyzaguirre

·      10.30             Working Groups on Mainstreaming Contributions from the Project

·      11.00              Coffee break

·      11.30             (Chairman: representative of the Cuban Team) Continue Working Groups: follow up actions and priorities for future work on managing home gardens agrobiodiversity for development

·      13.00              Lunch

·      14.30          (Chairman: J. Engels)  Plenary presentation of working group results; Plenary discussion of home gardens as a global conservation and development strategy for diverse and sustainable ecosystems and livelihoods future priorities and partners

·      16.30              Coffee break

·      17.00              Official Closing of the Workshop

·      19.30              Farewell Dinner and Party

Friday, July 20th 2001

·   Contact Fair throughout  the day/Transfer to Frankfurt Airport by bus (project-related participants)

Poster Presentations

During coffee breaks, the following posters will be presented:

Mansfield's Encyclopedia and Database on Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Species by J. Ochsmann, H. Knupffer, Dr N. Biermann, Dr K. Bachmann 

Tropical Homegardens in Vietnam by K. Roose

The Home Garden Database and Information System: Technical Aspects by V. Afanasyev, J. Ochsmann, H. Knupffer

Ethnobotany of genetic resources in Germany: diversity in city gardens of Turkish immigrants by Dr Th. Gladis, Witzenhausen

Contact: Pablo Eyzaguirre

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