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Agrobiodiversity

Small Learning Units for teaching in agrobiodiversity

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Welcome to the online course: Agrobiodiversity

Agrobiodiversity encompasses the variety and variability of plants, animals, and microorganisms used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture. This diversity is not just about the different species of crops or livestock; it also includes the genetic differences within those species and the ecosystems that support them. Agrobiodiversity plays a critical role in ensuring food security, environmental sustainability, and resilience to climate change. The online course contains aspects of agrobiodiversity in the context of the sustainable development goals and the availability of resources. It also presents sustainable forms of land management. Various teaching materials are available to participants. There are annotated slides on the topics of biodiversity, agrobiodiversity, global land use, natural resources, cropping systems as well as agroforestry. There are also videos on geoinformatics and environmental economics. The course content is regularly updated. Additionally, students can test their understanding through test questions and can work on tasks independently to reinforce their knowledge and explore deeper insights within the subject area.
TARGET GROUP
  • students of agriculture
  • everybody who is interested
COURSE INFORMATION

DATE: flexible, start is possible at any time
FEE: free of charge
LANGUAGE: english
COURSE TYPE: online course

COURSE CONTENT:
  • an Videointroduction to agrobiodiversity
  • Agrobiodiversity: documents with further explanations
  • Land use: documents with further explanations
  • Resources and Planetary Boundries: documents with further explanations
  • Copping Systems & Agroforesty: documents with further explanations
  • Geoinformatic
LECTURES

Prof. Dr. Bettina Eichler-Löbermann, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock

Part one

Part two

Part three

This series on the use of underutilized plant species was created in the context of the UnderPlaNet project (DAAD SDG-partnerships No: 57702495). The author is Dong-Gill Kim from Hawassa University in Ethiopia. The videos show how plants can be used to better cope with the challenges of climate change and contribute to food security.
Underutilized Species for Food Security: Potentials, Challenges, and Pathways for Mainstreaming

Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS), also referred to as orphan or forbidden crops, represent an untapped potential for building resilient, sustainable, and nutritious food systems. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the profound potentialities of NUS in enhancing food security, improving nutritional outcomes, fostering climate resilience, and generating economic benefits. It also identifies the key constraints hindering their widespread adoption and proposes multi-faceted strategies, including advanced breeding approaches, improved agricultural practices, policy reforms, and market development, to integrate NUS into mainstream food systems and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially "Zero Hunger".
Drought Resilience of the Chakra Systems
 The Amazon rainforest is experiencing an increased frequency and intensity of drought events, posing significant threats to its unique biodiversity and the livelihoods of its inhabitants. Traditional agroforestry systems, such as the "Chakra" systems practiced by indigenous communities, are often cited for their sustainability and potential resilience to environmental stressors. Key resilience factors identified include high agrobiodiversity, enhanced soil health and water retention, microclimate regulation, and the integral role of traditional ecological knowledge in adaptive management. While these systems demonstrate considerable potential, they also face challenges from external socio-economic pressures and the unprecedented scale of contemporary climate change. Further research is needed to quantify resilience thresholds and support the integration of these systems into broader climate adaptation strategies.
Drought Resilience of the Milpa System
The milpa system, a traditional Mesoamerican agroecosystem centered on the intercropping of maize, beans, and squash, represents a sophisticated approach to agriculture with origins dating back at least 3,000 years. Practiced across Mexico, Guatemala, and other parts of Central America, the milpa is not a static technique but a dynamic agroecological knowledge system.
Drought Resilience of Silvopastoral Systems
Silvopastoral systems, a distinct form of agroforestry, involve the deliberate integration of trees and/or shrubs with pasture and livestock production. Silvopastoral systems, which integrate trees, forage, and livestock, offer a promising strategy for enhancing drought resilience in agricultural landscapes. These systems can mitigate climate change impacts by increasing air humidity, reducing temperature extremes, and lowering fire risks. They also provide multiple environmental benefits, including improved soil fertility, water conservation, and carbon sequestration. Studies have shown that silvopasture can alleviate drought stress for certain tree species, such as Pinus strobus, while maintaining hydrologic regulation functions. These systems are increasingly recognized for their potential to enhance agricultural sustainability and resilience, particularly in the context of drought.
Drought Resilience of Fruit Tree-based Agroforestry
This excerpt highlights that fruit tree-based agroforestry systems offer a robust approach to sustainable agriculture, particularly in drought-prone regions. It describes how these systems, which integrate fruit trees with crops and/or livestock, mimic natural ecosystems and are found globally, including in Sub-Saharan Africa, India, Vietnam, Cuba, and Brazil. The text explains that the drought resilience of these systems stems from physiological adaptations of fruit trees like deep roots and efficient water use, improved soil water dynamics through enhanced infiltration and water holding capacity, and beneficial microclimate modifications created by tree canopies. These combined mechanisms help these agricultural systems maintain productivity even when conventional methods fail during dry periods.

Inhalt

Ordner

scripts for the course