This issue of AGRIDAPE is about agrobiodiversity and highlights farmer led initiatives to conserve agrobiodiversity and moreover the important role of traditional knowledge for sustainable management of biological resources.
A number of articles illustrate the dynamic relationship between maintaining local knowledge and preserving agrobiodiversity. For example, in Benin, the use and knowledge of different Yam varieties is being preserved through various social networks with marriage, migration, trade and management practices all playing a part. From Mali, read about the co-existence of formal and informal seed systems.
Articles in this issue also show how farming communities deal with challenges from climate change. For example in Senegal, the reintroduction of local seed varieties has supported the revival of rice production in a region with increased salinity.
