Smallholder farming systems in Southwest China: Exploring key trends and innovations for resilience

All over the world, we are rapidly losing a diversity of locally adapted crops and traditional knowledge, which provide resources for resilience and adaptation to climate change.

The SIFOR project (Smallholder Innovation for Resilience) aims to strengthen traditional knowledge-based innovation systems for food security in the face of climate change. This report presents findings from a baseline study conducted in 18 communities in Southwest China, which explored trends in livelihoods, crop diversity, social capital and climate, and traditional knowledge-based innovations. These include innovations developed jointly by ethnic communities and external partners, notably Participatory Plant Breeding and Community Supported Agriculture, which have strengthened resilience by enhancing food security, incomes and crop diversity.

To find out more about our work in this area, follow the link to visit the Biocultural Heritage web site.