Seed Systems and opportunity crops
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Seed systems of opportunity crops
and the diversification of food systems
NEW DATES: 23 March - 3 April 2025
Uganda
Apply before 16 December 2024!
Scope
Increased production of opportunity crops - also referred to as neglected or underutilised species (NUS) - in agricultural landscapes is a proven means of promoting food system diversification and nutritional security. The goal of this course is to co-develop knowledge among practitioners and researchers to increase the value and role of NUS in seed- and food- systems. This course follows and will build on the earlier postgraduate course 'Participatory Plant Breeding and Resilient Seed Systems' (2022) and ‘Smallholder Engagement in Seed Systems’ (2023).
The overall outcome of the course should contribute to the formulation of a research and development practice agenda of the two projects that run in the field sites under the auspices of Alliance CIAT Bioversity (Mbarara area in the west) and ESAFF/Pelu/Oxfam (Soroti area in the east). In both projects the strengthening of livelihoods of communities and their seed and food systems of opportunity crops are central objectives. Community seed banks and Farmer Field Schools are part of the project in the Mbarare and Soroti area respectively.
The course will start with a general introduction to seed systems and related discussions. Thereafter participant groups will carry out field work: they will make an analysis of the livelihoods in rural communities and how opportunity crops play a role in their income and nutrition, in the face of climate change. This involves observations and interviews in these local communities. The collected information should serve a diagnosis of challenges and provide input in the way the improvement of seed systems of these crops can contribute. Approaches and methods that are relevant for the field work assignment will be part of the learning goals of the course program. The course will run from 23 march till 3 April 2025. The start and finish will be in the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (near Kampala). Field sites are approximately 30 min away from Mbarare and Soroti, the towns where participants will stay during the field days.
Course set up
As preparation to the course, participants have to attend three introductory online webinars which will be held in the afternoons of 6, 11 and 13 March 2025 (to be confirmed)
- 6 March: The discussions on formal and informal seed systems and their governance. Conny Almekinders (WUR) and Ola Westengen (NMBU)
- 11 March: Seed systems of three Andean minor crops. Learning from experiences. Stef de Haan (CIP, WUR)
- 13 March: The history of crops and people. Erik Schranz, Tinde van Andelst et al. (WUR)
The program in Uganda will consist of 3 parts:
Firstly, 3 days of on-campus/class room activities: a mixture of presentations, class room and group discussions (mornings) and preparatory group work for the in-field assignment. Instructions by/consultation of experts who are full time available.
- Outlining/identifying the problems and debates around the NUS, their seed and food systems
- Formulation and design of the field assignment (preparation of the case studies by the groups, based on inputs from the classroom presentations)
- Design of the system analysis in the field: how do the identified problems and debates look like in a local context, from the perspective of local stakeholders; formulation of a problem statement and intervention opportunities.
- Ingredients: stakeholder analysis, social network analysis, role of seed banks, formal sector, political and power elements
Secondly, 5 days of field work: a field-study with a research assignment. The groups will travel to their respective sites where they will collect data on their case. There will be 4-5 groups of participants who will each have their own case-site. Two or three groups will study a community near Mbarara, the other groups will carry out the study near Soroti. Both study sites are part of an international project in which NUS crops are central components.
Lastly, groups will spend 3 days back on campus to analyse their data and prepare for reporting back on their field work. Finally, a synthesis of the results will be attempted.
Find the preliminary programme here.
Course Organisers
Leadership of the course curriculum: Stef de Haan (Biosystematics - WUR), Ola Westengen (NMBU, Norway) and Conny Almekinders (KTI - WUR) and partners:
- Makerere University Regional Center for Crop Improvement (MaRCCI https://rcci.mak.ac.ug/)and the Department of Extension and Innovation Studies, Makerere University
- ESAFF/Pelum-Uganda and Oxfam (field study hosts)
- Alliance CIAT - Bioversity (field study hosts)
The course is organised under the auspices of the Graduate School Production Ecology and Resource Conservation (PE&RC), Wageningen University. The course is supported by NMBU, Oxfam and CIP.
General information
| Target Group |
The course is meant for PhD’s, postdocs and people with an academic background working in the field of plant breeding and seed systems. Participants are expected to be present at the course venue for the duration of the course. The course is relevant for natural and social science scholars who have an interest in questions like: what factors need to be considered in plant breeding and seed programs for NUS crops? What does the governance of these seeds and varieties look like in terms of national, international seed laws and local norms and values? How can the seed systems of these crops be studied at community level? And what role do the crops play for rural households? How should seed system development of these crops be supported through development-oriented interventions? What are farmers’ perspectives and how can these be taken into account? |
| Group Size | Min. 20, max. 25 participants. NOTE: PARTICIPANTS WILL BE SELECTED BASED ON MOTIVATION |
| Course duration | 12 days |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Number of credits | 4 ECTs (including preparatory seminars). Only those participants who join the full program, including the group work assignments, will receive a certificate. |
| Prior knowledge | Participants are expected to have at least an MSc degree and be fluent in English. Basic knowledge about plant breeding and/or seed systems is recommended. |
| Location | Kabanyolo Agricultural Institute and field sites near Soroti and Mbarara |
Fees 1
| FEE | |
| PE&RC / WIMEK / WASS / EPS / VLAG / WIAS PhDs and WU EngD candidates with an approved TSP2 | € 655,- |
| PE&RC postdocs and staff | € 1250,- |
| All other participants, academics, NGO and project staff | € 1350,- |
| Participants from private sector/industry | € 2500,- |
- 1 The course fee includes accommodation, all meals, course materials and local transport. It does not include drinks, and participants must organise and pay for their own travel to Uganda.
- 2 PhD candidates of Wageningen-based Graduate Schools pay half of the actual costs (€ 1250,-). Their respective Graduate Schools contribute the other half. We charge € 100,- overhead to 'All other participants, academics, NGO and project staff'
More information
Dr Conny Almekinders (Knowledge Technology and Innovation, WUR)
Phone: +31 (0) 639267018
Email: conny.almekinders@wur.nl
Miriam van Heist (Graduate School PE&RC)
Phone: +31 (0) 628521546
Email: miriam.vanheist@wur.nl
Registration
NOTE: Registration is open till December 16th 2024 9:00am. You will be informed before Christmas whether your application has been successful.
To apply for the course, we ask you to provide the details below and click "Register".