Background	Agrodiversity broadens the concept of agricultural biodiversity from meaning simply genetic resources to meaning the landscape level biodiversity and the diversity of local social organizations and technologies that support biodiversity and reduce agricultural and ecological risks. Notwithstanding notable work by People, Land Management and Ecosystem Conservation (PLEC), and other initiatives, substantial knowledge gaps remain regarding multiple functions and values of agrodiversity for livelihoods (food security, income generation, and resilience to market fluctuation and environmental change, etc.) and ecosystem health(conservation of biodiversity, pest regulation, nutritional and water cycles, and carbon sequestration, et al). Special attention should be placed on integrated approaches to management of interactions of agrodiversity components rather than one single component per se, especially diversity management at landscape level. A major focus will be on policy and institutional options that value and support diversity management.
	Objectives	Building on lessons learned in agrodiversity management, including the PLEC experience, this project will aim to 1) develop models and policy approaches to mainstreaming ingenious agrodiversity systems in agriculture, resource conservation and poverty reduction; 2) upscale successful approaches to enhancing agrodiversity through multiregional training programs in Latin America, Africa and Asia and web-based information service (PLECserv brief and PLEC News & Views), and 3) promote South to South cooperation on comparative review and exchange of entrepreneurial knowledge for the management and sustainable development of biosphere reserves or similarly managed areas.
	Expected Outcomes	Models and policy approaches to mainstreaming ingenious agrodiversity systems in agriculture and resource management and case studies of 2-3 agricultural heritage systems in developing countries; Three regional training programs, one each for Latin America, Africa and Asia in the national agricultural systems of developing countries initiated. These include organization of pilot courses and production of model curricula ; 22 issues of PLECserv briefs of recent papers, and 2 issues of periodical on research methodology and development in agrobiodiversity, farmer innovation and farmers' technical knowledge published annually; Regional workshops organized and research networks strengthened and expanded.
	Partners	- UNU-INRA - FAO - IPGRI: In Situ Conservation of Agricultural Biodiversity - UNESCO: South-South Co-operation Programme - Center for Environmental Research & Conservation, Columbia University, USA - Universidade Federal do Para, Brazil - Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico (UAEM), Mexico - University of the West Indies, Jamaica - University of Ghana, Ghana - University of Conakry, Guinea - Chiang Mai University, Thailand - Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University - Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy, Chinese Academy of Sciences - Department of Anthropology, Australian National University
	Focal point	Liang Luohui, Dr. Shimako Takahashi
	PLEC webpage