Preserving Biodiversity Through the Peanut CRSP

J H “Tim” Williams

University of Georgia

PCRSP approach to Biodiversity

• Biod preservation needs – Value associated with biod to justify management– Value greater than the opportunity cost of alternatives

• Alternate economic/social development.

• Peanut biodiversity has value to peanut industry• Technologies that minimize use of chemicals

have environmental and biod benefits• BioD is both preserved and challenged by

development– Poverty associated risks to biodiversity.

• Direct CRSP Biod Interests– Restricted to peanut wild species

preservation, conservation, description

• Indirect Biod Benefits– Incentive to destroy decreased by alternate

economic opportunity– Lower chemical utilization IPM– Lower fossil fuel utilization – Less land clearing

History

• Biodiversity has been secondary objective. – Using and preserving Arachis diversity

• Collection, description, and evaluation• Introgression of useful genes

– IPM– Economic development

• Belize Case Study

Present

• Economic development in critical areas– Guyana– Bolivia– Philippines

• IPM – Global

• Biodiversity description– Genomics

Guyana Case Study

• Socio Environmental BaselinePopulation, Industry, Opportunity

• Changes since 2001– Production– Economics

• Earnings• Employment

– Environment

Baseline

In 5 years in Guyana

• Production

• Economy

• Employment

• Nutrition

Production

Economic

Employment

Nutrition

PCRSP IPM

• Global Scope (genetics and husbandry)– Ghana

• Soap based fungicides– Value to local oil-trees and wood ash– Economic benefits of greater production– Erosion

• Insecticides

– USA• Reduced chemicals• Reduced energy use

Peanut Biodiversity

• Biodiversity description– evaluation– genomics

• Exploitation– Nematode resistant lines

• Productivity maintained• Chemicals avoided

Missed and Potential Opportunities

• Aflatoxin in Brazil Nuts

• Peanut Pastures and Recreational Use– Urban chemical– Wild-life nutrition

• Global warming– Bio-diesel– Forest preservation– Nitrogen fixation