The world’s food security is at risk, as 75% of global food comes from just 12 plant species and 5 animal sources. Wheat, rice, and corn alone provide half of the world’s calories, making the food system vulnerable to climate change, pests, and diseases. The CGIAR Foresight Initiative predicts that 22% of wild crop species could go extinct by 2055, and 9% of domesticated mammal breeds were already lost by 2016. These trends threaten both agriculture and food security worldwide.
Agrobiodiversity—the variety of plants, animals, and microorganisms in food production—is crucial for a sustainable food system. While over 30,000 plants are edible, only 6,000 are consumed, and just 700 are grown on a large scale. India, with its rich ecosystems, is home to over 9,000 plant species, many used for thousands of years. Protecting this biodiversity is vital for food security and farmers' livelihoods.
Traditional crops, or landraces, are valuable for their resilience. For example, the Flood Resistance 13A gene from a rice landrace in Odisha has led to the development of flood-tolerant rice varieties.
Odisha’s tribal regions are rich in agrobiodiversity, with unique rice varieties, millets, and medicinal plants. The Koraput region, a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Site, is the birthplace of the Aus rice variety. Festivals like Nuakhaiand Raja celebrate these crops and enhance agricultural diversity.
Raimati Ghiuria, a farmer from Koraput, has preserved over 70 rice varieties and 30 types of millets. Her work has earned recognition, highlighting the importance of conserving traditional crops. The Shree Anna Abhiyan and International Year of Millets (2023) have brought attention to this effort.
The Odisha government has launched initiatives to promote agrobiodiversity, such as releasing traditional rice and millet varieties, creating seed systems, and registering over 900 farmer-developed varieties. Programs like Shree Anna Abhiyan and SPPIF have mapped landraces in over 500 villages. Crop diversity blocks in 30 districts aim to increase on-farm diversity, while specific varieties like Kala Jeera rice and Kandhamal Haladi turmeric have received Geographical Indication (GI) status to protect their heritage.
Additionally, Odisha is reviving neglected crops, supporting smallholder farmers and restoring traditional foods.
Investing in agrobiodiversity, supporting community leaders like Raimati, and promoting local food cultures are key to securing a resilient, sustainable food future for generations to come.
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