My Life with Plants: A journey to new ways of breeding garden varieties

Richard Gibson found that participatory plant breeding was the solution to the problem of African smallholders rejecting varieties bred for them on research stations, but modern varieties of vegetables had not been bred to be fit for gardeners' purposes. PPB seems appropriate, but recent developments enable it to work for UK gardeners.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 224 pages
\n Publication date: 22 January 2021
\n Publisher: The Conrad Press
\n

After a long and illustrious career in agricultural research, spanning both the United Kingdom and Africa, Richard Gibson finally decided to hang up his boots and embrace retirement. However, his passion for agriculture and his desire to make a positive impact on the lives of smallholder farmers remained unwavering. In his work, Gibson had come to realize that many African smallholders often rejected varieties bred for them on research stations, citing their lack of suitability and relevance to their specific needs. This realization led him to champion the concept of participatory plant breeding (PPB), a methodology that involves farmers actively participating in the breeding process to develop varieties that are tailored to their specific requirements and preferences.

Gibson's findings were somewhat surprising, as he had assumed that modern varieties of vegetables had been meticulously bred to meet the demands of gardeners and consumers alike. However, he discovered that commercial interests had often dominated the breeding process, resulting in varieties that were optimized for yield, shelf life, and transportation rather than for taste, nutritional value, and resilience to local conditions.

Despite the challenges posed by these findings, Gibson remained steadfast in his belief that PPB was the key to unlocking the potential of African smallholder farmers. He recognized that by involving farmers in the breeding process, they could develop varieties that were not only more suitable to their needs but also more resilient to the harsh environmental conditions that they faced on a daily basis.

However, Gibson also acknowledged that PPB was not a panacea and that it required some very recent and exciting developments to work effectively for UK gardeners. He recognized that the UK's climate and soil conditions were different from those in Africa, and that the challenges that farmers faced in the UK were unique and diverse.

To address these challenges, Gibson worked tirelessly to develop new PPB methodologies that were tailored to the specific needs of UK gardeners. He collaborated with researchers, breeders, and farmers to identify the most pressing issues facing gardeners in the UK and to develop new varieties that were optimized for these conditions.

One of the key developments that Gibson spearheaded was the use of precision breeding techniques, such as genomics and molecular markers, to identify the genetic traits that were most important for resilience, taste, and nutritional value. By using these techniques, Gibson was able to develop new varieties that were not only more resistant to pests and diseases but also had a higher yield and better flavor than traditional varieties.

Another important development was the use of community gardens. Gibson recognized that PPB was not just about developing new varieties but also about building strong and resilient communities of farmers. He worked to establish farmer-to-farmer networks and to provide training and support to farmers so that they could develop their own PPB programs and share their knowledge and expertise with others.

Gibson's work in PPB has had a significant impact on the lives of African smallholder farmers. By developing new varieties that are tailored to their specific needs and preferences, farmers have been able to increase their yields, improve their livelihoods, and reduce their reliance. Gibson's work has also inspired a new generation of farmers in the UK to embrace PPB and to work towards developing more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.

In conclusion, Richard Gibson's long and illustrious career in agricultural research has led him to champion the concept of participatory plant breeding (PPB) as a solution to the challenges faced by African smallholder farmers. Through his work, Gibson has demonstrated that PPB is not just about developing new varieties but also about building strong and resilient communities of farmers and inspiring a new generation of farmers in the UK to embrace PPB and work towards developing more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems. Gibson's legacy will continue to inspire and empower farmers around the world for generations to come.

\n Weight: 212g\n
Dimension: 128 x 196 x 30 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781913567422\n \n