Transcript Document

Case Study: Conservation of two Bahamian
hot pepper varieties
Presented at
LATIN AMERICAN AND
CARIBBEAN REGIONAL
WORKSHOP ON SUSTAINABLE
USE
13-16 September 2005,
Buenos Aires
The Bahamas…
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Total land mass, about
5400 sq miles
–
700 islands and cays
– Low lying lands, no rivers
– No rivers
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distributed over 100,000
sq. miles of the Atlantic
Ocean
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population approx. 300,000
–
68% New Providence
– 16% Grand Bahama
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The Bahamian Economy

Tourism
–
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Financial Sector
–
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10 % GDP
Other
–
3
8 % GDP
Agriculture &
Manufacturing
–

60 % GDP
22 %
Food Supplies
–
IMPORT based
economy
–
80% + retail food
supply from the US
–
Local Agriculture:
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Citrus fruits
Bananas
Vegetables
Pork
Poultry
Root crops
The Current Status :
Seed Imports
Mainly from USA, also
from UK, New Zealand;
Forage, lawn grasses,
ornamentals,
vegetables, fruits
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Hot Pepper Seed Production
Efforts are being made
to improve the
production and
maintenance of the
Bahamian Goat and
Finger peppers.
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Insect Proof Structures
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Isolation cages for
multiplication of true to
type plants
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Nursery structure:
–
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Note the double entrance
Seedling Production
Taking care of
seedlings in the nursery
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Quality Declared Goat Pepper
Seeds
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Improved seeds
produced and
packaged for
distribution to local
farmers
DNA Fingerprinting
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WHY TEST ?
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Preserve natural resources:
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Potential to exploit niche markets
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Selection of seeds with desired
characteristics
Identification of imported GMOs
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Certified non - GMO products
Increase Crop Hardiness & Yield
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Unique plant & animal species
preservation
accidental /deliberate imports
The Current Status :
Seed Testing
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Gladstone Road Laboratory
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Viability
Storage
Phenotype
Seed improvement
The Current Status :
Seed Testing
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Available resources :
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Seed Technologists
Science Officers
Seed Germinator
Moisture analysis
SEED WEIGHING USING A
PRECISION SCALE
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The Bahamas & Convention on Biological Diversity
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became a signatory on Sept.2nd 1993
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Convened stakeholder workshops to develop a National
Biosafety Framework (NBF)
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Participating in ongoing capacity building exercises
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Draft NBF legislation prepared (not yet tabled)
Where do we go from here?
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Regulatory oversight
Legislation
Public Education
Communication
Capacity Building
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Testing facilities
Training
Address questions and
concerns
Presented by
Dr. Kenneth Richardson
Senior Agricultural Officer
The Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries
The Bahamas
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Resources…
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www.fao.org/biotech/stat/asp
http://gmo-crl.jrc.it/
http://www.gmabrands.com
www.usda.gov
www.ngfa.org
www.portfolio21.com
www.best.bs
www.grains.org
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www.fpc.state.gov
www.fas.usda.gov
http://europa.edu.int
www.ams.usda.gov
www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook
http://schoolsforchiapas.org/Maya_seeds/Pur
pose.htm