Melhoramento participativo dos recursos genéticos locais em sistema familiar

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.8275212601043

• Palavras-chave: Agricultura familiar, Conservação, Integração, Participação.

• Keywords: Family farming, Conservation, Integration, Participation.

• Abstract: Local genetic resources are fundamental to the sustainability of small rural producers who rely on family farming for their livelihoods. This is directly related to the ability of these resources to adapt to different management practices and adverse environmental conditions, especially unfavorable situations with limited resources for investment in production technologies. Conventional breeding has promoted important improvements in productive sectors; however, the research developed so far does not adequately address the small proportion of producers who contribute to economic development through family farming. Programs and genotypes developed under ideal conditions are not suitable for the reality faced by these producers. In order to fill this gap, participatory breeding is an alternative approach based on the principle of integration between researchers and producers. Its main objective is to ensure producers’ participation in the development of breeding programs, granting them greater decision-making power. Thus, the aim is to develop breeding programs in which selection objectives are aligned with local market demands and the real needs of producers. For the conservation of animal genetic resources, this approach represents a promising alternative that can ensure improved productivity of local breeds without compromising their specific characteristics, such as adaptation and survival.