This handbook covers a whole range of issues relating to local seed supply systems, including participatory plant breeding, and both technical and practical information on seed production and variety maintenance. It suggests new approaches and methods to support on-farm seed production by small-scale farmers in developing countries.

The first part of the book describes the functioning of local seed systems and discusses their strengths, limitations and possibilities for improvement. The editors discuss in detail issues of genetic diversity and in-situ conservation, farmers' rights...

"Research in Action" engages with the challenges a researcher faces when wanting to live up to meet the challenges of contemporary science and contribute to innovation and social change. This ambition to contribute to change raises many questions. How to define the main target group of the research? What role does this group play in the research? Which methods of data collection are most appropriate? Who are the commissioners of the research and do their interests match with those of the prime target group? How to deal with power relationships in research situations? What do these issues mean...