Transformation-Knowledge Towards a
Gender-Equitable and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity

The BioDIVA research group, hosted by the Hannover Institute of Environmental Planning is  funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for a duration of four years. BioDIVA is part of the socio-ecological research programme (SÖF/FONA) and seeks to cross disciplinary boundaries by enhancing inter- and transdisciplinary research.

As stated by the project leader Dr. habil Martina Padmanabhan, BioDIVA focuses on developing instruments towards a sustainable use of agrobiodiversity while strengthening women’s key position and capabilities in agrobiodiversity management. At the case of rice-biodiversity in the Western Ghats of Kerala, South India, the interactions between social, economic, ecological and institutional processes are at the centre of this research endeavour.

BioDIVA Explores the Sustainable and Gender-Equitable Use of Agrobiodiversity

BioDIVA is an direct response to the rapid loss of biodiversity and local species in agricultural systems. The state of Kerala has a high variety of local rice landraces in the uplands. However, recent and ongoing changes in land use are accompanied by a degradation of argoecosystems and the transformation of gender relations. The research project builds on interdisciplinary research in rural sociology, ecology, land use change, gender studies as well as institutional and resource economy. Moreover, BioDIVA integrates non-academic knowledge in order to foster the understanding of real-life problems. The overall aim is to develop strategies towards the generation of transformation knowledge for sustainable futures.The key strategic partners are the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in Chennai, India, the German International Cooperation (GIZ) in Eschborn, Germany, and the International Food and Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington, USA.