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This case study explores a decades long evolution towards a gender-responsive sorghum breeding program in Mali. With known disparities in men and women's access to the resources that improve agricultural productivity and evidence that gender roles and responsibilities shape knowledge and preferences about varieties, there is need for methods that support gender-responsive processes in plant breeding programs. Gender-sensitive and gender-responsive approaches in plant breeding may increase varietal options available to diverse end-users, increase adoption, and limit negative impacts on vulnerable populations. We assess a participatory plant breeding program in Mali to identify determinants of gender-responsive breeding programs. The analysis uses a case study methodology that draws upon project reports, theses, articles, and experiential knowledge to understand how the sorghum breeding program transitioned over time. This case study details (a) more than a decade of sorghum breeding activities and research that led to (b) the inclusion of women in participatory plant breeding, culinary tests, and large-scale participatory selection in on-farm trials, reaching hundreds of women each year and (c) iterative co-learning processes to develop preferred sorghum varieties and increase sorghum yields on men and women's fields. Analyses indicated that collaborations among many institutions on-farm with community actors, research across various disciplines such as agronomy and social sciences, context-specific breeding, and long-term funding were essential to increasing gender sensitivity and responsive in the breeding efforts.

Identifying the genetic factors impacting the adaptation of crops to environmental conditions is of key interest for conservation and selection purposes. It can be achieved using population genomics, and evolutionary or quantitative genetics. Here we present a sorghum multireference back-cross nested association mapping population composed of 3,901 lines produced by crossing 24 diverse parents to 3 elite parents from West and Central Africa-back-cross nested association mapping. The population was phenotyped in environments characterized by differences in photoperiod, rainfall pattern, temperature levels, and soil fertility. To integrate the multiparental and multi-environmental dimension of our data we proposed a new approach for quantitative trait loci (QTL) detection and parental effect estimation. We extended our model to estimate QTL effect sensitivity to environmental covariates, which facilitated the integration of envirotyping data. Our models allowed spatial projections of the QTL effects in agro-ecologies of interest. We utilized this strategy to analyze the genetic architecture of flowering time and plant height, which represents key adaptation mechanisms in environments like West Africa. Our results allowed a better characterization of well-known genomic regions influencing flowering time concerning their response to photoperiod with Ma6 and Ma1 being photoperiod-sensitive and the region of possible candidate gene Elf3 being photoperiod-insensitive. We also accessed a better understanding of plant height genetic determinism with the combined effects of phenology-dependent (Ma6) and independent (qHT7.1 and Dw3) genomic regions. Therefore, we argue that the West and Central Africa-back-cross nested association mapping and the presented analytical approach constitute unique resources to better understand adaptation in sorghum with direct application to develop climate-smart varieties.

In 2003, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada published “Seed that give. Participatory plant breeding,” synthesizing the achievements and lessons learned of the first 10 (pioneering) years of participatory plant breeding (PPB), a concept first tabled at an international workshop in Wageningen, the Netherlands, in 1994. IDRC was one of the early and most fervent supporters of PPB. See: https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.648982/publication.html In “Seeds that give revisited,” the PPB champions highlighted in the 2003 book present and reflect on their work over the last 20 years, joined by a group of Chinese professionals who were inspired by the early PPB work, bringing the approach to new regions and crops. Contributors write about significant results obtained, but also about (new) challenges. The Conclusion brings the cases together.

The development of climate-smart varieties requires the identification of haplotypes influencing traits of agronomic interest with well-defined effects across environments. For that we need advanced crossing schemes, multi-environment characterization, and state of the art statistical methodology. In this contribution, we present a sorghum multi-reference back-cross nested association mapping population composed of 3901 lines produced by crossing 24 diverse parents to three elite parents from West and Central Africa (WCA-BCNAM). This population is potentially one of the most relevant sorghum resources for research and breeding purposes in that region. The population was characterized in environments contrasting for photoperiod, rainfall, temperature, and soil fertility. To analyse this multi-parental, multi- environment design, we developed a new statistical methodology for QTL detection and parental effect estimation. In addition, envirotyping data were integrated in our models to determine the influence of environmental covariables on the genetic effects. We used this strategy to analyse the genetic architecture of flowering time and plant height, which represent key adaptation mechanisms. Our results allowed a better characterisation of well-known genomic regions impacting flowering time concerning their response to photoperiod with Ma6 and Ma1 being photoperiod sensitive and candidate gene Elf3 being insensitive. We also accessed a better understanding of plant height genetic determinism with the combined effects of phenology dependent (Ma6) and independent (qHT7.1 and Dw3) genomic regions. The strategy implemented in this work illustrates the need of synergy between genetics, breeding, and statistical genetics to harness the potential of sorghum in a changing climate. The resources and tools developed in this project should serve the whole sorghum community, for example by providing relevant elite parents for breeding programs.

Scope of the course: Resilient seed systems play a central role in sustainable food systems that are robust, dynamic, equitable, diverse, healthy and interconnected. Developing and strengthening these systems offers vital entry points for responding to critical global challenges of climate change, agricultural biodiversity, and sustainable development. Training in participatory breeding and seed system concepts, issues and approaches will support engaged professionals and graduate students to contribute to resilient seed system development. In the Shared Action Framework for Resilient Seed Systems of the Global Alliance of the Future of Food it defined as one the most important actions needed (https://futureoffood.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Resilient-Seed-Systems-Shared-Action-Framework-English.pdf). This course serves professionals who seek longer-term solutions for sustainable, agro-ecological agriculture and answers to the question: How can food systems be moved forward in the South and the North? Key aspects of this course include: - Concepts, strategies, methods and experiences with decentralised and participatory approaches to plant breeding and seed system development to increase agrobiodiversity and cope with climate changes - Governance issues such as seed quality control, property rights, co-ownership and benefit sharing - Specific approaches for different crop types and socio-economic contexts - Multi-actor approaches, collaborative learning, knowledge sharing and networking approaches to engage food system and value chain actors into participatory plant breeding and resilient seed system programs - The interaction of technical solutions and social choices: considering trade-offs and issues of inclusion/social equity and other values