We invite contributions that examine biodiversity’s role in:
•Developing climate-smart crops using conventional, molecular, and AI-assisted breeding methods.
•Integrating crop biodiversity with ecosystem services, such as nitrogen fixation, carbon sequestration, and pollinator support.
•Applying biodiversity-based approaches to enhance soil health, water-use efficiency, and pest/disease resilience.
•Designing agroecological and regenerative farming systems that strengthen the biodiversity–food–climate nexus.
•Translating research into policy and value-chain innovations that benefit smallholder farmers and biodiversity conservation.
The session will also highlight case studies from underutilized crops—such as soybean innovations in South Asia—that demonstrate how biodiversity-rich agricultural strategies can simultaneously improve livelihoods, reduce import dependency, and contribute to Kunming-Montréal GBF targets.
We welcome interdisciplinary, scalable research connecting genetic, species, and ecosystem-level biodiversity.
Intended Outcome:
To generate a cross-disciplinary synthesis of how biodiversity-based crop innovation can operationalize climate adaptation and sustainable food production, leading to a research–policy–practice roadmap for biodiversity-resilient agriculture.
Gene banks serve as frontline repositories for safeguarding diverse plant genetic resources, including wild relatives, landraces, traditional varieties, improved cultivars, and breeding materials, especially under the pressures of global climate change. Their curators play a crucial role in collecting, preserving, and documenting germplasm to maintain biodiversity and prevent the erosion of genetic resources, thereby contributing to food and nutritional security for present and future generations. Conventionally, phenotypic descriptors and molecular markers have been widely employed for germplasm curation and characterisation. However, these approaches are often resource-intensive, time-consuming, less accurate, and prone to environmental influence and human error. In the era of Digital Sequence Information (DSI) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, gene bank management has become more efficient, precise, and data-driven. Approaches such as genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) and whole-genome resequencing (WGrS) are increasingly adopted to develop a genomics-based framework for germplasm management due to their reliability, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and ability to deliver high-resolution genetic characterisation of accessions. These strategies generate refined datasets of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for downstream population genomic analyses to elucidate the genetic architecture of accessions. Population genomic studies reveal patterns of genetic diversity, population structure, and evolutionary relationships among indigenous and exotic germplasm conserved in gene banks. Genetic relatedness and ancestral relationships can further be examined through kinship, identity-by-state (IBS), and identity-by-descent (IBD) analyses, enabling the detection of mislabeled or duplicated accessions. Moreover, SNP markers with high polymorphism information content (PIC) and minor allele frequency (e.g., MAF ≥ 0.3) provide high-resolution DNA fingerprints for each accession, forming a robust framework for unique germplasm identification, accession tracking, and rationalised breeding strategies. Collectively, this study shows that genomics-assisted curation offers a powerful pathway toward rapid, accurate, and cost-effective gene bank management. This approach facilitates large-scale assessment of genetic diversity, precise identification of unique accessions, and effective utilisation of genetic resources in breeding programs – supporting the “Five Betters”: better gene bank management, better production, better biodiversity, better environment, and better nutrition for sustainable agriculture and global food security.
How to cite: Ahmad, S.: NGS-Enabled Curation of Plant Gene Banks, World Biodiversity Forum 2026, Davos, Switzerland, 14–19 Jun 2026, WBF2026-105, https://doi.org/10.5194/wbf2026-105, 2026.
Climate change and the degradation of natural habitats are forcing a fundamental re-evaluation of agricultural systems. As farming conditions shift, crops must deliver traits that were historically overlooked in breeding programs, such as nitrogen-use efficiency, drought tolerance, and contributions to soil and ecosystem health. These traits have been lost from modern, genetically narrow breeding pools but remain available in genebank collections. Interestingly, renewed interest in these traits is driven by government interests, rather than farmers, who increasingly shape each other’s agendas and, at times, funding streams.
We argue that meeting these emerging needs requires revisiting the governance, mission, and access structures of genebanks so they can serve a broader and more diverse stakeholder community. Genebanks are largely funded by governments and NGOs as a public-good investment aimed at improving livelihoods. Yet the pathway from public investment to societal impact is indirect: genebanks supply genetic diversity to breeders; breeders develop improved germplasm; seed companies distribute these; and farmers, also supported by government incentives, ultimately adopt varieties that aim to deliver both environmental and social benefits. In this model, breeders, the only private-sector actors in the chain, become the primary direct beneficiaries of public investment, while farmers, citizens, and ecosystems benefit only downstream.
To foster more just and equitable agricultural transitions, we propose that governments and genebanks collaboratively redefine genebank objectives with direct input from farmers and other marginalized stakeholders. This may include not only adjusted breeding priorities but also expanded opportunities for the direct use of genebank materials by farmers. Such an approach would better align public spending with societal expectations for sustainable landscapes and fair resource access. It would also benefit historically underused crop species that have low commercial value and are thus not bred directly, such as orphan crops.
In an increasingly digitalized world, genebanks must therefore rethink how they engage with stakeholders, dismantle historical barriers to equitable seed access, and develop access models that extend beyond professional breeders. Modernizing these systems will position genebanks to contribute more effectively to environmental and social justice in future agricultural systems.
How to cite: Backhaus, A. and Kehel, Z.: How can genebanks support environmental and social justice in future agricultural systems?, World Biodiversity Forum 2026, Davos, Switzerland, 14–19 Jun 2026, WBF2026-333, https://doi.org/10.5194/wbf2026-333, 2026.
Conserving biodiversity while ensuring food security is a critical global challenge and a core component of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Although chemical pesticides substantially contribute to crop protection, their negative effects on insect biodiversity highlight the need for more sustainable approaches. Associational resistance, which is reduced herbivore or pathogen damage achieved through specific combinations of plant genotypes through a positive biodiversity effect, may help balance productive agriculture with ecological conservation.
To identify genotype combinations that promote associational resistance to herbivory and fungal diseases, we developed “Neighbor GWAS,” a genome-wide association method that incorporates spatial interactions among individuals to evaluate neighbor effects at the genetic level using Ising model. We quantified the interactions using 199 genotypes of the model plant species Arabiodpsis thaliana in two years of open-field experiments in Switzerland and Japan. Machine-learning analyses predicted that 823 of 19,701 possible genotype pairs could enhance resistance in mixed plantings. Experimental validation using three selected pairs showed 18–30% reductions in herbivore damage in mixtures compared with monocultures, supporting the genomic prediction using the Neighbor GWAS approach. Furthermore, LASSO regression suggested that the genetic pathway of the volatile plant hormone jasmonic acid may be involved in the plant-plant communication in the associational resistance.
We here applied Neighbor GWAS to disease phenotypes in a crop species barley. We compiled the CIMMYT Australia ICARDA Germplasm Evaluation (CAIGE) data. Neighbor genotypic identity explained 10–30% of phenotypic variation in three fungal disease traits. In addition, two significant or marginal loci were identified on chromosome 7H, where allelic mixtures were associated with reduced severity of net form net blotch and scald. These findings indicate that specific allelic combinations can contribute to disease resistance through positive neighbor-mediated interactions.
Together, this work highlights associational resistance as a practical and ecologically grounded strategy to improve pest and disease management while reducing reliance on pesticides. Because Neighbor GWAS is compatible with existing genomic resources for many crop species, it provides a promising tool for designing genotype mixtures that simultaneously sustain agricultural productivity and contribute to biodiversity conservation.
How to cite: Shimizu, K. K., Akram, I., Rohr, L., Shimizu-Inatsugi, R., and Sato, Y.: Genomic basis of biodiversity effect in cultivar mixture of natural and crop plant species, World Biodiversity Forum 2026, Davos, Switzerland, 14–19 Jun 2026, WBF2026-352, https://doi.org/10.5194/wbf2026-352, 2026.
This study investigates biodiversity-driven strategies for climate-resilient agriculture by integrating targeted crop genetic resource conservation with ecosystem-based food system transformation. Focusing on drought-responsive gene DREB1A and a multifunctional microbial consortium comprising Azospirillum brasilense, Bacillus velezensis, and Trichoderma harzianum, the research evaluates how combined genetic and ecological innovations enhance crop performance under climatic stress. A total of 60 accessions of wheat landraces and crop wild relatives were collected from semi-arid, mountainous, and agro-pastoral zones and screened for allelic variation in DREB1A using qPCR and whole-gene sequencing. Twenty genetically diverse accessions were selected for controlled environment and field trials. The experiment employed a randomized complete block design with four treatments: (i) native landrace control, (ii) DREB1A-introgressed line, (iii) microbial consortium inoculation, and (iv) combined gene–microbial integration. Parallel landscape-level interventions established diversified agroecological plots incorporating legumes, pollinator flora, and organic mulch in three representative sites. Methodology included phenotyping for drought tolerance indices, gas-exchange measurements, root metabolite profiling, soil microbiome sequencing (16S and ITS), and yield stability analysis across two stress seasons. Ecosystem-level metrics, organic carbon, microbial biomass, pollinator abundance, and dietary diversity scores of farming households were monitored to assess the impact of diversified food systems. Data was analyzed using mixed-effect models, structural equation modeling, and resilience indices to quantify adaptive capacity. Preliminary results indicate that DREB1A enhanced lines combined with microbial consortia exhibited up to 38% higher relative water content, 29% greater photosynthetic efficiency, and 22–35% higher yield stability under water stress compared to controls. Soil health improved significantly, with a 15% increase in organic carbon and a 28% rise in microbial biomass in diversified ecosystem plots. Pollinator abundance increased by 31% in florally enriched landscapes, supporting higher seed set and crop uniformity. Systems-level modeling suggests that scaling integrated genetic–microbial innovations with diversified agroecosystems across 25–30% of cropland could reduce regional food insecurity risk by 35–45% while enhancing long-term conservation of crop genetic diversity through community seed banks and in situ micro-reserves.
Key Words: DREB1A, PGPR consortia, agro-biodiversity, climate resilience, ecosystem-based adaptation, food systems.
How to cite: Ahmad, A.: Harnessing Genetic Diversity and Microbial Consortia for Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Integrating DREB1A-Based Crop Improvement with Ecosystem-Based Food System Transformation, World Biodiversity Forum 2026, Davos, Switzerland, 14–19 Jun 2026, WBF2026-805, https://doi.org/10.5194/wbf2026-805, 2026.
Agricultural biodiversity is central to building climate-resilient and sustainable food systems, yet global agriculture continues to rely heavily on a narrow spectrum of crops and genetic resources. This genetic bottleneck heightens vulnerability to climate extremes, soil degradation, and emerging pests and pathogens, challenges that increasingly threaten global food security. Soybean, one of the world’s most strategically important crops for food, feed, and industrial uses, exemplifies this vulnerability. Despite its global economic significance, soybean production remains dominated by uniform germplasm and monoculture-based systems that limit adaptability and reduce ecosystem resilience. Therefore, exploring and utilizing the full breadth of soybean genetic diversity is essential for strengthening global food security, enhancing ecological sustainability, and supporting resilient value chains. Our research explores extensive soybean germplasm resources, from wild relatives and landraces to elite breeding lines developed through conventional breeding, molecular tools, and AI-assisted predictive approaches, to create climate-resilient, high-yielding, heat-tolerant, and short-duration germplasm suitable for diverse agroecological zones. Through targeted trait introgression, genomic prediction, marker-based selection, and multi-environment testing, we have incorporated diversity-based improvements in drought tolerance, nitrogen fixation efficiency, resistance to major pests such as aphids and whiteflies, and enhanced seed nutritional quality. These advancements demonstrate how genetic biodiversity can be effectively translated into climate-smart phenotypes with strong stability and adaptability across contrasting production systems. Complementing these genetic innovations, we evaluate biodiversity-informed agronomic and ecological strategies, including soybean–sugarcane intercropping, regenerative soil management practices, and the optimization of ecosystem services. Evidence from Southeast Asia reveals significant gains in soil organic carbon, substantial reductions in synthetic nitrogen fertilizer requirements, improved water-use efficiency, and greater resilience to climatic variability. These outcomes underscore the global applicability of biodiversity-rich soybean systems for sustainable intensification and climate adaptation. Our findings highlight the potential of soybean biodiversity to reduce import dependency, enhance smallholder profitability, and make a meaningful contribution to the Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) targets. This presentation offers an integrated research–policy–practice roadmap illustrating how soybean innovations emerging from Southeast Asia can serve as a scalable model for biodiversity-driven agricultural transformation worldwide.
How to cite: Ahmed, Z., Rehman, R., Alsamadany, H., Alzahrani, Y., and Alzahrani, H.: Using Soybean Biodiversity for Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems Transformation, World Biodiversity Forum 2026, Davos, Switzerland, 14–19 Jun 2026, WBF2026-912, https://doi.org/10.5194/wbf2026-912, 2026.
How to cite: Allard, P.-M., Defossez, E., Damiani, T., and Schuman, M. C.: Earth Metabolome and Digital Botanical Gardens Initiatives: Chemodiversity Knowledge for Biodiversity Conservation, World Biodiversity Forum 2026, Davos, Switzerland, 14–19 Jun 2026, WBF2026-917, https://doi.org/10.5194/wbf2026-917, 2026.
The overreliance on chemical pesticides in intensive agriculture poses significant environmental challenges, including ecosystem degradation, biodiversity loss, and pest resistance. This necessitates sustainable pest management alternatives, especially in vulnerable and understudied hyper-arid regions such as the Arava Valley. In this interdisciplinary research, we explore the potential of using desert wildflower plots in date plantations as a strategy to enhance biodiversity and support biological pest control.
We established 18 wildflower plots (~12 m² each) using seeds from 10 annual and 8 perennial desert plant species across two date plantations (organic and non-organic). The plots are sampled weekly from February to July over two years (2025–2026) using a Vortis Insect Suction Sampler. Additionally, we monitor pest damage by collecting fruits and counting the highly destructive Lesser Date Moth (Batrachedra amydraula) caterpillars, a major pest responsible for up to 75% yield loss in date plantations across the Middle East and North Africa. Plant phenology is tracked to assess germination and floral diversity.
Our findings from 2025 showed 10 species established and bloomed in the plots, dominated by Diplotaxis acris, Rumex cyprius, Pulicaria crispa and Volutaria lippii. The main insect groups sampled were the Hemiptera and Hymenoptera. Importantly, the wildflower plots contained twice as many parasitoid wasps compared to the controls (12m² plots with spontaneously growing vegetation), among which were potential LDM natural enemies, such as Goniozus spp. parasitoid wasps.
In parallel, we explore the social dimensions influencing the adoption of biodiversity-enhancing practices by farmers. Using semi-structured interviews before and after presenting ecological results, we assess farmer and stakeholder perceptions, motivations, and barriers. This analysis utilizes the Behaviour Change Wheel framework to identify drivers and barriers for the adoption of these practices.
The interviews reveal that farmers prioritize clear and high-quality implementation instructions, minimal additional workload or costs, and the importance of collaboration among peers.
By integrating ecological experimentation with social science inquiry, we obtain practical, stakeholder-informed insights into how biodiversity-based strategies can be effectively implemented in arid agricultural systems. The findings aim to contribute to broader efforts to reconcile agricultural production with biodiversity conservation in the face of accelerating environmental change.
How to cite: Brohm, L., Schackermann, J., Segoli, M., Korine, C., and Teschner, N.: Integrating Native Wildflower Plots into Desert Agriculture: A Socioecological Approach to Enhancing Biodiversity and Pest Control in Date Plantations, World Biodiversity Forum 2026, Davos, Switzerland, 14–19 Jun 2026, WBF2026-161, https://doi.org/10.5194/wbf2026-161, 2026.
