Strengthening management of agrobiodiversity through social networks: A cross-disciplinary method for analyzing how local seed systems impact the diversity of domesticated plants

Seeds of cultivated plants are both biological objects (carriers of genetic information) and social and economic objects (markers of identity and status). Seed circulation (SC) shapes the diffusion of agrobiodiversity, affecting the performance of agroecosystems. But SC is not driven by agronomic concerns alone; SC reflects social structure. No adequate framework existed for the analysis of such a ‘hybrid’ object. NetSeed’s objective was to develop a conceptual framework and methodology for integrating biological and social aspects of SC to understand how it contributes to ensuring food security.