In Dafang，Anhui Province，China，wild kiwis are processed into liquor which improves farmers’ income. Photo：Christine Martins

It is crucial to conserve the diversity of useful plant varieties and animal breeds still in existence worldwide：this diversity forms the basis not only for the survival of small farmers in Africa，Asia and Latin America but also of the entire world’s nutrition. Yet despite gene banks and plant nurseries，conservation is not guaranteed in the long term. This can best be achieved if farmers continue to use old varieties and breeds，even if they are not as productive or efficient as the modern ones，the reason being that they have other advantages，such as secure yields even in unfavourable conditions.

One way of improving farmers’incomes and thereby preserving biological diversity is to seek new opportunities-or indeed any at all-for selling products made from old plant varieties and breeds（“underutilised species，”）. It is also a means of reducing poverty and hunger. The term “biodiversity products” refers to products originating from local useful plants and animals that are very well adapted to local conditions，reflect traditional knowledge in terms of their development or processing，and are part of the local culture. Their particular characteristics and cultural connection make them suitable mainly for niche markets.