Advances in participatory genetic improvement of rice to meet the challenges of climate change in Bolivia

Abstract

The implementation of a whole scheme of full participatory genetic improvement for diverse rice types has allowed the obtaining of new varieties already for the short term. For the medium and long term, promissory material is available in several steps of the improvement process. The agro-ecologic and socioeconomic changes and challenges force to permanent adjustments of the aims of the rice genetic improvement. With the narrow-based recurrent populations and with the transfer in Bolivia of biotechnology, the autonomy is reinforced and therefore the scientific and technical sovereignty of the country.