Adoption without gains, and vice-versa: Exploring the disconnect between improved bean varieties and yield in Central America and Haiti through the lens of seed systems
Context: Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are vital for food security and rural livelihoods in Central America and Haiti. Over the past 30 years, R&D has focused on breeding resilient bean varieties to withstand climate change, pests, and diseases. However, the success of these innovations depen...
| Autores principales: | , , , , , |
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| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
Elsevier
2025
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175719 |
| _version_ | 1855543541605859328 |
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| author | Reyes, Byron Maredia, Mywish K. Martínez, José María Gomez, Lorena Rosas, Juan Carlos Miranda, Angela |
| author_browse | Gomez, Lorena Maredia, Mywish K. Martínez, José María Miranda, Angela Reyes, Byron Rosas, Juan Carlos |
| author_facet | Reyes, Byron Maredia, Mywish K. Martínez, José María Gomez, Lorena Rosas, Juan Carlos Miranda, Angela |
| author_sort | Reyes, Byron |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Context: Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are vital for food security and rural livelihoods in Central America and Haiti. Over the past 30 years, R&D has focused on breeding resilient bean varieties to withstand climate change, pests, and diseases. However, the success of these innovations depends not only on variety development but also on efficient seed systems that deliver them to farmers—a crucial yet often overlooked factor in maxi-mizing agricultural R&D benefits.
Objectives: This study evaluates the adoption of improved bean varieties and associated yield differences across Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Haiti. It also assesses the extent to which current seed systems facilitate or constrain adoption and potential yield outcomes.
Methods: This study used a mixed-methods approach, combining DNA fingerprinting, farmer surveys, on-farm field trials, and expert interviews to assess adoption of improved varieties. Regression analysis was used to examine yield differences, controlling for observable factors.
Results: Adoption estimates ranged from 10 % (Nicaragua) to 77 % (Haiti). Only Nicaragua—despite low adoption—showed a significant yield gain (~33 % at p < 0.05). In contrast, Guatemala, Honduras, and Haiti recorded no gains despite moderate to high adoption reported by experts (Honduras and Guatemala) or confirmed by DNA analysis (Haiti). DNA evidence reveals contamination in formal seed channels, while survey data and expert opinion suggest that limited support services may constrain performance.
Significance: Adoption alone is not a sufficient metric of success. Ensuring genetic integrity, local adaptation of varieties, and effective delivery systems is critical for translating research investment into yield benefits. Strengthening seed quality control, aligning bean breeding with farmer needs, and supporting informal systems are key to maximizing impact. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace175719 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| publisherStr | Elsevier |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1757192025-11-11T23:17:09Z Adoption without gains, and vice-versa: Exploring the disconnect between improved bean varieties and yield in Central America and Haiti through the lens of seed systems Reyes, Byron Maredia, Mywish K. Martínez, José María Gomez, Lorena Rosas, Juan Carlos Miranda, Angela evaluation beans seed systems yield increases improved germplasm dna fingerprinting Context: Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are vital for food security and rural livelihoods in Central America and Haiti. Over the past 30 years, R&D has focused on breeding resilient bean varieties to withstand climate change, pests, and diseases. However, the success of these innovations depends not only on variety development but also on efficient seed systems that deliver them to farmers—a crucial yet often overlooked factor in maxi-mizing agricultural R&D benefits. Objectives: This study evaluates the adoption of improved bean varieties and associated yield differences across Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Haiti. It also assesses the extent to which current seed systems facilitate or constrain adoption and potential yield outcomes. Methods: This study used a mixed-methods approach, combining DNA fingerprinting, farmer surveys, on-farm field trials, and expert interviews to assess adoption of improved varieties. Regression analysis was used to examine yield differences, controlling for observable factors. Results: Adoption estimates ranged from 10 % (Nicaragua) to 77 % (Haiti). Only Nicaragua—despite low adoption—showed a significant yield gain (~33 % at p < 0.05). In contrast, Guatemala, Honduras, and Haiti recorded no gains despite moderate to high adoption reported by experts (Honduras and Guatemala) or confirmed by DNA analysis (Haiti). DNA evidence reveals contamination in formal seed channels, while survey data and expert opinion suggest that limited support services may constrain performance. Significance: Adoption alone is not a sufficient metric of success. Ensuring genetic integrity, local adaptation of varieties, and effective delivery systems is critical for translating research investment into yield benefits. Strengthening seed quality control, aligning bean breeding with farmer needs, and supporting informal systems are key to maximizing impact. 2025-12 2025-07-22T11:05:53Z 2025-07-22T11:05:53Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175719 en Open Access application/pdf Elsevier Reyes, B.; Maredia, M.K.; Martínez, J.M.; Gomez, L.; Rosas, J.C.; Miranda, A. (2025) Adoption without gains, and vice-versa: Exploring the disconnect between improved bean varieties and yield in Central America and Haiti through the lens of seed systems. Agricultural Systems 230: 104447. ISSN: 0308-521X |
| spellingShingle | evaluation beans seed systems yield increases improved germplasm dna fingerprinting Reyes, Byron Maredia, Mywish K. Martínez, José María Gomez, Lorena Rosas, Juan Carlos Miranda, Angela Adoption without gains, and vice-versa: Exploring the disconnect between improved bean varieties and yield in Central America and Haiti through the lens of seed systems |
| title | Adoption without gains, and vice-versa: Exploring the disconnect between improved bean varieties and yield in Central America and Haiti through the lens of seed systems |
| title_full | Adoption without gains, and vice-versa: Exploring the disconnect between improved bean varieties and yield in Central America and Haiti through the lens of seed systems |
| title_fullStr | Adoption without gains, and vice-versa: Exploring the disconnect between improved bean varieties and yield in Central America and Haiti through the lens of seed systems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adoption without gains, and vice-versa: Exploring the disconnect between improved bean varieties and yield in Central America and Haiti through the lens of seed systems |
| title_short | Adoption without gains, and vice-versa: Exploring the disconnect between improved bean varieties and yield in Central America and Haiti through the lens of seed systems |
| title_sort | adoption without gains and vice versa exploring the disconnect between improved bean varieties and yield in central america and haiti through the lens of seed systems |
| topic | evaluation beans seed systems yield increases improved germplasm dna fingerprinting |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175719 |
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