http://agro.biodiver.se/2010/06/how-many-plants-feed-the-world/ Crops, animals, wild relatives ... Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:34:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://agro.biodiver.se/2010/06/how-many-plants-feed-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-877269 Short links: agricultural statistics | Resilience Science Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:17:19 +0000 http://agro.biodiver.se/?p=11778#comment-877269 [...] How many plants feed the world on Agricultural Biodiversity weblog.  They write: Instead, they worked with national level Food [...] [...] How many plants feed the world on Agricultural Biodiversity weblog.  They write: Instead, they worked with national level Food [...]

]]> http://agro.biodiver.se/2010/06/how-many-plants-feed-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-862749 Chauvet Michel Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:38:56 +0000 http://agro.biodiver.se/?p=11778#comment-862749 Journalists love this kind of figures. I have for long commented about that. The assumption behind is that we are highly dependent, and that our genetic base is fragile. One first objection is that 'plants' such as wheat or millets are not one species, but a group of species (2-5 for wheat and more than 10 for millets). A second objection is of course that those figures would better be elaborated at a regional or local level. Taro or yams would then spring up. A third objection is that only weights of staples are considered. But human nutrition also relies on micronutrients (vitamins,minerals, polyphenols...) and fibers, which are to be found in many other species, for example cabbages, fruits in general... Further, if we change the question into 'how many food crops contribute to the world market?', then black pepper, vanilla, lettuce and many others will come to the list, as their input in value is much more than their input in weight. Coming back to our dependance, I would add that I am quite confident about plants such as wheat or maize, because there are a lot of genetic resources available, and a big scientific community involved. The risk is greater with 'orphan' crops. Finally, the problem is not 'which answer de we give to such a question?', but 'for what purpose do we ask this question?'. Journalists love this kind of figures. I have for long commented about that. The assumption behind is that we are highly dependent, and that our genetic base is fragile.
One first objection is that ‘plants’ such as wheat or millets are not one species, but a group of species (2-5 for wheat and more than 10 for millets).
A second objection is of course that those figures would better be elaborated at a regional or local level. Taro or yams would then spring up.
A third objection is that only weights of staples are considered. But human nutrition also relies on micronutrients (vitamins,minerals, polyphenols…) and fibers, which are to be found in many other species, for example cabbages, fruits in general…
Further, if we change the question into ‘how many food crops contribute to the world market?’, then black pepper, vanilla, lettuce and many others will come to the list, as their input in value is much more than their input in weight.
Coming back to our dependance, I would add that I am quite confident about plants such as wheat or maize, because there are a lot of genetic resources available, and a big scientific community involved. The risk is greater with ‘orphan’ crops.
Finally, the problem is not ‘which answer de we give to such a question?’, but ‘for what purpose do we ask this question?’.

]]> http://agro.biodiver.se/2010/06/how-many-plants-feed-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-862705 Jacob Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:31:55 +0000 http://agro.biodiver.se/?p=11778#comment-862705 As it happens, I was thinking about these statistics during breakfast. What would happen if we include phylogenetic diversity? If two maize varieties can have more genetic differences than those between me and the average chimpanzee, perhaps this would be important to take into account as well. Just to help to confuse the reader a bit more. As it happens, I was thinking about these statistics during breakfast. What would happen if we include phylogenetic diversity? If two maize varieties can have more genetic differences than those between me and the average chimpanzee, perhaps this would be important to take into account as well. Just to help to confuse the reader a bit more.

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