Brainfood: Lupinus diversity, African veggies, School food, Citrus collusion, Taro seeds, Hot seeds, Hunter-gatherers, Citrus phylogeny, Sheep management, Genebanks -> farmers

3 Replies to “Brainfood: Lupinus diversity, African veggies, School food, Citrus collusion, Taro seeds, Hot seeds, Hunter-gatherers, Citrus phylogeny, Sheep management, Genebanks -> farmers”

  1. While I can only speak to taro in Hawaii, one of the challenges of interpreting taro disease resistance studies in indigenous taro cultivars vs the new hybrids is that, with few exceptions, the agriculture research stations are at similar elevations and have impoverished soils. Epigenetics, microclimates, soil type and health, and water temperature play a significant role in the resilience of traditional taro varieties in Hawaii. Almost seventy years of chemical fertilizers, little attention to rebuilding organic matter and native beneficials in taro soils, and major declines in water flows for wetland taro production in Hawaii make for skewed outcomes in favor of disease. Where Hawaii’s research stations and taro farmers practice good soil husbandry, timely harvests and plant stock culling practices, traditional taro varieties thrive. An old Hawaiian saying – nana i ke kumu; look to the source.

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