Luigi Guarino – Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog

April 7, 2020

Free seed resources

Because of the realisation (due to the Covid-19 situation) that it is important to be in the garden growing your own food, we offer free downloads of “Seed to Seed Food Gardens” on how to start a food garden, and “Local Seed Network Manual” on how to start a group that collects, uses and distributes locally adapted seeds and other planting material (at a distance). We leave seeds and planting material at our gate for neighbours and friends to pick up.

Thanks, Seed Savers!

April 7, 2020April 7, 2020

Nibbles: Indian seeds, Maize CWR, Wheat nutrition, Off the grid, Global Food Policy Report, Carrots

Some prominent Indian seed savers. With video goodness.
CIMMYT builds teosinte greenhouse. No video yet, but I’m sure we’ll get one eventually.
Modern wheats keep you regular.
You too can live the Paleolithic life. Regularity not discussed.
But you won’t need to, because yes we can build an inclusive food system. It says here.
And no doubt it will include carrots. Lots of carrots. Yes, it was International Carrot Day.

April 6, 2020April 6, 2020

Brainfood: Bushmeat, Mixed livestock, Zoos, NUS, GS, Vavilovia, Ribes, Phenotypes, Silkworms, Yam propagation

Eating Bushmeat Improves Food Security in a Biodiversity and Infectious Disease “Hotspot”. What could possibly go wrong.
Potential of multi-species livestock farming to improve the sustainability of livestock farms: A review. Depends on management, in particular stocking rate.
Genotyping on the ark: A synthesis of genetic resources available for species in zoos. Use genomics to improve conservation.
Dairy cows: in the age of the genotype, #phenotypeisking. “If I were a dairy or beef farmer, I would genotype all my animals and farm phenotypes for sale.”
Enhancing African orphan crops with genomics. Use genomics to improve use.
Strategies for Effective Use of Genomic Information in Crop Breeding Programs Serving Africa and South Asia. Use genomic selection to use genomics to improve use.
The Vavilov Institute’s (VIR) contribution to the survey and study of Vavilovia formosa (Fabaceae). More seeds needed.
‘Gabreta’ saved from the ruins of oblivion. That’s a forgotten red currant from the Sudetenland.
Genetic and genomic analysis for cocoon yield traits in silkworm. Even the wild species could contribute to higher yields.
Propagation of lusala (Dioscorea hirtiflora), a wild yam, for in situ and ex situ conservation and potential domestication. Lots of options.

April 4, 2020April 8, 2020

The USDA genebanks in 6 minutes

You’ve got 6 minutes, right?

April 3, 2020April 3, 2020

Nibbles: Fennel, Cicer, OPV, Monoculture, Gene editing policy, Post 2020, Polman

Oh no, fennel is in trouble now.
Aussies using chickpea wild relatives.
Seeds are the new toilet paper.
Backing up potatoes.
What has the Green Revolution ever done for us?
Getting away from bipolarity in discussing gene editing.
Paul Smith challenges biodiversity conservation NGOs.
Ex CEO of Unilever challenges business to align with SDGs.

Questioning the questioners (1)
- Bill W.: I'm not sure what exactly "rabilinteropeity" means, but it certainly sounds like what you might get when comparing incompatible data…
Nibbles: Simran on Svalbard, Egyptian cotton, AgroecologyNow, Breeding trifecta, Rum, Potato double, Banana map, Climbing beans, Vegetable relatives, Cashew industry, Mongolian herders (1)
- Jeremy Cherfas: That cashew thing? Let me point you to a podcast I made back in November. https://www.eatth... Slow…
Nibbles: Indian rice edition (1)
- Monica Opole: Thank you Luigi Guarino. This aspect of diverse edible rice is great.