USDA just announced an update to their instance of GRIN-Global, the genebank data management system, where you can explore the holdings of the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System at your leisure. From there the data finds its way to Genesys, where you can compare US holdings with those of other contributing genebanks. Perhaps the most significant change is the resurrection of the Crop Wild Relatives search page, a monumental resource.
ITPGRFA Benefit-Sharing Fund sharing funds again
From an FAO press release:
The Call for Proposals under the fourth cycle of projects to be funded through the Benefit-sharing Fund of the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is now open. All developing countries that are Contracting Parties to the International Treaty are eligible to apply for funding under the Benefit-sharing Fund (BSF), which will invest at least USD 5 million in projects over the next four years.
All the details are on the Treaty website. Good luck, everyone!
Nibbles: Sustainable wheat, Bananacoin, Tuscan agrobiodiversity, Fig conservation, Foraging beer, Wizard vs Prophet, SDGs, Harlan Symposium
- General Mills goes all sustainable. But the genebanks?
- The future of bananas is banana futures. But the genebanks?
- Agrobiodiversity in Tuscany: The App. Who needs genebanks.
- “Correia, a 59-year-old third-generation Delta resident, has one of the most diverse collections of the common fig, Ficus carica, in the world.” Put that in an app.
- The two approaches to feeding 10 billion people. Only two?
- “Eradicating hunger and ensuring food security is a bottom-line requirement for achieving sustainable development and well-being.” Problem is, it’s not the top priority.
- Otherwise orphan crops wouldn’t be orphans.
- Foraged beer is a thing. A very cool thing, and you can probably use orphan crops too.
- A place to discuss all of the above? The Third Jack R. Harlan International Symposium.
Nibbles: Sequencing Davos, WPC 2018, German spuds, Martha’s Excellent Adventure, C4F video, Hawaiian varieties, Seed Book
- Blockchain for ABS touted at Davos. The Economist is there.
- But will it be at the World Potato Congress? I’m betting no.
- But for sure some Germans will be.
- Martha Stewart will be in Svalbard.
- Crops for the Future was On the Menu.
- Culinary Breeding Network is in Hawaii. Lucky them. But would it have killed them to provide a link?
- I want to be in Lebanon.
- There are a lot of pretty seeds in Paul Smith’s new book.
Veggiexit
Gosh, I hope the Brits make a trade deal on vegetables.
