All of these variants in color should be noted and celebrated, but should also be guarded by the breeders to be certain that all of them can be available to future breeders. Past breeders bequeathed this wealth of variation and adaptation to the present generation – and it is important that each generation guard the resource and present it to the next generation as a useful and viable genetic resource.
Virtual visit to VIR
Click on the picture for some impressions from my recent visit to the N.I. Vavilov Institute Research Institute for Plant Industry in St Petersburg, Russia on the occasion of a SEEDNet meeting. A veritable monument to agrobiodiversity. And don’t forget Nikolai Ivanovich has a voice.
Nibbles: Maori nutrition, Curry summit
- “For many Pacific people, the value of food is context-specific – from a resource of simple sustenance through to a symbolic observation of respect, love and appreciation, hospitality and the honouring of guests.” Yeah but it aint working, is it. Via.
- Government asked to bail out curry joints. Now that’s something I wouldn’t mind seeing my taxes going into.
Fibre scans online
The International Year of Natural Fibres has a great website, and the latest thing on it is a selection of beautiful micrographs of different kinds of fibres, from abaca to yak.
Nibbles: Cacao, Profits, Biochar, Biochar, Museum, Fish, Cognac
- Take a tour around the world’s most important cacao germplasm collection.
- “[D]iversified systems were more profitable than monocropping,” but read the whole paper. You have 30 days, free.
- Open source science to measure the impact of biochar.
- “Pro-biochar activists can be as silly as these anti-biochar activists.” Well, duh. But thanks for explaining.
- Gehry builds Panama a Museum of Biodiversity, but seems to forget about agriculture.
- Kano’s fish market takes a hit.
- All about rancio.