Biotechnology

February 14, 2010February 13, 2010

Science does food security

You’ll remember Jeremy waxing lyrical a few days back about a Science paper on “the challenge of feeding 9 billion people.” That paper now finds itself part of a special issue on food security. ((Which is also the subject of a NY Times blog post.))

In the 12 February 2010 issue, Science examines the obstacles to achieving global food security and some promising solutions. News articles introduce farmers and researchers who are finding ways to boost harvests, especially in the developing world. Reviews, Perspectives, and an audio interview provide a broader context for the causes and effects of food insecurity and point to paths to ending hunger. A special podcast includes interviews about measuring food insecurity, rethinking agriculture, and reducing meat consumption.

A lot of it is behind a paywall, but something that isn’t is Radically Rethinking Agriculture for the 21st Century. That radical rethink, in case you’re wondering, consists of using more biotechnology and saline water. Right.

February 10, 2010February 10, 2010

Nibbles: Vet, Pastoralists, Eggplant, US food map, Mexican food, Poultry, Maize, GMOs

What’s it like being the only vet in a country? The BBC tells us.
The CBD on how to be a good pastoralist.
James does a mini-roundup of the India GM brinjal to-do.
Mapping the fast food culture.
Mexico wants Unesco to recognize culinary traditions. As if tamales were in danger of extinction. Didn’t France ask for the same last year?
Heirloom chickens don’t taste like chicken.
Deconstructing the cultural significance of the colour of corn.
“GM crops: still not a panacea for poor farmers.” In other news, still no cure for cancer.

February 8, 2010February 8, 2010

Nibbles: Sequencing, Agricultural origins, Mating systems, Tomato shelf-life, Beer vs Tea, Soy, Carrot, Seed processing, Screw-pine, Yams, Salicornia, Pollinators

Second generation sequencing on the one hand. First generation methylation mapping on the other. What’s a poor bitechnologist to do?
Site of the birth of MesoAmerican agriculture pinpointed.
Meta-analysis says mating system does not affect magnitude of local adaptation. Ok, I really need to understand this one, because it’s kinda counter-intuitive..
Boffins produce longer-lasting tomato. Which, however, still tastes like water. Those pesky biotechnologists are all over this.
A tale of two brews. And here’s why I prefer beer. Well, one reason. Meanwhile, a hero probes how the amber nectar comes to be.
Another slightly dubious use for soy. Aren’t you glad its genome has been sequenced? Thanks, Jacob.
Evidence for cultivated carrot from medieval Poland. I’m sure this is REALLY important.
CIMMYT video of seed processing.
Pandanus photo for all my Pacific friends.
Yams to have their day? I hope so, but we have been here before. Repeatedly.
Salicornia the new hope for saline regions? I hope so, but we have been here before. Repeatedly.
FAO manages wild biodiversity to manage pollinators.

January 28, 2010January 28, 2010

Nibbles: Globalizing locavorism, Pollinator relations, Fisheries, Pea wild relative, Haitian coffee, Niche modeling, Slow Food, Chayote, Grass vs corn, Shade chocolate, American organic

“…eleven models of regional food aggregation and distribution that are successful in linking local farmers with regional food chains.” Via.
Hell hath no fury like a fig tree scorned.
Tracking monkfish, saving monkfish.
The history of the wild relative of the pea.
Can coffee help rebuild Haiti?
“Integrating bioclimate with population models to improve forecasts of species extinctions under climate change.”
“The commoditization of products and taste: Slow Food and the conservation of agrobiodiversity.”
CIAT promotes chayote in Vietnam. Why? Well, it’s not about the crop or the country. I suppose it’s about farmers and markets. But is there a diversity angle?
How old is feeding corn (maize) to cows? Older than some people think, apparently.
Shade-grown cacao sows seeds of its own demise.
Waiting for the results of the USDA organic survey…

January 25, 2010January 25, 2010

Nibbles: City fish, Phylogenetics course, Andy got a brand new blog, Leather value-adding, Cod, Monastery gardens, Microbial collections, Cassava, Animal genebank, Biofuel

Learn urban aquaculture.
Learn phylogenetics online.
Learn about the CGIAR’s manifesto for agriculture and climate change from Andy’s new blog.
Learn about the importance of hide processing in East Africa.
Learn about the latest blow to British cooking.
Learn about monastic gardening.
Learn about the USDA’s microbial collections. They’re agrobiodiversity too.
Learn what is the latest crop to get its genome sequenced.
Learn about a private livestock genebank in the US.
Learn about the effect of biofuel crop diversity on insect diversity.