- Video on the effect of climate change on apple cultivation in Himachal Pradesh.
- Video on taro breeding in the Dominican Republic.
- Photos of Malabar chestnut.
Nibbles: Indian buffalo, Indian local crops, CBD, AgricultureBridge, Kew, Geo-referencing, Cyprus, China and climate change, CC icons, Chinese AnGR, FAO information, Rose symbolism, Pacific ethnobotany, Grape history and genetics, Taraxacum
Hold on to your hats, this will make up for lost time. Hope you all had a nice break, Happy New Year!
- Video on the “Night Queen of Chilika.” Not what you think: it’s a buffalo breed.
- Indian jury calls for more work on local crops. Wait, a jury?
- Indian NGO says “[n]ational sovereignty over genetic resources could undermine food security.” Wow.
- AgricultureBridge “connect[s] practitioners to each other and to leading universities to help resolve some of the world’s most pressing questions in agriculture and conservation.” We’ll see.
- Big year for Kew: many new species described, including CWRs; many blogs launched; much geo-referencing done.
- Not agrobiodiversity, but speaking of geo-referencing and the like…
- Cypriot no man’s land good for biodiversity. Including crop wild relatives? I think we should be told.
- Chinese farmers struggle to adapt to climate change. Plenty more of this kind of thing out there, no doubt. Like this, for instance?
- And yet list of “climate change icons” only includes one plant. Something should be done.
- Chinese researchers talk about animal genetic resources conservation. If you’re frustrated at missing that, get ready for Europeans talking about the Mediterranean pig. But meanwhile, get to grips with the FAO Animal Genetic Resources Information Bulletin.
- Speaking of FAO info bulletins, feast on the ones on non-wood forest products and plant breeding.
- A rose is a rose is a rose. But for the Romans?
- Carcinogenic bark of endemic Pohnpei cinnamon not bad for you after all. If you boil it.
- “It is ironic that the despised grape Gouais blanc was not just a parent for several of the world’s best-known and most important varieties, such as Chardonnay and Gamay noir, it was the maternal parent, providing additional DNA and potentially determining important characteristics of the offspring.” Oh, so, so ironic.
- Natural rubber from weird dandelion? No, really, all kinds of boffins are working on it.
Nibbles: Stilton, India, food Crisis, Banana Genome, Uganda, GMOs, Fruit Hunters
- Stilton cheese from Stilton village? Illegal. h/t CAS-IP
- Is Indian agriculture heading for disaster?
- “If you read any economic, financial, or political analysis for 2010 that doesn’t mention the food shortage looming next year, throw it in the trash, as it is worthless“. Riiiiiight.
- Banana genome to be discussed.
- Uganda’s National Genebank online.
- GM crops to free third-world women from the drudgery of weeding! h/t reviews The Fruit Hunters (a book).
Chorsu Bazaar in pictures
If you’re interested in Central Asian biodiversity and its products you might enjoy some recent photographs of mine from Tashkent’s central fruit and veg market. And if you recognize something interesting, and know its local name, do please leave a comment.
Nibbles: LEISA, climate change in the US and India, Cocoa
- ILEIA celebrated 25 years with a conference yesterday. Reports to appear on the blog. h/t Danny
- Summary of the big ag bash in Copenhagen.
- US fruits and vegetables most at risk from climate change, says USDA.
- Wine and corn (maize) too!
- Perhaps they could learn from Indian farmers?
- Cocoa price highest for 32 years. Good news for cocoa farmers? I doubt it.