Category: Genebanks

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Nibbles: Diets, Millet seedbank, Healthy rice, Kazakh genebank, Decentralized seeds, Planet Local, White sage, White olive, Talangana collecting, Nature-based, Italian food, Citron, Indian quinoa, Crop expansion

  1. And…we’re back!
  2. Nice new infographics derived from that classic paper “Increasing homogeneity in global food supplies and the implications for food security.”
  3. Video on a millet community seedbank in India.
  4. I hope all these healthy Indian rices are in seedbanks somewhere, community or otherwise.
  5. Kazakhstan is getting a new genebank, and I don’t mean a community one.
  6. yeah but genebanks are not enough: enter INCREASE.
  7. Wait, there’s a World Localization Day?
  8. Looks like white sage might need less localization and more seedbanks.
  9. I see your Mexican white sage and raise you the Calabrian white olive.
  10. The Telangana equivalent of white sage is probably safe, though, if this collecting programme is anything to go by.
  11. IFAD pushes nature-based farmers. White sage unavailable for comment.
  12. The localization narrative meets Italian food. And yes, spoiler alert, Italian food does exist. Despite the increasing homogeneity in global food supplies. And it doesn’t need white olives either.
  13. Let the hand-wringing about the Italian-ness (Italianity?) of citrons commence. But not until I’ve left the room.
  14. Ah, but is there such a thing as Indian food? I mean, if there’s quinoa in it. I look forward to the eventual quinoa community seedbanks.
  15. All those crops are not being locally grown for food anyway.
  16. Have a happy new globalizing, localizing year, everyone.
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A chat with ChatGPT about genebanks

Along with everyone else, or so it seems, I’ve been playing with AI-based text generators. In particular, OpenAI’s conversational model ChatGPT. I started with the question: What is a genebank?

A genebank is a type of repository that stores genetic material, typically in the form of seeds or other plant material, for the purpose of conservation and preservation. Genebanks play an important role in protecting the diversity of plant species and maintaining the genetic resources that are essential for agricultural production and the development of new plant varieties. In addition to storing seeds, genebanks may also provide facilities for research and education, and may offer services such as seed testing and variety identification.

Allrighty then. Followed that up with a question about the disadvantages of genebanks.

There are a few potential disadvantages to genebanks. One is that the long-term preservation of genetic material can be challenging, and there is always a risk of samples being lost or degraded over time. Additionally, the use of genebanks can raise ethical concerns, particularly when it comes to the storage and use of genetic material from endangered or protected species. There can also be practical challenges associated with the distribution and access to genetic material in genebanks, as well as issues related to intellectual property and benefit sharing. Overall, while genebanks provide a valuable resource, it is important to carefully consider and address these potential disadvantages.

Damn. So is in situ conservation better?

In situ conservation refers to the preservation of plants and animals in their natural habitats, rather than in artificial environments like genebanks. In many cases, in situ conservation can be a more effective approach to preserving biodiversity, as it allows species to continue to thrive in their natural environments. This can also help to preserve the relationships between species and their ecosystems, which is important for the long-term health of the ecosystem. However, in situ conservation is not always possible, and genebanks can play an important role in preserving genetic material for future use. Both in situ conservation and genebanks can be important tools for conservation efforts, and the best approach will depend on the specific circumstances and goals of the conservation effort.

But which approach does ChatGPT prefer?

As a language model trained by OpenAI, I do not have personal preferences or opinions. My purpose is to provide accurate and reliable information to the best of my ability. In the case of conservation efforts, the most effective approach will depend on the specific goals and circumstances of the situation. Both in situ conservation and genebanks can be valuable tools, and the best approach may involve using a combination of both methods. Ultimately, the goal of conservation is to protect and preserve the diversity of life on Earth, and the most effective approach will depend on the unique needs of each species and ecosystem.

Ok, fair enough, let’s get a little more specific then: What’s the best way to conserve apple diversity?

There are several ways to conserve apple diversity, and the best approach will depend on the specific goals and resources available. Some potential strategies include:

In situ conservation: This involves preserving apple trees and their associated ecosystems in their natural habitats. This can help to protect the full range of genetic diversity within a species, as well as the relationships between apples and other species in the ecosystem.

Ex situ conservation: This involves collecting and storing samples of apple genetic material in a genebank for future use. This can help to preserve genetic diversity that may be lost in the wild, and can provide a valuable resource for research and breeding efforts.

Collaborative conservation efforts: This involves working with farmers, researchers, and other stakeholders to conserve apple diversity and promote sustainable apple production. This can include initiatives such as breeding programs, farm management practices, and education and outreach efforts.

Supporting conservation organizations: One of the best ways to support apple conservation is to donate to organizations that are working on apple conservation efforts. This can help to fund research and conservation efforts, and can make a real difference in protecting apple diversity.

Uff. Time to retire, methinks.

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Nibbles: Fancy fungus, Fancy CWR book, Fancy dataset, Fancy food, Fancy wheat collection, Fancy diet, Fancy seeds, Fancy agriculture

  1. Symbiotic fungus can help plants and detoxify methylmercury.
  2. Very attractive book on the wild tomatoes of Peru. I wonder if any of them eat heavy metals.
  3. There’s a new dataset on the world’s terrestrial ecosystems. I’d like to know which one has the most crop wild relative species per unit area. Has anyone done that calculation? They must have.
  4. Iran sets up a saffron genebank. Could have sworn they already had one.
  5. The Natural History Museum digs up some old wheat samples, the BBC goes a bit crazy with it.
  6. Paleolithic diets included plants. Maybe not wheat or saffron though.
  7. Community seedbanks are all the rage in Odisha.
  8. Seeds bring UK and South Africa closer together. Seeds in seedbanks. Not community seedbanks, perhaps, but one can hope.
  9. Can any of the above make agriculture any more nutrition-sensitive? I’d like to think yes. Maybe except for the mercury-eating fungus, though you never know…