Jacob dropped me a line saying that there is light at the end of the tunnel, a roadmap out of genebank database hell. He’s right, of course. What they’re doing at IRRI ((Some of it under the coordination of the System-wide Genetic Resources Programme (SGRP) of the CGIAR.)) and elsewhere will definitely help users of genebanks avoid the digital quarmire I described in my earlier post. But how did we ever let ourselves get into this mess in the first place?
Wired does food
Wired magazine does some great-looking graphics. And the latest, on how science will solve the food crisis, is no exception. As for the content, well, I’m not sure that the future of global farming is down to push-pull intercropping, remote sensing and data-driven rotation, but it’s good to see things other than new seeds and fertilizers being given a chance. And somebody should tell Wired there are more than three plant genebanks in the world.
ICRAF publishes molecular markers manual
Wanna use molecular markers to help you manage tropical trees? ICRAF has the book for you. Thanks, Ian.
Nibbles: Seeds, Seeds, Semen, Seeds, Source, Souris, Sustainability
- Botswana’s main seed supplier pushes hybrid seeds.
- Ethiopia lists its genebank holdings.
- Scientific American on consequences of lack of livestock diversity.
- Creating tomorrow’s heirlooms, Bishop salutes amateur breeders.
- New Agriculturist on bananas et al.
- Climate change bad for fish too.
- Black rats bad for other rats too.
- Sustainable wine.
Nibbles: Toms, Virus, Svalbard, CIRAD
- More on those purple tomatoes. And there’s lots more where that came from.
- Virus weakens the response of genes that normally boost defense against pest.
- “Superman had it right.”
- Yeah, but France has genebanks too.
- Dispatches from Terra Madre: “How are you fighting racism in your food community?”