Genetic diversity

Nibbles: Musa wild relative, Soil biodiversity, Wild sorghum hybrids, Millet diversity, Bees, Garlic core collection, Heirloom seed saving, Nutrition, Fungal conservation, Sacred places

New(ish) banana wild relative found in Mekong. Photo by Markku Hakkinen.
Conserving soil biodiversity.
Ecological fitness of wild-cultivated sorghum hybrids equal to wild parent.
Pattern of genetic diversity in pearl millet determined by artificial, not natural, selection.
The latest on the troubles of bees.
Garlic gets cored. Totally SFW.
Seed saving in the Hudson Valley.
West African leaders say agriculture should be about nutrition. As opposed to?
International Society for Fungal Conservation established. And that’s about it for now, but there are some ideas about what it will do.

Executive Director of CBD perpetuates myth that we have lost 75% of crop diversity, at high-level meeting, no less.
670 agroforestry trees in a database, courtesy of ICRAF.
Last Rice Today of this year, the 50th anniversary of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), summarized.
Soil community helps maintain species and genetic diversity.
Good news for some UK bumblebees.
On the agricultural frontier in South America. Any crop wild relatives there?
Global Network of National Geoparks expands. Any crop wild relatives there?

Who says there’s no agricultural diversity in American supermarkets?

Indian academics voice some reservations about CBD ABS regime. Maybe a multilateral approach would be better?
CIAT warns about climate change effect on crops. Kenyan farmers know all about that. And Koreans too. Oh, and speaking of kimchi…
Beer proteome means better beer. Fundamental research indeed.
Cattle breeds are real. And the gaur?
Nepal inaugurates genebank.
San benefit from bioprospecting license for medicinal plant.
Ahmed Djoghlaf says…
Weeds? Not weeds. Cities as biodiversity hotspots? Oh I give up.
Orange cassava due to one amino acid.

“Its flavor is like the saliva generously exchanged by lovers in kissing.” Yum!
ECOWAS Nutrition Forum continues to sell “multi-sectoral approach to tackling under-nutrition” in West Africa.
Six new varieties of wheat in Oman! Splitters rule.
US scientists urged Russians to save Pavlovsk. Lotta continua.
And here’s the Russian Housing Development Foundation’s take on the expert report. Lotta continua sempre.
COPs may come and COPs may go — but will we be ready for the Peasant Olympics in 2012? h/t Miss Hathorn.
Phosphates in China: waste ’em while you can?
Book: Conservation agriculture and sustainable crop intensification in Lesotho.
Australian almond variety not performing this year.