Genebank database hell goes mobile

With a mighty leap, the ICARDA genebank has just landed squarely in the 21st century. You can now download an app and search the international collection managed by the centre from your Android phone. iPhone version coming soon. If you test it out, leave your comments here and they will reach the relevant ICARDA geek.

Nibbles: Environmental health index, Data visualization, Hungry World, Vegetables meeting, FFS, ICTs in ag, ILRI review, Devil’s claw, Cassava pests, Greek seed meet, Dolphins

Berry Go Round hits 50

While everyone else in the civilised world enjoys a May Day off, we’re still here, toiling to bring you the best of the interwebs. Today, that includes the 50th edition of Berry go Round, the carnival of botany blogging. Fittingly (and this wasn’t planned) the host this month is Laurent at Seeds Aside, who began the whole thing way back, er, 50 editions ago. Head over there for links to a great selection of words and images about all manner of botanical subjects.

Before you go, however, consider hosting an edition of Berry go Round yourself. It’s actually quite rewarding, in its own way. All months’s from July are open. And of course submissions for May are welcome at any time.

Indian animal genetic resources institute sets its priorities

While looking for something else 1 I came across the news on the website of India’s National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) that the genome of the water buffalo has been sequenced. I also found out that you can buy attractive calendars featuring native breeds such as the one you see here. And that NBAGR has a catchy song. Alas, the Information System on Animal Genetic Resources of India does not seem to work.