- 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.
Turkey making the most of its agrobiodiversity
I’m off for a few weeks’ holiday soon, but I couldn’t go without some reflections on my recent trip to Uzbekistan, via Turkey. I’ll post some photos from the main market in Tashkent later, but in the meantime, here’s a very rapid agrobiodiversity trifecta from a day’s transit in Istanbul.
First, I haven’t been in Turkey for a while, and I don’t remember vişne, or sour cherry, juice been available so readily commercially in cartons a few years back, along with more common staples like orange and apple juice. It’s delicious. Has anyone seen it in Europe?
Secondly, I was intrigued and impressed by the marketing work being done on the hazelnut. Turkish Airlines doesn’t give out peanuts with its drinks. It gives out attractive packets of dry hazelnuts. Again, very tasty, and a nice way of promoting local agrobiodiversity.
And finally, good to see salep, a traditional drink made from ground up orchid bulbs, on sale at the airport, and indeed featured in the in-flight magazine. Great to warm up after a morning wandering around Istanbul in a rainstorm.
CIP to provide way out of root and tuber genebank database hell?
The International Potato Center (CIP) has announced the launch of two databases. One is on its potato and sweetpotato genebank holdings, and the other on advanced potato varieties and clones. Will their usability and content satisfy Jeremy? Do they satisfy you? Check them out and let us know what you think, we promise to pass the message on.
Finding Vavilov. Not.
A user gets stranded in Genebank Database Hell looking for Vavilov’s collections in Tunisia. Not for the fainthearted.
Diversity improves waste recycling
The stuff that comes out of olive mills after the oil has been extracted is difficult to deal with. It ought to be a good addition to soils, increasing organic matter and other good qualities. But because it is a rather slimy sludge, it doesn’t decompose well. It is often composed by mixing half and half with sheep litter, and in a recent experiment, grape stems were added too. The result was faster, better compost. Olio, pecorino e grappa. Good for you, good for the land.