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: Orwell, Vaccines, Turkey
- Orwell summarizes; ownership, ploughing, crop diversity, livestock.
- Broad spectrum immunisation for plants.
- Turkish agriculture blog.
News from the ‘Tubes
On a quiet Sunday morning, two pieces of internet news that might be of interest. Karl J. Haro von Mogel, ((Congratulations.)) of Inoculated Mind, has launched Biofortified.org, a “group blog on Plant Genetics and Genetic Engineering”. The blog is “devoted to educating the public about genetic engineering, and discussing how it intersects many aspects of our lives,” and I wish them luck. Once upon a time I too thought that education would help people to understand. I no longer do. I think the polarized opinions on genetic engineering owe almost nothing to lack of scientific evidence and everything to lack of thought. But maybe that’s just me.
I don’t recall any huge outcry (only little ones) when genetically engineered human insulin came along and removed the need to rely on pigs. ((Although one has certainly been building; I am not qualified to express a view on this.)) And I don’t suppose there’ll be much of an outcry when genetic engineering delivers something that straightforwardly benefits ordinary people — as opposed to those with a financial or political interest.
The discussions will surely be interesting, but in the meantime, regular readers can imagine what I think of Karl’s explanation for the choice of name:
The name Biofortified comes from biofortification, which is when the bioavailable nutritional content of a food crop is enhanced. Literally, strengthened through biology. Like fortifying foods with vitamins, biofortification through breeding or genetic engineering can allow the plants to produce the nutrients that people need on their own. This can be good for people in industrialized nations, but a boon for developing countries. It is also a topic that several of our authors find personally very interesting!
I’m just going to bite my tongue. You needn’t feel so constrained.
The other piece of news is that Eve Sibley commented that the seed swap mechanism I hoped for is now alive and well at World Food Garden.
The craigslist of seeds — post seeds you have to offer or request a particular rare variety.
I hope it works well. Go, try it, report back here.
Just don’t try it with any GM seeds, deliberately or by accident.