Rafael Merchan is a native of Cali, Colombia — where I lived for a few years, and very nice it was too. He lives in the US now but seems to travel the world a lot, checking out the local agriculture, and writes interestingly about it in a blog he calls International Agriculture and Development. His latest entry has some cool pictures of agricultural biodiversity in West Africa. I couldn’t find an RSS feed but I’ll be checking in regularly.
Not so cool cartograms
Worldmapper has a new series of cartograms out, and very depressing they are too. ((Via National Geographic.)) They show the size of territories scaled in proportion to the absolute numbers of deaths from various causes. Look in particular at the nutritional deficiencies map. But for a real shock, check out the specific map for vitamin A deficiency. Remember, this is something that is totally preventable, thanks to agrobiodiversity. No wonder that scientists working in Africa have highlighted the importance of high beta-carotene sweet potato cultivars in the recent global survey of sweet potato research priorities carried out by the International Potato Centre (CIP). ((Via EurekAlert.)) Coincidentally, I also found today a report on an attempt to promote sweet potato (and other root crops) on the ground in Africa, focusing on women and homegardens. ((Via Eldis.)) The researchers say that one of the things that can be useful in encouraging adoption is providing information on nutritional benefits.
Food data online at NAL
Historic USDA food composition tables digitized.
Community-based gardening for yoofs
How to interest children in gardening: weeding doesn’t cut it.
The Value of Biodiversity to Food and Agriculture
CALL FOR PAPERS
Special Issue of Biodiversity
The Value of Biodiversity to Food and Agriculture
To be released at the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD/COP9) in Bonn, Germany, 19-30 May 2008. The issue will coincide with the review of the Programme of work on Agricultural Biodiversity, as well as with the celebrations of the International Day for Biological Diversity on 22 May on the theme of Agriculture and Biodiversity. The following topics will be considered for publication:Â
Other related topics will also be considered. Please submit your abstracts (250 words or less) by 16 November 2007 to the Managing Editor, Stephen Aitken (aitken@tc-biodiversity.org). Space is limited. For more information on Biodiversity please visit www.tc-biodiversity.org. Final papers will be due 7 January 2008, and the publication is scheduled for 15 April 2008.
Produced in cooperation with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and partial support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Ontario Trillium Foundation and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).