Markets

A jute renaissance?

According to the BBC, there’s a resurgence of jute cultivation in Bangladesh.

It’s not that long ago that the International Jute Organization could think it worthwhile to support, of all things, a herbarium survey of the wild relatives of the crop. I also seem to remember a very comprehensive germplasm collecting mission in Kenya in the 1980s, organized by the then IBPGR and funded by the IJO, though I can find no evidence of it. There is some germplasm in the international system, though not nearly as much as in national genebanks in Bangladesh and India. In fact, I seem to remember that the collection at the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute had some kind of international status at one point. I wonder if those heady days will now return?

“…drought-tolerant species are not necessarily following the general “stress-tolerator” syndrome.” Meaning?
More on that cassava-problems-will-get-worse-with-climate-change thing from CIAT.
More on that beer-will-save-East-African-agriculture-from-drought thing.
Two of the Wise Men to rescue “poverty-stricken Ethiopian communities.”
F. H. King’s Farmers of Forty Centuries or Permanent Agriculture in China, Korea and Japan: The backstory. Via.
Presenting South Korea’s genebank.

IRRI working to adapt rice to climate change, thanks to genebank.
Palestine gets a genebank. And genebankers, thanks to ICARDA.
Lupin ice-cream. Sounds yummie.
Ethio Organic Seed Action “trains farmers in the use of traditional seeds.” I doubt it, but the stuff on community genebanks is nice.
Goat racing in Uganda. Where are the photos?
IFPRI publishes companion volume to Millions Fed.
Vouching for seed vouchers.
Breeding anti-GMO maize. Well, kinda.
“Beer could provide lifeline for South Sudan’s small farmers.” I know how they feel.

How species survive climate change.
Charles C. Mann, author of great books on pre-Columbian America and the consequences of the Columbian Exchange, interviewed.
Dreamy pictures of old British trees.
“Protecting wild species may require growing more food on less land.” Great press release headlines of our times. Fortunately Mongabay has a discussion.
Coconut lethal yellowing wreaking havoc in Mozambique.
What makes a good food value chain?
Boffins want to re-activate coral genes in temperate plants to stop them getting sunstroke. Or something.
Old friend engaged by GlobalHort to work on position paper on “Promoting Agrobiodiversity for International Development: A Rationale and Roadmap for Collective Action”. Go, Hannah.
Grapes vs apples in Sonoma County.
Aaargh, pirates smoked like chimneys and drank like fish. Well I never. Anyway, nice to see them making full use of the local agrobiodiversity products.