Kava (a drink made from the roots of Piper methysticum) has a bad rep in some quarters. When I was in the South Pacific I blogged about it several times, and even did a little photo essay about it. It is an important part of traditional life in places live Vanuatu, Tonga and Fiji, as well as a source of income to many smallholders, and can make for a relaxing evening with friends. It does have a definite downside if you overindulge. But then so do most things, I guess. There have been health scares about it in Europe, but they are pretty much unfounded. Anyway, there’s a piece on the BBC today (and thanks to Hannes for pointing it out to me) which tells of efforts in Vanuatu to defend the drink. It quotes Vincent Lebot, kava expert, and friend.
Tomato tastefest
I used to do this:
Sometimes there seems to be a disconnect between the luxury consumption of diversity and the fundamental use of biodiversity for food security; I’d love to help show people at farmers’ markets, for example, that their taste treat is someone else’s survival mechanism.
Exporting herbs to fight poverty
Middle East experts talk about exporting herbs.
Ratatouille
Latest chinese dish is an agrobiodiversity bridge too far: another option.
Orchid to be exploited
Remember the recent post about ylang ylang? Timbuktu Chronicles sent me to an oldish article from South Africa’s Mail & Guardian which lists the tree among Madagascar’s fragrant exports. But the article is really about a rare and threatened Malagasy orchid and how it will be cultivated for the French perfume industry. I hope everyone has their ABS arrangements down tight.