Neglected species

November 28, 2013November 27, 2013

You say Kartoffel

Let’s be fair. The inability to distinguish the potato from other Andean roots and tubers is not entirely confined to National Geographic. Take, for example, the November 2013 edition of the German magazine P.M. History. I don’t think it is online, but there’s an article in there entitled “Eine kleine Knolle verändert die Welt,” or “A small tuber that changed the world.” The first couple of pages are reproduced here. Clearly, it’s about the potato.

Ah, but wait, for a little further on one comes across a photo of what are clearly not potatoes. Unless of course all is explained in the caption, but somehow I doubt it.

November 28, 2013

Chenopods!

Chenopods

Spare a thought for those fortunates slaving over a hot stove today to give thanks for their good fortune. And if you’re not in the kitchen, consider these Thanksgiving Genomes.

November 27, 2013November 27, 2013

Nibbles: Papaya relatives, Agrobiodiversity monitoring, Orange breeding, Corn mutant, Cashew processing, Pecan pie, Communications history, Wheat research video, Agroforestry, Breeding, AG research in USA, Philippines typhoon, Eating insects, Indian blog, Open data, Microbes & wine, European databases, Afro-Indian Millet Alliance

The closest relative of the papaya looks nothing like a papaya. But will it be monitored, along with the rest of agrobiodiversity?
We might have to look further afield than near relatives to save the orange. But closer to save corn.
Cashews are bad? Say it ain’t so. And as for pecans…
CGIAR comms guys (and it is all guys) reminisce about the good old days of agricultural research. And here’s an example, using wheat, of what they’re up to now. Nice shoutout for breeding and genebanks. Though of course it’s not just about the breeding.
Crop improvement is one of six ways of feeding the world. Just. CGIAR comms guys probably on it. Barbara Schaal certainly is.
IRRI maps rice areas affected by the recent typhoon. I did ask, and farmers there apparently mostly grow modern varieties. FAO provides more context.
More insectivorous hijinks.
Great new blog on chai wallahs.
Big, open ag data will save us all. That sound you hear is the zeitgeist catching up. And the CGIAR is on it.
You say terroir, I say microbes.
Report on a descent into Genebank Database Hell, European Chapter. Ah, but it’s open.
India reaches out to Africa, millets in hand.

November 27, 2013November 27, 2013

Breadfruit Institute on a roll

They’ve been busy at the Breadfruit Institute of late. Or even more busy than usual. The director, Dr Diane Ragone, has won one of the prestigious “Star of Oceania” awards, which this year recognize

…women of and from Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia and the state of Hawaii who reaffirm the capacity of women to serve, lead and inspire regionally, nationally and globally through aloha, courage, perseverance, precedence and faith.

The final version of the breadfruit climate suitability map is also now online, according to a post on the Institute’s Facebook page. Here it is:

I’m not sure if we already blogged about this, but that map reminds me that WRI has a set of global water stress maps online now. Here it is for coffee.

Maybe one for breadfruit could be added sometime? Anyway, as if that weren’t enough, Diane has also put online various materials in support of a “Breadfruit and You” curriculum, including a nifty new graphic of breadfruit diversity and local names.

Our congratulations to Diane, for all of the above!

LATER: And breadfruit is not just good to eat, we also learned.

November 26, 2013

Nibbles: Quinoa, Conference, Genebanks, Dietary diversity, Subsidies

Peruvian quinoa leaves Bolivia in the dust – so that’s good for Bolivians who want to eat the stuff, right?
At the forthcoming conference on Enhanced Genepool Utilization ‒ Capturing Wild Relative And Landrace Diversity For Crop Improvement “[a] book of abstracts will be provided on a flashdrive”. And here’s your jetpack …
Global Crop Diversity Trust speaks truth to power. Power replies: “Yeah, yeah, we know all that.”
Kids document traditional foodways of Kenya.
Do farm subsidies increase or decrease food prices? Yes.