Neglected species

Nibbles: Welsh sheep, Indian cows, International centres, NUS in Asia, Purdue workshop, Onions, New Alliance, Community seedbanks, Seed Savers Exchange, Restoration, Shakespeare

“I think you’re going to need different sheep.” In Wales, that is. (And different grasslands?)
And new cattle in India, apparently.
Another bunch of international agricultural research centres get together. Yeah, because the other lot are doing so well.
I wonder if any of either lot will be going to this FAO symposium on NUS in Asia in a couple of weeks’ time. And no, I don’t know why we didn’t know about this earlier.
On the whole, though, I think I’d rather be at the Purdue llama workshop.
Or, at a pinch, this thing on the edible Alliaceae.
Wait, there’s also a New Alliance to Increase Food Security and Nutrition. Not sure who’s invited to this party, but the “Rome-based agencies” seem to be the ones throwing it. (I guess this comes on the heels of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ annual symposium? Where’s a good summary of what happened there? Anyone? Ah, yes, Ian Scoones explains all.)
One of those agencies wants to hear from you if you have experience of community “gene/seed banks.”
Unclear if Seed Savers Exchange would qualify, but they have a bunch of peas out for the “community” to have a look at.
These Indian award-winners would definitely qualify. Which is just as well as it seems the national genebank is up for sale.
Meanwhile, botanic gardens get together to restore degraded ecosystems.
The Bard’s plants. Well, some of them.

Ancient olives not that old after all. But still attractive.
Giving up tobacco – in favor of purple sweet potatoes?
Kew is now as much about cooking as growing. Visit the 18th century kitchens.
Linking small farmers to markets, video from a conference.
The International Treaty’s SMTA made easy. Well, kinda. It would have been even easier if they had linked to the site. Good thing there’s us, eh?

High-level summit on weed management does little to inspire confidence (in me).
Careful with that cardamom! Forests may suffer.
A crop wild relative – with photo! – among “ten extremely rare seeds”. I think they mean “extremely rare species”.

Improving yams at IITA.
Improving aroids the world over.
Parallel evolution in the domestication of cereals. Will it help to improve them?
Foxtail millet helps with switchgrass genome assembly. And, one supposes, improvement.

Mapping Life is live. Will livestock and crops eventually be there?
How Valuing Nature Can Transform Agriculture. Errr … dunno. Is this really brainfodder?
A humble agronomist considers the de-commoditisation of quinoa in Bolivia.
Bioversity says that forest restoration should make better use of genetic diversity.