Nibbles

September 29, 2008September 29, 2008

Nibbles: Tamarind, Fire, Aquaculture

A single tree that is also a genebank? Holy tamarind.
Looking to kangaroo bones for evidence of Aboriginal terraforming.
African fish farming links. Via.

September 26, 2008September 26, 2008

Nibbles: Markets, Edible schoolyard

September 25, 2008September 25, 2008

Nibbles: Hops, Green Revolution, Leeks, Hemp, Ethical eating, Cuba, Farmers’ markets

Brewers vertically integrate themselves. Like Snoopy Miller.
They met, we ate.
Roman garden recreated in Wales, complete with leeks.
“There are around 45,000 different uses for hemp.”
Drawing the ecotarian line.
Cuban urban agriculture sprouts anew after Ike.
List of farmers markets in the US. Luigi asks: where’s the GoogleMaps mashup?

September 23, 2008September 23, 2008

Nibbles: New Agriculturist, Sheep, Jatropha, Carrots

All about potatoes.
Mutant sheep to attack Australia.
An Indian Jatropha genebank in the news. And a study to tell us where to collect more using some really cool software.
The ‘Purple Dragon’ carrots are coming up in a variety of colours but mostly not purple.

September 22, 2008September 23, 2008

Nibbles: Goats, Fowl, Goats & fowl, Bees

Kenyans turn to dairy goats.
Ugandans advised to turn to local chickens.
Kenyans told: “Change your old farming methods or face starvation.” Jeremy says: “I’m confused.”
Irish bees — rescue plan. Thanks Danny.

1. Why the modern food system prizes uniformity even though resilience depends on diversity. Spoiler alert: follow the money.
2. Historic crop varieties are finding renewed relevance as farmers contend with more volatile weather, emerging pests and changing markets. Let’s hope there’s money to conserve them.
3. India’s traditional wheat varieties contain diversity that could help breeders develop crops better able to withstand heat and drought. Let’s hope there’s money to conserve them.
4. India announces significant progress in conserving its wild rice genetic resources. Great that there was money to conserve them.
5. Community seed banks across Kenya are calling for formal recognition and sustained support, arguing that locally managed collections strengthen seed sovereignty, preserve traditional varieties and help farming communities adapt to climate change. Yes, but are they enough without national genebanks?
6. Researchers are racing to conserve wild coffee species whose genetic diversity may provide the resistance and resilience needed to secure tomorrow’s morning cup. Is the industry contributing, though ?
7. New history of the macadamia traces its remarkable journey from Australia’s native forests to a global crop, while underscoring why conserving the remaining wild populations is essential for the crop’s long-term future.
8. Researchers at the University of the South Pacific investigate how taro can withstand climate change, combining research with conservation to help protect one of the region’s most culturally and nutritionally important staple crops.
9. Chester Zoo collects seeds from highly threatened cacti, because why not?
Published on July 14, 2026