Nibbles

February 27, 2008February 28, 2008

Nibbles: Peas, corn, marama, peaches, bees

Follow along with the adventures of an amateur pea breeder. Mendel comments: “go for it, girl”.
And the corn (maize) genome is announced, apparently with recipes. Via.
Namibians domesticate nutritious wild legume. Mendel comments: “what’s wrong with peas?”
New Zealand (re)discovers square peaches. Mendel unavailable on this one.
Honeybee evolution summarized.

February 26, 2008February 26, 2008

Nibbles: Decoration, insects

(Agro)biodiversity used as personal decoration in the Omo Valley.
Eating bugs is good for you. No, really. FAO says so!

February 25, 2008February 26, 2008

Nibbles: golden rice, nutrition, organics, feral livestock

Pro golden rice PDF, via Eldis.
How to devise food-based dietary guidelines.
Is organic any better for you?
They shoot wild burros, don’t they?

February 24, 2008February 25, 2008

Nibbles: Genebanks, organic, fair, chocolate

American farming family gets tour of organic research farm and genebank in India, is impressed.
The International Agricultural Show is on, just outside Paris. Pres. Sarkozy available for comment.
A rapid run-through the history of chocolate, courtesy of Smithsonian.

February 22, 2008February 22, 2008

Nibbles: Carnival, Boars

Tangled Bank #99; apologies for the late link.
Participatory approach to wild boar problem — in Brighton, England!

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