Nibbles – Page 428 – Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog

February 17, 2008February 18, 2008

Calling a spade a spade

An – ahem – unusual view of the Green Revolution. Via 2blowhards.

February 15, 2008

History of lettuce

Romaine, the oldest lettuce…

February 14, 2008

Mound builders of Norte Chico

Transitioning to agriculture on Peruvian coast 5000 years ago.

February 14, 2008

An introduction to sorghum

Canada meets sorghum, impressed.

February 13, 2008

Knowledge management for agricultural innovation

How to get Bolivian farmers to do what’s good for them; a case study.

1. Haga Hideo’s 1950s photos of Fukushima farming rituals are now being used to revive them: ex situ conservation, but for culture.
2. Long before photography, or “pre‑breeding” was a buzzword, Belgian pomologist Jean‑Baptiste Van Mons was running massive pear selection trials and gifting us Beurré Bosc and Doyenné Boussock.
3. As Southern Africa’s miombo woodlands shrinks, scientists are cloning wild trees so the fruit — and food security — outlive the forest. Now for the pre-breeding.
4. Greenpeace Africa’s Seed Project makes the case for indigenous seeds as a route to farmer independence. And you can help.
5. And oh so coincidentally, a network of community seed banks in Kenya is rescuing indigenous seeds so the diversity is still around when opportunity (or crisis) knocks.
6. Also in Kenya, the national genebank’s collectors are racing to secure opportunity crops.
7. Nepal’s indigenous crops and landraces are at the same time more needed than ever, and under threat. So, much like in Kenya.
8. The Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT says women are at the center of sustainable food systems; the fine print adds: “as they have always been.”
Published on September 30, 2026