Nibbles – Page 441 – Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog

November 28, 2007

Record-breaking white truffle

A 1.5 kg white truffle has been unearthedÂ near San Miniato. It is a contender for world’s largest truffle ever.

November 27, 2007

Sacred cows

India has lost half its 27 cattle breeds?

November 26, 2007

Pacific crops project

Specialty Crops for the Pacific Islands. Via PAPGREN.

November 24, 2007

Edible biodiversity, sort of

Street food, glorious street food.

November 23, 2007

Everybody loves quinoa

CABI on Bioversity on quinoa.

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