Nibbles

October 25, 2007

Natural history collection seeks contributions

Boffins keen to get hands on pubic lice. Everybody unavailable for comment.

October 25, 2007October 25, 2007

New pecan variety released

New pecan on the block.

October 24, 2007October 24, 2007

Turks discuss organic farming

A report from the 1st Organic Farming Congress at BahÃ§eÅŸehir University in Turkey.

October 23, 2007

A cartoon about blogging

Mega meta: Luigi and Jeremy unavailable for comment.

October 23, 2007

Village peanut sheller

Wanna add value to peanuts? Here’s one way.

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