Nibbles

August 7, 2007August 7, 2007

Coconut’s roots

The National Geographic Society has awarded US$ 20,000 to a study of coconut DNA that will shed light on its history before and after domestication.

August 5, 2007August 5, 2007

Growing tea herbs

Want to grow a tea-garden? My mother-in-law unavailable for comment.

August 3, 2007August 3, 2007

Where have all the bees gone?

The New Yorker has a brilliant long article on the bee shortage.

July 31, 2007July 31, 2007

Malaysia needs a genebank

The National Seed Association Malaysia want the country to build a genebank, mostly to help with breeding.

July 30, 2007

Rice research highlighted

Video, slideshow and more on IRRI’s work.

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