Nibbles

June 23, 2007June 24, 2007

Earthworm genetic diversity

Earthworms are agricultural biodiversity too!

June 22, 2007June 23, 2007

Microbial resources

FAO has a paper on agricultural microbial genetic resources.

June 22, 2007June 22, 2007

EC wants a biodiversity database

The European Commission wants a Biodiversity knowledge base. I wonder whether it wants ag in there.

June 22, 2007

Garlic in the press

The beginning of a panic about the garlic deficit with China? Via Food Museum Blog.

June 22, 2007

Potholes on the Tequila Trail

Tequila vs maize in the homeland of both.

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