Nibbles

June 15, 2007

Australian fruits

Aussies scour their flora for cool fruits.

June 14, 2007

Noah’s Fridge

Noah’s Fridge: no, not Svalbard!

June 13, 2007

Armenian apricots

The Ministry of Agriculture in Yeravan is organizing an internationalÂ conference on the Armenian apricot.

June 13, 2007June 13, 2007

Viet Nam discusses forest products

Brief report on the first day of a conference on non-timber forest products in Viet Nam.

June 12, 2007

African biotech

SciDevNet’s roundup of agri-biotech in Africa is online.

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