Nutrition

We’ve mentioned before the efforts to support millet cultivation among the Hill Tribes of India. There’s even a BBC documentary about the work. The above video is not from the Kolli Hills, but the problem it illustrates is the same. Rice subsidies and mining are threatening the way of life of the Dongria Kondh.

Living Farms works with them to ensure availability of food for the entire year. This is being done by re-establishing their traditional farming system, by conserving the biodiversity of millet and uncultivated food.

March 13, 2009

Nibbles: Venezuela, Bangladesh, Climate change, Geographic indications, Dried herbs, Maize, Cydonia, Snakes, Hawaii, Pinot passion

“For some, eating out at an arepa place is turning into a luxury.” Go Chavez!
“Two farmer families live adjacent with one another. One has a good quality mango tree and other one has same as a jackfruit tree.” Discuss.
“Ex situ conservation in genebanks must expand dramatically.”
“…the question concerns how [geographic indication] could help develop commercial food crop growing, fix agricultural and food know-how, ensure food security in rural areas, and alleviate poverty.” That indeed is the question.
“Il profumo dell’origano di Sicilia rimane integro sino allo sbriciolamento.” I would hope so!
Purple maize used to make dyes. What’s wrong with just eating the damn stuff?
“…it was probably a quince and not an apple or Cheeto that Adam tempted Eve with.”
Farming snakes in Thailand.
“Instead of being a source of health and well-being for the land and people, the American system of industrial agriculture has become a source of problematic food and even fear.” Via.
“Pinot Noir first came to America … in the middle years of the 19th century.”

March 6, 2009June 28, 2009

Organic agriculture key to climate change adaptation and mitigation

Ma. Estrella A. Penunia, Secretary General of the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), at the Round Table Discussion “Research and Innovation for Smallholder Farmers in the Context of Climate Change,” organized by IFAD during the 32nd session of IFAD’s Governing Council, 18 February 2009:

In closing, we reiterate our belief that sustainable, organic, ecological friendly agriculture, which is owned, controlled and managed by small men and women farmers, and supported by government policies and programs, is a strategic agricultural measure to adapt and mitigate climate change, ensure food security, and reduce poverty among smallholder farmers. We ask for strong support to this kind of agriculture by putting money for research and development, for communication and information dissemination, for promotion and upscaling. We look forward to meaningful partnerships with all stakeholders — government, business, civil society, producer organizations to promote this kind of agriculture.

On the other hand….

March 5, 2009March 5, 2009

Urban farmer, ex-basketball player, genius

Did we note that Will Allen, urban farmer extraordinaire, won the Genius Award last year? Congratulations! Via.

March 3, 2009March 2, 2009

Rare crops need love too

Professor Stephen Hopper, director of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, in London, argues that the world is currently too reliant on just a handful of key species of edible plants for food.

Welcome aboard, Prof. Hopper!

Category: Nutrition

Rice vs millet

Nibbles: Venezuela, Bangladesh, Climate change, Geographic indications, Dried herbs, Maize, Cydonia, Snakes, Hawaii, Pinot passion

Organic agriculture key to climate change adaptation and mitigation

Urban farmer, ex-basketball player, genius

Rare crops need love too