Policy

September 19, 2011September 19, 2011

From sheep to crops

ILRI’s research report “Characterization and conservation of indigenous sheep genetic resources: A practical framework for developing countries” has a nifty flow diagram at the back which sort of summarizes what you have to do as a national programme to conserve your indigenous sheep breeds. I don’t think it would need to be tremendously dissimilar to be applicable to crop landraces. Any thoughts?

September 19, 2011September 19, 2011

Nibbles: G20, Organics, Oca, Cassava, Molecular phylogenetics, Human diversity, OFSP

G20 nations turn to agricultural research for food security. All you need to know.
Would it be worth updating Borlaug on organics? A Prinz says “Yes!”
Rhizowen gets oca to grow seed to seed. Can Cornish “potatoes” be far behind?
Is it cassava‘s time?
Molecular taxonomy helps an allergy sufferer.
Lagging behind in development? Maybe you’re too diverse. Or not diverse enough. Difficult, in either case, to envisage the solutions.
Agfax podcast on orange sweet potato in Uganda. Comment on the kuroiler goes for this too.

September 17, 2011September 17, 2011

Nibbles: Silver linings, Jaw jaw

Climate change good for British wine and fish. So that’s all right then.
CBD doing its thing(s) in India and Pakistan.

September 15, 2011

Nibbles: Primary forests, Lima Declaration

“…old-growth rainforests are the greatest celebration of life on earth.” Well, maybe.
Chefs make a stand. Ooooooh, scary.

September 13, 2011September 13, 2011

Live, interactive, participatory UN webcast on biodiversity in a week

Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the CBD and Monique Barbut, CEO and Chair of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), will discuss the CBD’s bold plans and the importance of taking action now to avert even more serious loss of biodiversity; how the entire UN system is driving to make the UNBD a lasting success, and the role of the GEF.

Or so it says here. Anyway, go and submit a question, and don’t forget to listen in on 20/9/2011 at 17:00 BST and hear what they have to say about agrobiodiversity. If anything.

Fresh Nibbles

Why the modern food system prizes uniformity even though resilience depends on diversity. Spoiler alert: follow the money.
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.
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.
India announces significant progress in conserving its wild rice genetic resources. Great that there was money to conserve them.
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?
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 ?
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.
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.
Chester Zoo collects seeds from highly threatened cacti, because why not?

Published on July 14, 2026