Threats

July 7, 2009January 10, 2011

The debunking of the genetic erosion meta-narrative continues

Regular readers will be familiar with our skepticism here at the Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog about the genetic erosion meta-narrative. Not with the fact that genetic erosion has in fact occurred, and is continuing to occur, of course. Just with the notion that it has occurred everywhere, for every crop, to the overall tune of “75% over the past century.” There’s now news of a further nail in the coffin of that hoary myth.

Continue reading “The debunking of the genetic erosion meta-narrative continues”

July 7, 2009July 7, 2009

Nibbles: Traditional knowledge, Opium poppy, Fish, Bees, Earthworms, Wild horses, Camel, Fearl rabbits, Guinea savannah, Kava

“In the face of climate change, keeping diverse, resilient ecosystems is one of the strongest tools for adaptation.”
Getting high in Eden.
Chinese ate freshwater fish 40,000 years ago.
British MPs finish cleaning their moats, decide to save the honeybee.
Worm power!
LEISA 25:2 is out.
Przewalski’s horse gets first ever reverse vasectomy.
Early farmers used camel-drawn carts.
Using Google Earth to map bunnies in Australia. And then kill them.
Farming the savannah. What could go wrong?
Stressed out? Try kava. With audio goodness.

July 6, 2009July 6, 2009

Nibbles: Rice breeding, ICRISAT, Arkansas heirlooms, Rice domestication, Livestock products

Oldest rice research facility in Western Hemisphere turns 100.
ICRISAT DG plugs his genebank, says “India should start investing for the long-term sustainability of the farming sector particularly in dryland agriculture.”
Seed-saving in Arkansas.
The Archaeobotanist reviews rice domestication. And again.
Nordics to discuss how to develop products based on local livestock breeds.

July 4, 2009July 5, 2009

Nibbles: Sheep size, Insect populations, Tuna, Forest regeneration, Buffalo in India

Climate change shrinking sheep, exploding insect populations.
Japanese boffins sequencing tuna genome, planning super-tuna. Godzilla unavailable for comment.
Birds eat beetles which eat seeds. So no birds, no forest. Such is the wonderful web of life.
Buffalo cloning and its future. But what is that guy in the picture doing?

July 3, 2009July 3, 2009

Nibbles: Earthworms, Artisanal fishing, Urban Ag, Bees, Geeks

Giant spitting earthworms need love too.
“…local subsidies to artisanal fisheries have also proved to contribute to the disappearance of species, as in the case of Senegal.” Oh, come on, gimme a break!
Urban Agriculture Magazine wants your contributions on “Urban Nutrient Management“. via CFtF.
Inbred bumblebees less successful.
What do you geek? Interesting campaign. Well, what do you geek?