Climate change is leading to an increase in late blight and other diseases in Andean potato fields, and farmers are moving up the mountain in response. They’re also trying to figure out which of their dozens of varieties — plus others from genebanks, especially CIP’s — are going to do best, where. Hear all about it at NPR. There’s a great slideshow too.
Out and about: Smithfield Horse Market
This just in from our friend and occasional contributor Danny Hunter out and about in Dublin admiring the agricultural biodiversity on show in a local market.
I walked one minute up the road to the Smithfield Horse Market and was surprised at how big a concern it was. There were horses, ponies and donkeys of all sorts. It was chaotic and pretty much unmanaged. Largely run by and catering for the Traveller community. At one stage there was a bare knuckle fist fight between two brothers apparently. If you missed that you could always go to the van selling videos which had a wide range of DVDs of all sorts of family members, friends and foes slugging it out (among the many road races the Travellers organise in various places). Kids as young as 12 years old were buying and selling! While it is always lovely to be around horses and get some nice shots it all seemed a bit brutal and sad. I liked the scene of the guy with crash helmet and shetland pony walking through the market. After a few hours of sweet fresh horse dung I set off on the Luas for the fresh lungs of Bray and did the 10km coast walk to Greystones.
Indigo in the Americas
I knew a bit about indigo — but not that in addition to the Old World’s Indigofera tinctoria there’s a separate species in the same genus that was used in ancient America for making dye. I found out because of some interesting detective work on the Maya pigment. I figured that the indigo plant mentioned in the research was something completely different, but it turns out to be I. suffruticosa. Although there do seem to be other genera that produce the colour.
Seed savers take matters into their own hands
In this global world it can be valuable to stop and think for a moment that we share the same problems and solutions. Traditional knowledge and informal seed systems are not the preserve of “resource-poor farmers in marginal areas in developing countries”. They can be just as vital to fatcat hobby gardeners in the richest countries on earth. Seed swaps, where people exchange their seeds and their knowledge, are now common features of garden life around the developed world, and increasing in frequency and importance as gardeners come to value biodiversity.
All of which is prompted by this fine account of a recent Seedy Saturday from Ottawa Hortiphilia. Check it out, and if anyone else has a report on a seed swap, from Mali, Montreal or Morecombe, let us know.
Underutilized plants finally get an airing
We don’t usually reproduce press releases here, but this is a good cause.
Hundreds of little-known indigenous plant species support the lives of the rural poor. These plants often have medicinal properties, provide nutrients to women and children, and are used for building materials, fodder and a multitude of other uses.
Called neglected or “underutilized,” these species collectively receive little attention from researchers, extension officers, farmers, policy and decision makers, donors, technology providers and consumers, yet they are vital to the wellbeing of millions of people. Many have untapped potential for processing into refreshments and snacks and for trade in the domestic and regional markets, thus providing poor people with new income opportunities.
An international Symposium is convened in Arusha, Tanzania 3-7 March 2008. 209 participants from 54 countries have come together to share and discuss approaches to promote underutilized plants in four main areas of importance: food security, nutrition and health, income generation, and environmental sustainability.
The Symposium is co-convened under the umbrella of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) by the Sri Lanka-based International Centre for Underutilised Crops (ICUC) and the Global Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species, Bioversity International, Plant Resources of Tropical Africa, GlobalHort and AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center, whose Regional Office for Africa is the local host.
Dr Hannah Jaenicke, Director of ICUC and the main convener of the Symposium says: “Many underutilized crops are plants used by the poor to meet their daily needs; they are not high priorities for national governments as are commodity crops.”
She continues: “Many of the people working on these plants feel isolated. They have no access to information from other countries, which is often not published. This symposium provides a unique opportunity for experts from around the world to exchange ideas and develop strategies for future collaboration.”
The Hon. Minister for Education and Vocational Training, the former Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof. Jumanne Maghembe will open the symposium.
Dr. Sidi Sanyang, representing Dr. Monty Jones, the Executive Secretary of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), will present the keynote address. Other distinguished guests at the Opening Ceremony are Dr. Norman E. Looney, President of the International Society of Horticultural Sciences and Dr. Jeremiah Haki, Director for Research and Development, Department of Agriculture.
LATER: And here’s the report.