According to this article, the number of date palms in Morocco has declined from 15 million at the end of the 19th century to 4.5 million now, mainly due to desertification. That has to have had some effect on genetic diversity, and I’m willing to bet there are data out there on the numbers of varieties at different times in the past.
Purification plants
A somewhat sketchy article in The China Post lists 12 plants that “can remove heavy metals from polluted farmland”. This has been a recurring theme for ages, but is still worth noting in case anyone can make use of the information. Officials have high hopes that “if the research proves successful in using the flowering plants and the biomass energy crops to remove pollution from farmland, it will not only able to help raise farmers’ incomes, but also encourage the reuse of polluted farmland, promote agricultural transformation and save water resources”.
Wot, no agriculture?
The Indian Express reports on a three-day jamboree, “Biodiversity : Showcasing West Bengal 2006”. Highly commendable, of course, but not one mention of any species important to agriculture. Sure rhododendrons and fishes are interesting. But some mention of perhaps tea or rice might not have gone amiss.
Pourquoi pas?
For a truly parochial account of one American professor’s dream of diversifying French nut culture, head on over here. A 77-year old retired professor of physics is promoting pecans in Provence.
A hymn to urban agriculture
Over in Austin Texas, there’s a thriving urban farm that offers a massive slice of biodiversity. Author Tom Philpott sings the praises of the produce. Urban agriculture, and an appreciation of the myriad benefits of biodiversity, could be a great way to create a common cause between the rich and the poor, but few people make the connections. How hard would it be to twin farmers’ markets across the globe?