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Where is agriculture

It was barely in evidence in the original text for the Copenhagen Climate change meeting, though there are hopeful signs that it may be creeping in. Now comes further evidence that the world at large, or at least the rich, well-fed world, basically doesn’t give a stuff about agriculture. 2010 is the official United Nations International Year of Biodiversity. And it must be important, because it has a couple of Facebook pages and a Facebook group.

You’re wondering, do either of those mention agriculture, even fleetingly? would I be here if they did?

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Turkey making the most of its agrobiodiversity

I’m off for a few weeks’ holiday soon, but I couldn’t go without some reflections on my recent trip to Uzbekistan, via Turkey. I’ll post some photos from the main market in Tashkent later, but in the meantime, here’s a very rapid agrobiodiversity trifecta from a day’s transit in Istanbul.

First, I haven’t been in Turkey for a while, and I don’t remember vişne, or sour cherry, juice been available so readily commercially in cartons a few years back, along with more common staples like orange and apple juice. It’s delicious. Has anyone seen it in Europe?

Secondly, I was intrigued and impressed by the marketing work being done on the hazelnut. Turkish Airlines doesn’t give out peanuts with its drinks. It gives out attractive packets of dry hazelnuts. Again, very tasty, and a nice way of promoting local agrobiodiversity.

hazelnut

And finally, good to see salep, a traditional drink made from ground up orchid bulbs, on sale at the airport, and indeed featured in the in-flight magazine. Great to warm up after a morning wandering around Istanbul in a rainstorm.