Tag Archives: tuber

The homogenisation and globalisation of diets

Originally posted on One Billion Hungry: Can We Feed the World?:
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has estimated that some 75% of the diversity of cultivated crops was lost during the 20th Century and, by 2050, we could lose…

Posted in agriculture, food, horticulture, human health, money and trade | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

GMO breakthroughs and fakethroughs

It can be difficult to know who to believe about genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The scientific peer review system is no guarantee of truth, nor are the news media, nor are blogs like this one. Jonathan Latham of the US-based … Continue reading

Posted in agriculture, food, knowledge transfer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A GM potato for Europe?

Here in the European Union (EU), farmers were allowed to grow two crops that had been genetically modified (GM, genetically engineered, GE, biotech). Now they’re only allowed to grow one of them. In July this year I said that whether … Continue reading

Posted in agriculture, knowledge transfer, money and trade | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Agricultural biodiversity and climate change

Smallholders around the world favour diversity as they face changing, unpredictable climates. Bioversity International tells us how smallholders use biodiversity to adapt. ‘Given the prevalence and effectiveness of planting new crops and varieties as a coping mechanism, ensuring access to … Continue reading

Posted in agriculture, food, knowledge transfer, weather and climate | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Agricultural biotech against poverty and hunger

Too many people are hungry. Many of the hungry people are African. Biotechnology might help. The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) tells us how biotech can help to feed people. ‘A successful strategy should have MULTIPLE … Continue reading

Posted in agriculture, food, knowledge transfer, money and trade | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Sweet potatoes to let you see in the dark

Sweet potatoes are a staple food in many parts of the world, particularly in hot climates where they grow well. There are white-fleshed ones and orange-fleshed ones. The orange-fleshed ones help people’s eyesight. Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP) contain carotene. It … Continue reading

Posted in food, human health, knowledge transfer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments