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Archive for the ‘Experts’ Category:
Defining underutilized species included in the “nutrition indicators for biodiversity”
FAO and Bioversity International have developed two nutrition indicators for biodiversity useful to measure biodiversity-related food composition and food consumption of underutilized species (www.fao.org/infoods/biodiversity/index_en.stm).
More information can be found in the document “Specific definition of underutilized species for human consumption”
While reporting upon these indicators, difficulties were encountered in defining underutilized foods. Therefore, FAO and Crops for the Future have developed specific criteria in order to establish the reference list for underutilized foods counting for the nutritional indicators for biodiversity:
Of the following criteria, the first one is compulsory, and several of the others should be met for a species to be included in this list:
- The food was/is/could be used for human consumption.
- May have great potential for contributing to food security and nutrition.
- Mainly local and traditional crops/animals (including insects, amphibians and reptiles) whose distribution, biology, cultivation and uses are poorly documented.
- Receive little attention from research, farmers, policy and decision makers, technology providers and consumers.
- Have weak or no formal seed/animal germplasm supply systems.
- Farmed, reared, gathered or caught in small scale.
- The species must be grown/raised in the country/region where it is underutilized.
Species that are imported do not count as underutilized in that region.
Furthermore, information on country/region of origin should be given.
These criteria, only intended to be used to report on the two nutrition indicators for biodiversity, should not replace the broad criteria that has been defined for categorizing underutilized species as such (www.underutilized-species.org/spotlight/what_are_underutilized_species.asp).
The integration of these specific criteria and the reference list of underutilized foods counting for food biodiversity will be uploaded on the websites of the Global Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species at www.underutilized-species.org/species/about_species.asp and of the INFOODS at www.fao.org/infoods/biodiversity/index_en.stm.
We would appreciate receiving your comments by email (email hidden; JavaScript is required) within the 20th March 2010 on both the criteria and the list before publishing them on the websites.
We look forward and thank you!
Famine Foods
From Robert Freedman, Tucson, Arizona:
I am doing ethnobotanical research on a little-known category of underutilized plants – Specifically, the data I am coordinating documents food plants used throughout the world, during periods of drought-induced famine and food scarcity. These data are accessible, on the Web, at: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/FamineFoods/ff_home.html
My intention, in coordinating these data, is to provide a resource, of proven drought-resistant food plants, some of which, because of known high nutrient content, have a potential for improvement, that would make possible the development of new crops, for populations relying on non-indigenous and environmentally at-risk spp.. This idea is articulated further, on the Web, at ‘Notes on the Famine Food Web Site’: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/FamineFoods/faminefoods.html
Based on what is known of those famine food plants, which have been analyzed in the laboratory, these data also provide a large corpus of spp.., still in need of nutritional analysis, to ascertain which may have nexpectedly high nutritional values and thereby become candidates for growth trials and selection. I would like to contact other specialists, who have an interest in arid land subsistence; and development of underutilized food plants. If you could suggest any individuals and organizations whom I can contact, I will be most appreciative.
For more information please contact Bob Freedman at email hidden; JavaScript is required
Prestigious Prize for Agrobiodiversity Researcher
Dr Andy Jarvis, a researcher with CIAT and Bioversity International has been awarded the Ebbe-Nielsen Prize for his achievement in agrobiodiversity research. Andy has produced groundbreaking studies on the importance of conserving underutilized crops and crop wild relatives, and has used geographic modeling to predict the impact of climate change on agriculture. Using this novel technology, Andy and his team also mapped the distribution of hundreds of important underutilized species, evaluated their state of conservation, and provided practical suggestions for their long-term conservation. The studies resulted in some unsettling predictions of what climate change will do to these wild species, many of which have valuable genetic traits that can be used to improve domesticated crops and enhance global food production.
Congratulations, Andy, from the team at Crops for the Future!
Read more in CIAT’s Newsletter.
European Seed Research – request for information
From Dave Aplin:
I am carrying out some work for the European Native Seed Conservation Network (ENSCONET), specifically researching the future research requirements in Europe (and elsewhere) for well-documented samples of wild-collected, native European seed. We are keen to identify research that could be encouraged or enhanced by access to such high-quality seed samples.
Furthermore, (a) would this research need material collected from across the continent or just from specific regions, (b) what data (other than standard date, location, general ecology and sampling) would need to be recorded, and (c) what quantities of seed would be required?
In the past, collection of native seeds in Europe by seed banks in botanic gardens and universities has been carried out primarily with conservation in mind. Consequently, researchers have had to make do with the material on offer rather than that tailored to their needs. We would like to turn this around and develop a dialogue with both state and private research to explore needs and thereby create opportunities for research that might otherwise be expensive or impossible to carry out.
I look forward to hearing from you,
Dr. Dave Aplin
ENSCONET