A special orchard, containing rare species of fruit trees, is being planted in Worcestershire. England. The 2 ha orchard is being planted with around 170 trees of different traditional varieties of fruit that were grown in the Wyre Forest.

It is hoped that the “gene bank” orchard will ensure the survival of rare fruit trees for future generations. …

Read from BBC web site about this clicking here

This news item comes from a post on FAO’s NWFP (Non Wood Forest Products) -Digest

I recall about the Association Archeologia Arborea that is doing similar work

This is a contribution to saving threatened varieties that provide precious germplasm, tastes not to be lost, provide important contributions to biodiversity and much more.

Let us know about other good stories like this one you are aware about.

Here is a new book on the diversity and ethnobotany of taro (Colocasia esculenta), one of the world’s most ancient food crops

We were particularly impressed by the chapter of Peter J. Metthews, an excell

ent account of taro’s history, with much useful information on its earliest uses over 20,000 years BP, a comprehensive section on taro’s nutritional qualities, the methods employed to remove anti-nutri tional factors, and the food culture associated with taro.

Highly recommended!

The Abstract (copied further down) and the link to downlaod plus other information is available on Bioveristy International’s web site here

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Abstract:

Taro is a staple crop for several hundred million small farmers and planters throughout the tropical world. Often associated with Asia and Pacific, it is also important in the Americas and Africa. This book explores the diversity of taros and their uses as well as the status of  taro genetic resources in all the major geographic regions where it is grown. While new market opportunities and taro’s versatility are responsible for its growing popularity in markets, diseases and climate change also pose ever greater threats to its production and distribution. By taking a global approach to the crop, the authors highlight ways to address new outbreaks of pathogens such as the Taro leaf blight in Africa. Diversity in cultivars is also important in coping and adapting to climate change especially when genetic diversity science and farmer knowledge can be brought together.

The “famine food” of trees can keep drought-hit communities alive when all other food crops fail, says Miranda Spitteler. In this week’s Green Room, she argues that policy makers need to recognise the important role trees play in providing emergency food aid.

Read more: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8181510.stm

This publication has been commissioned by the Global Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species (GFU), created to ease and increase information and knowledge exchange in the field of neglected and underutilized species (NUS).

GFU’s mission is to promote and facilitate the sustainable deployment of underutilized plant species to increase food security and alleviate poverty among the rural and urban poor. Its objective is to support and strengthen organizations and networks working on different aspects of underutilized species through:

• providing improved access to information and financial resources;
• increasing public awareness on the role of underutilized species for improving livelihoods; and
• giving advice to policy-makers on how to create an enabling policy environment for the deployment of underutilized species.

By doing so, GFU aims to attract an increasing number of assistance agencies, research institutions, extension services, policy- and decision-makers to include neglected and underutilized species in their development programmes.

Download document here. Further information about GFU’s marketing studies is available from here.

The International Foundation for Science (IFS) is looking for young scientists in developing countries for IFS Research Grants to do research on the sustainable management, use, or conservation of biological or water resources. This broad statement covers natural science and social science research on agriculture, soils, animal production, food science, forestry, agroforestry, aquatic resources, natural products, water resources, etc. Applications are accepted all year and are to be made on an IFS Application Form.

Closing Date: Until filled

The full guidelines, eligibility criteria, and instructions to apply are available here:  www.ifs.se/Programme/granting_programme.asp