DOCSLIB.ORG

Crop Trust Magazine Contents

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Crop Trust Magazine Contents CROP TRUST MAGAZINE CONTENTS 4 Editorial: Tip of the iceberg, 40 A Haven of Diversity: by Marie Haga, of the Crop Trust the genebank of the Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees Svalbard Global Seed Vault 46 The Plant Treaty: Q+A with Luigi Guarino, of the Crop Trust 6 Mythbusting 50 Cryopreservation and the 7 The Seed Vault in numbers future of crop conservation 8 Fascinating facts 10 A Three-way partnership Food Forever 12 A Day in the life: Q+A with 52 Food Forever: Biodiversity Åsmund Asdal of NordGen for resilience 16 Turning ten: Celebrating 54 The Food Forever Experience a decade of the Seed Vault 58 Food: The world’s most successful immigration story? 20 Crop Trust timeline 22 The Crop Trust: A Prehistory 60 The Crop Trust endowment fund 24 The big picture 62 Ensuring the world continues to wake up to Coffee 26 Back from the brink: The Bermuda bean 66 Compete to Conserve: Catan and the Crop Trust 30 Genebanks: An investment in the future of food 68 Crop Wild Relatives: Q&A with Hannes Dempewolf, 34 The CGIAR Genebank Platform of the Crop Trust 38 Safeguarding rice: 74 The Squashes of Autumn Nothing less than forever 80 Credits BY MARIE HAGA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CROP TRUST The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is instantly recognizable. It contains seeds of around one million crop varieties, sent from all over the world. That’s as much as most people know. Then come the myths and misperceptions. One pervasive myth is that it’s a “doomsday vault” designed to help humanity restart agriculture after a global catastrophe. But here’s the truth about the Svalbard Global Seed Vault: it’s actually the tip of the iceberg. It’s the most northerly point in an enormous crop conservation effort that takes place every day and every night in genebanks across the globe. In this effort, conservation is only one part of the equation. Using crop diversity is the other. Farmers and scientists need crop diversity so they can continue to innovate. They need it to develop crops that can outpace climate change and sustainably nourish a world population expected to reach 10 billion people by 2050. Genebanks provide them the seeds they need to do this. I trust this first edition of the Crop Trust Magazine will TIP OF THE give you a glimpse into this exciting and under-reported world. I hope it instills a similar sense of the awe that continues to inspire me, Crop Trust staff, and our partners and donors, every day. Seeds are miracles and this magazine is a chance ICEBERG to learn a little bit more about their magic. TIP OF THE ICEBERG 5 U The Seed Vault DOES NOT store crops forever UWhile some seeds can last for over 1,000 years U in the Seed Vault, others can only survive a few decades. All seeds stored in the Seed Vault need to be taken out MYTHBUSTING intermittently and regrown to ensure they are still viable. Replacement seeds are then sent to the Vault. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE SVALBARD GLOBAL SEED VAULTU It’s NOT a “doomsday” vault The Seed Vault is NOT located The Seed Vault was not established in case of a global in an abandoned coalmine catastrophe that requires humanity to restart agriculture. The Seed Vault is actually a purpose-built cavern, Instead, it serves as backup for genebanks around the world with an access tunnel drilled into the side of a mountain. that contain important crop collections. Many of these genebanks face risks including mechanical failures,U uncertain funding, civil strife, extreme weather, and even earthquakes. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault stores duplicates of their seeds, just in case. U NOT all crops can be U stored in the Seed Vault It can store lots of different crops, but not all. Crops like coffee, tea, avocado, apples, sweetpotato There are NO GMOs in the Seed Vault and others are best conserved through methods Under Norwegian law, it is not permitted to import other than freezing. seeds of genetically modified crops into the country.U 6 CROP TRUST MAGAZINE MYTHBUSTING 7 THE SEED VAULT IN NUMBERS u FASCINATING FACTS -18 C THE SEED VAULT SVALBARD US$9 MILLION The temperature inside the • The Svalbard Global Seed Vault was opened • In the summer, the sun does not The cost of constructing seed rooms in the Seed Vault. in February 2008 by former Norwegian set on Svalbard for four months. Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and the the Seed Vault This is the international standard Svalbard is considered a desert late Dr. Wangari Maathai, the 2004 Nobel • for long-term seed conservation due to its low air humidity. Peace Prize recipient. The Svalbard archipelago has a The Seed Vault is a secure backup facility • • population of 2,700 people. There are for the genebanks of the world. For many twice as many polar bears as people. genebanks, it’s actually the second backup. OVER 1 MILLION The largest island of the Svalbard Depositors to the Seed Vault continue • • archipelago – and the one that’s home The number of seed samples 500 to own the samples they deposit and to the Seed Vault – is Spitsbergen, only they can retrieve the material. that have been deposited in the which means “rugged mountains.” Seed Vault, making it the world’s The Seed Portal is a publicly accessible list • In Svalbard, as much as 60% of the largest seed collection The average number of all seeds stored in the Svalbard Global • landmass is covered in ice, and less Seed Vault www.nordgen.org/sgsv/. of seeds in a sample than 10% has any vegetation. The artwork at the entrance of the • The island of Svalbard used to be located Seed Vault is a light installation by • on the equator, but millions of years Norwegian artist Dyveke Sanne. of continental drift has resulted in its 2.25 76 location 1,000km from the North Pole. BILLION The total number of institutions The total number of individual seeds that have deposited seeds in that can be stored in the Seed Vault othe Seed Vault o 8 CROP TRUST MAGAZINE FASCINATING FACTS 9 A THREE-WAY PARTNERSHIP The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is the Genetic Resource Center (NordGen) provides largest and most secure collection of crop technical support, coordinates seed deposits diversity in the world. It was established and maintains a public online database of and funded by Norway as a service to the samples stored in the Seed Vault. The Crop global community, and is managed and Trust provides financial support for the operated under a tri-party agreement. operations of the Seed Vault, as well as funding for the preparation and shipment of seeds It is owned and administered by the Norwegian from genebanks around the world, especially Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The Nordic in developing countries. 10 CROP TRUST MAGAZINE A THREE-WAY PARTNERSHIP 11 How long have you been involved Can you describe a typical day when there with the Svalbard Global Seed Vault? are deposits to be made at the Seed Vault? I’ve been the Svalbard Global Seed Vault Normally, the seed boxes arrive some days Coordinator at NordGen since 2015. in advance of the opening day, as we call it. A DAY IN However, to some extent I was involved earlier, They are securely stored in Longyearbyen as part of the Norwegian delegation to the FAO – the nearest town to the Seed Vault. On Commission for Genetic Resources for Food opening day, the seed boxes are brought to and Agriculture, where plans to establish the Longyearbyen airport for security scanning THE LIFE Seed Vault were launched. I was also involved – in the same way that passenger luggage is in preparations for the grand opening of the scanned. The airport staff kindly help ensure An Interview with Åsmund Asdal, Svalbard Global Seed Vault Seed Vault in February 2008. NordGen itself that there is nothing but seeds in the boxes. Coordinator, Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen) has been involved since the beginning and is responsible for organizing seed deposits from genebanks and getting the seeds safely into the Seed Vault. A DAY IN THE LIFE 13 At the airport we also check the seed boxes It’s peacefully quiet down there, and against the list of depositors from whom we’re while it’s minus 18 degrees Celsius, all expecting consignments. It’s always fascinating the heavy lifting tends to keep you warm – to see the different boxes and labels and know for a little while at least! The camaraderie that these seeds have traveled from far away is great and we all feel as though we are – sometimes from the other side of the world. doing something important for humanity. We never open the boxes and have After putting the seed boxes on the to take great care with them – the seeds inside shelves, we take photos of them. When remain the property of the depositors at all we’re back in the office, we send these times, plus they represent thousands of years to each depositor, confirming that their of agricultural history. Once the seed boxes boxes are safely inside the Seed Vault. clear airport security, we load them into a There are between four and six seed vehicle, and drive the 3km-or-so to the Seed deposit occasions a year, usually involving Vault. In winter, this drive is completely a total of 15–25 depositing institutes. The polar bears provide ‘an unusual element of security! dark at almost any time of the day, and the Has there been a particularly special’ one time.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Boosting Agricultural Efficiency and Output Through Targeted Interventions
    PA R T I V Boosting Agricultural Efficiency and Output through Targeted Interventions CHAPTER 1 5 Increasing Rice Productivity and Strengthening Food Security through New Rice for Africa (NERICA) Aliou Diagne, Soul-Kifouly Gnonna Midingoyi, Marco Wopereis, and Inoussa Akintayo espite Africa’s potentially rich land and water capita rice consumption in West Africa increased from resources, its farmers are among the poorest in the 14 kilograms in the 1970s to 22 kilograms in the 1980s and world. Because the vast majority of people in more than 39 kilograms in 2009. For Africa as whole, annual DAfrica der ive their livelihoods from agriculture, the weak per capita rice consumption increased from 11 kilograms in state of the sector has profound implications for poverty.1 the 1970s to 21 kilograms in 2009 (figure 15.1). Since the Agricultural innovation in Africa needs to internalize the early 1970s rice has been the number one source of caloric region’s biophysical, institutional, and socioeconomic con- intake in West Africa and the third most important source straints and establish efficient value chains to support sus- of calories (after maize and cassava) for the continent as a tainable growth and reduce poverty. whole (figure 15.2). Agricultural research can catalyze agricultural innova- Domestic rice production grew at the rate of 6 percent a tion and the development of the value chain. A prime exam- year between 2001 and 2005.5 But production still falls far ple is the New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties developed short of demand. As a result, Africa imports up to 40 per- by the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice2) and partners, which cent of its rice consumption.
    [Show full text]
  • Networking Banana and Plantain
    Networking Banana and Plantain Annual Report 2000 The mission of the International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain is to sustainably increase the productivity of banana and plantain grown on smallholdings for domestic consumption and for local and export markets. The Programme has four specific objectives: • To organize and coordinate a global research effort on banana and plantain, aimed at the development, evaluation and dissemination of improved cultivars and at the conservation and use of Musa diversity • To promote and strengthen collaboration and partnerships in banana-related research activities at the national, regional and global levels • To strengthen the ability of NARS to conduct research and development activities on bananas and plantains • To coordinate, facilitate and support the production, collection and exchange of information and documentation related to banana and plantain. INIBAP is a programme of the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), a Future Harvest Centre. The International Plant Genetic Resources Institute is an autonomous international scientific organization, supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). IPGRI’s mandate is to advance the conservation and use of genetic diversity for the well-being of present and future generations. IPGRI’s headquarters is based in Rome, Italy, with offices in another 19 countries worldwide. It operates through three programmes: (1) the Plant Genetic Resources Programme, (2) the CGIAR Genetic Resources
    [Show full text]
  • Integrated Irrigation and Aquaculture in West Africa: Concepts, Practices and Potential
    CCOVEROVER [[Converted].aiConverted].ai 33-03-2006-03-2006 12:21:2012:21:20 INTEGRATED IRRIGATION AND AQUACULTURE INWESTAFRICA—Concepts,practicesandpotential ANDAQUACULTURE IRRIGATION INTEGRATED FAO This volume contains background documents and papers presented at the FAO-WARDA Workshop on Integrated Irrigation Aquaculture (IIA) held in Bamako, Mali, from 4 to 7 November 2003, as well as the findings of FAO expert missions on IIA in the West Africa region. The rationale for IIA development lies in its potential to increase productivity of scarce freshwater resources for improved livelihoods and to reduce pressure on natural resources, which is particularly important in the drought-prone countries of West Africa where water scarcity, food security and environmental degradation are priority issues for policy-makers. Irrigated systems, floodplains and inland valley bottoms are identified as C the three main target environments for IIA in West Africa. Many examples M of current practices, constraints and potential for development of IIA are Y provided. The concepts of economic analyses of IIA are reviewed, and an CM overview of regional and international research institutions and networks MY CY and their mandates as they relate to IIA is given. Key factors for successful CMY adoption of IIA – participation of stakeholders and support for local K development, an integrated, multisectoral approach to IIA and improved knowledge management and networking – indicate the way forward and are reflected in a proposal for IIA development in West Africa. INTEGRATED IRRIGATION AND AQUACULTURE IN WEST AFRICA Concepts, practices and potential ISBN 92-5-105491-6 9 7 8 9 2 5 1 0 5 4 9 1 8 TC/M/A0444E/1/3.06/2500 CCover-IIover-II [[Converted].aiConverted].ai 33-03-2006-03-2006 112:22:302:22:30 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Cover page: FAO photos by A.
    [Show full text]
  • Descriptors for Baobab (Adansonia Digitata L.)
    afrika focus — Volume 28, Nr. 1, 2015 — pp. 125-126 Descriptors for Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Kehlenbeck K.S. Padulosi, A. Alercia Bioversity International, World Agroforestry Centre Italy, Kenya, 2015 Bioversity International belongs to the so-called CG centre group. The latter, in full the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (though no longer known under their full name), consists of some fifteen research centres that are members of the CGIAR Consortium. Each centre has a global mandate to study, improve and promote (sub)tropical crops and animal production. Research is carried out in close collaboration with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil soci- ety organizations, academia, development organizations and the private sector. CGIAR´s collaborative research is dedicated to reducing rural poverty, increasing food security, improving human health and nutrition, and ensuring the sustainable man- agement of natural resources. The 15 Research Centres generate and disseminate knowledge, technologies, and policies for agricultural development through the CGIAR Research Programs. The CGIAR Fund provides reliable and predictable multi-year funding to enable research planning over the long term, resource allocation based on agreed priorities, and the timely and predictable disbursement of funds. A multi-donor trust fund finances research carried out by the Centres through the CGIAR Research Programs. In all, some 10,000 scientists and staff, top-notch research infrastructure and dy- namic networks try to deliver adequate solutions to burning development questions. CGIAR’s collections of genetic resources are the most comprehensive in the world, al- lowing the system’s scientists to deliver on expectations, within their mandate.
    [Show full text]
  • Effective Targeting of Research for Development
    CGIAR Rice C a en c t ri e f r A More effective targeting of C e e n u t q r i e r d f u l’A riz pour research for development Afr caR ce Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) – Annual Report 2017 AfricaRice Headquarters, Côte d’Ivoire © Copyright Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) 2018 01 BP 4029, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire AfricaRice encourages fair use of this material. Proper Telephone: (225) 22 48 09 10 citation is required. The designation used in the presentation Fax: (225) 22 44 26 29 of materials in this publication do not imply the expression Email: [email protected] of any opinion whatsoever by the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) concerning the legal status of any country, AfricaRice M’bé Research Station territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning 01 BP 2551, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire the delimitation of its frontiers and boundaries. Telephone: (225) 22 48 09 20 Citation: Fax: (225) 31 63 25 78 Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice). 2018. Africa Rice Center Email: [email protected] (AfricaRice) Annual Report 2017: More effective targeting of research for development. Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire: 40 pp. AfricaRice Regional Station for the Sahel, Senegal BP 96, Saint-Louis, Senegal ISBN: Telephone: (221) 33 962 64 41, 33 962 64 93 Print 978-92-9113-394-9 Fax: (221) 33 962 64 91 PDF 978-92-9113-395-6 Email: [email protected] Writing and editing: AfricaRice Nigeria Country Office c/o IITA, PMB 5320, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria Green Ink (www.greenink.co.uk) Telephone: (234) 80 55 05 59 51, 80 34 03 52 81 Fax: (44) 20 87 11 37 86 Photo credits: Email: [email protected] Romaric Biaou, page 22; Mirian Hendriks, page 29.
    [Show full text]
  • Importance of Pesticides for Growing Rice in Sub-Saharan Africa Leonard P
    International Pesticide Benefit Case Study 101 July, 2014 Importance of Pesticides for Growing Rice in Sub-Saharan Africa Leonard P. Gianessi ice is the most rapidly growing food commodity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Traditionally, rice was grown as a subsistence crop by R smallholders and largely consumed on the farm. In recent years, demand from urban consumers for rice as a storable and easily prepared food has increased tremendously. Greater use of pesticides on farms in Sub-Saharan Africa has great potential for increasing rice production. INTRODUCTION Portions of the grain head are white in contrast to the In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) total rice consumption over green or tan color of healthy grain. This “blasted” the period 2000-2012 increased from 12MT to 24MT. appearance is caused by sterile or blank grain. In SSA, a African rice production has not been able to keep up blast disease outbreak can cause the loss of about 35- with demand and nearly 37% of the rice consumed in 50% of rice yield, and in serious outbreaks, 100% rice 2 SSA is imported at a cost of US$5 billion per year yield losses have been recorded. Rice farmers have draining foreign currency reserves. This reliance on food abandoned imports is a very risky, expensive and unsustainable some inland strategy and it may lead to severe food insecurity and valleys in civil instability.1 The risks became clear in 2008 during SSA because food riots in major African capitals in protest against of high blast 3 high rice prices caused by rice-exporting countries pressure.
    [Show full text]
  • Worldfish Style Guide
    Photo credit: <Name>/<Organization> credit: Photo WorldFish Style Guide Version 3 April 2020 Table of contents Contents Table of contents i Introduction 1 Editorial style 2 1. Abbreviations 2 1.1. Acronyms and initialisms 2 1.2. Abbreviations for “species” 2 1.3. American states 2 1.4. Chemical elements 2 1.5. Geographic terms 2 1.6. Latin phrases 3 1.7. Periods in abbreviations 3 1.8. Project and program titles 3 1.9. Repeating units 3 1.10. Tables and reference materials 3 1.11. Truncations 3 1.12. Units of measurement 3 2. Annex versus appendix 4 3. Avoiding discriminatory language 4 3.1. Nonsexist language 4 3.2. Nonracist language 4 3.3. Language and disabilities 4 3.4. Language and age 5 4. Branding 5 5. Capitals 5 5.1. Geographic terms 5 5.2. Government 5 5.3. Headings 5 5.4. Hyphenated compounds 5 5.5. Initial words 6 5.6. Internet 6 5.7. Project and program titles 6 5.8. Small capitals 6 5.9. Titles 6 5.10. Titles of publications 6 i 6. Compound words 6 7. Copyright 7 8. Cross-references 7 9. Dates and times 7 10. Figures and illustrations 8 10.1. Figure captions 8 10.2. Numbering figures 8 10.3. Photo captions 8 11. Endnotes 8 12. Format 9 12.1. Headings 9 12.2. Order of elements in a publication 9 12.3. Paragraphs 9 13. Front matter/Preliminaries 9 13.1. Acknowledgments 9 13.2. Contents 9 13.3. Page numbering 9 14.
    [Show full text]
  • Key Assets and Benefits of CGIAR
    Established in 1971 as part of the worldwide response to rampant hunger in many developing countries, CGIAR (formerly known as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) is today a global partnership that advances science and technology to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve health and nutrition, and ensure the sustainable management of natural resources. As the only international agricultural research body dedicated to meeting the needs of poor smallholders, CGIAR produces global public goods – including improved crop varieties, livestock vaccines, sustainable agroforestry and farming practices, and incisive policy analysis – that are freely available to all and adaptable to local needs and conditions. Despite nearly 40 years of achievements, in 2009 - 2010, CGIAR initiated far-reaching reforms to respond more effectively to a changing world and emerging challenges and opportunities, including climate change, growing water scarcity, land degradation, the growing role of the private sector, and new donor demands. The resulting business model streamlines operations for greater efficiencies, is impact-oriented, fosters stronger collaboration, and unites investors in a multi-donor trust fund – the largest public vehicle for financing the agricultural research advances needed to meet the food security challenges of the 21st century. The CGIAR Fund supports research carried out by a consortium of 15 international centers working closely with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society, academia, and the private sector, through CGIAR Research Programs. Before receiving funding, programs set out their expected achievements and provide targets against which progress can be measured and monitored, giving donors better value for money and ensuring that research leads to tangible benefits for the poor.
    [Show full text]
  • Botanic Gardens Are Important Contributors to Crop Wild Relative Preservation
    Published November 21, 2019 RESEARCH Botanic Gardens Are Important Contributors to Crop Wild Relative Preservation Abby Meyer* and Nicholas Barton Botanic Gardens Conservation International US at at The Huntington ABSTRACT Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Rd., San Humans rely on crop wild relatives (CWRs) for Marino, CA 91108. Received 2 June 2019. Accepted 11 Oct. 2019. sustainable agriculture and food security through *Corresponding author ([email protected]). Assigned to Associate augmentation of crop yield, disease resistance, Editor Joseph Robins. and climatic tolerance, among other important Abbreviations: BGCI, Botanic Gardens Conservation International; traits. Many CWRs are underrepresented in crop CWR, crop wild relative; GRIN, Germplasm Resources Information gene banks. With at least one-third of known Network. plant species maintained in botanic garden living collections, the botanic garden community serves as an important global ex situ network rop wild relatives (CWRs), plants that have “an indirect that supports plant conservation and research Cuse derived from its relatively close genetic relationship to a around the world. We sought to characterize crop,” provide important genetic diversity needed by breeders and botanic garden holdings of CWRs and demon- scientists to develop a wide range of crop plant adaptations (Maxted strate capacity for cross-sector coordination in et al., 2006, p. 2680). Benefits such as increased production, better support of CWR ex situ preservation. To do this, nutrition, drought tolerance, and pest and disease resistance have Botanic Gardens Conservation International been made possible through the use of CWRs and allowed for US (BGCI-US), in partnership with the United more consistent and sustainable yields of conventional crops for States Botanic Garden, used the BGCI Plant- Search database to conduct an ex situ survey of decades (Dempewolf et al., 2017; Guarino and Lobell, 2011; Hajjar CWRs maintained in botanic gardens.
    [Show full text]
  • 3 November 2017 Reports
    August 2017 IT/GB-7/17/24 E Item 17.4 of the Provisional Agenda SEVENTH SESSION OF THE GOVERNING BODY Kigali, Rwanda, 30 October – 3 November 2017 Reports from Institutions that have Concluded Agreements with the Governing Body under Article 15 of the International Treaty Executive Summary The document contains the Reports provided by the Centres of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research and one other International Institution that have concluded agreements with the Governing Body pursuant to Article 15 of the International Treaty, for the information and consideration of the Governing Body. The reports are provided, as they were received by the Secretariat, in the Appendices to this document. The document also provides update on activities carried out by the Secretariat and some recent developments, during the biennium, in regard to international germplasm collections that are held under Article 15 of the Treaty, whose continued maintenance has been reported to be experiencing major difficulties or are under threat. Guidance Sought The Governing Body is invited to consider the reports and the information provided in this document, and provide further guidance, taking into account the elements for a possible Resolution provided in Appendix 1 to this Document. This document can be accessed using the Quick Response Code on this page; an FAO initiative to minimize its environmental impact and promote greener communications. Other documents can be consulted at http://www.fao.org/plant-treaty/meetings/meetings- detail/en/c/888771/ 2 IT/GB-7/17/24 Table of Contents Paragraphs I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 1 – 2 II. SUMMARY OF THE REPORTS RECEIVED .......................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Shifting the Goalposts—From High Impact Journals to High Impact Data
    WHITE PAPER Shifting the goalposts—from high impact journals to high impact data Anja Gassner1, Luz Marina Alvare2, Zoumana Bamba3, Douglas Beare4, Marichu Bernardo5, Chandrashekhar Biradar6, Martin van Brakel7, Robert Chapman8, Guntuku Dileepkumar9, Ibnou Dieng10, Sufiet Erlita11, Richard Fulss12, Jane Poole13, Mrigesh Kshatriya11, Guvener Selim14 Reinhard Simon14, Kai Sonder12, Nilam Prasai2, Maria Garruccio8, Simone Staiger Rivas14, Maya Rajasekharan14 , Chukka Srinivasa Rao9 1 World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, PO Box 30677 Nairobi 00100 Kenya 2 International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), 2033 K St, NW, Washington, DC 20006-1002 USA 3 International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), HQ-PMB 5320, Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria 4 WorldFish, Jalan Batu Maung, Batu Maung, 11960 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia, PO Box 500 GPO, 10670 Penang, Malaysia 5 International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), DAPO Box 7777 Metro Manila 1301, Los Baños, Philippines 6 International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA, "Dalia Building 2nd Floor, Bashir El Kassar Street, Verdun, Beirut, Lebanon 1108-2010 P.O. Box 114/5055 Beirut, Lebanon" 7 International Water Management Institute (IWMI), P. O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 127, Sunil Mawatha, Pelawatte, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka 8 Bioversity International, "HQ- Via dei Tre Denari 472/a 00057 Maccarese (Fiumicino) Rome, Italy" 9 International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324 Andhra Pradesh, India 10 Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) 01 B.P. 2031, Cotonou, Benin 11 Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), HQ- Jalan CIFOR, Situ Gede Bogor (Barat) 16115, Indonesia, Mailing-P.O. Box 0113 BOCBD Bogor 16000, Indonesia" 12 International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Km.
    [Show full text]
  • Two Blades of Grass: the Role of Science in the Green Revolution Alan Mark Fletcher November 13 and 14, 2011
    Two Blades of Grass: The Role of Science in the Green Revolution Alan Mark Fletcher November 13 and 14, 2011 Alan Mark Fletcher ’50 worked for over fifty years as a science writer and editor at institutions including Cornell University, the University of Georgia, the International Rice Research Institute, and the International Service for National Agricultural Research. Whoever could make two ears of corn or two blades of grass grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together. - Jonathan Swift, in Gulliver’s Travels n 1798 the English clergyman-philosopher Thomas Malthus published “An Essay on the Principle of I Population,” in which he argued that while the population of the world would increase geometrically, the food available would increase only arithmetically. Malthus postulated that human population growth, therefore, would eventually outstrip the agricultural capacity of the Earth. At some point, he predicted, natural forces like famine and disease would reduce the human population to a sustainable level. His hypothesis has yet to be proven on any large scale with humans, but biologists have seen the Malthusian principle turn out to be correct with other animals, and there is no reason to believe that his hypothesis does not apply to humans. Back in 1968, Stanford University ecologist Paul R. Ehrlich scared us to death when he published The Population Bomb, in which he maintained that the Malthusian principle was about to overtake us. His book began with this statement: “The battle to feed all of humanity is over.
    [Show full text]