Stop the Destruction of the Future of Food

Daniel Mosquin · Aug 12, 2010

(from today's Botany Photo of the Day, in case you missed it there)

A critical component of global food security is to preserve the various strains of heritage fruits and vegetables. Certain hybrids may be more resistant to particular diseases, others may be more adapted to local climates and others may have the highest nutritional value (as examples of reasons why). I've received a number of emails today about the potential destruction of the Pavlovsk Experimental Station, which has "5,500 different varieties of apples, pears, cherries, and numerous berry species -- most of which occur nowhere else on Earth and were developed over hundreds of years by farmers in northern Europe, Scandinavia and Russia" (quoted from The Scientist, read more: "Critical plant bank in danger"). Nature.com is also reporting on the story, "Europe's largest berry bank faces closure". The Global Crop Diversity Trust is working to prevent the destruction of the station and its crop diversity (if you intend to sign their petition and do not reside in the USA, use this one instead of the one in the middle of the Global Crop Diversity Trust page (which seems to assume one resides in the USA)).
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I note that at least one of the emails that is sent out when one signs the petition is bounced-back, because the recipient's inbox is full.

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Stop the Destruction of the Future of Food

Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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