Guest Blog: 5th generation farmer Chris Sayer
Planting cover crop in an orchard isn’t exciting work. Fill the seeder and drive. Refill the seeder and drive more. Sometimes a stick might jam in the seeder’s mechanism and …
UC researcher Clare Gupta on re-localizing food in Hawaii
“These new alliances are unlikely, but hopeful. But they all share one thing: Aloha-‘āina…love of the land.” – Clare Gupta on her work in Hawaii …
Sustainability: oceans and seeds; cauliflower sticker shock in Canada and more
Hello, Thursday! We’ve got a quick wrap for you…tasty stuff! Canada: linking the rising price of cauliflower to the falling price of oil. In a story demonstrating the interconnectedness …
Upcoming documentary focuses on globe’s “doomsday” seed vault
Seed banks maintain genetic resources that enable nations to adapt to changing conditions, or to respond to catastrophes. With climate change and a loss of crop diversity, their importance has …
Monsanto-Syngenta deal hinges on sale of seed companies
United States seed giant Monsanto is scrambling to line up buyers for Syngenta’s seed business before another takeover attempt of the Swiss company. The assets are valued at about $8B, …
A plant breeder for the people
Plant breeders play an integral – if often unheralded – part in the local food movement. Meet Oregon farmer (Gathering Together Farm) and seed saver/purveyor Frank Morton, who practices “old-fashioned …
Syrian seed bank wins award to continue work despite civil war
Syria is part of the “fertile crescent” – also know as the “cradle of civilization” – which saw the development of some of the earliest human civilizations. These civilizations flourished …
Seed index may “future-proof” farming
A seed index project for African smallholders may “future-proof” farming. The African Seed Access Index (TASAI) is an initiative to improve access to food crop seeds for small farmers, and …
Small farmers hold the seeds to food diversity in their hands
Researchers say that small farmers hold the key to food diversity. After reviewing international census data, the team concluded that up to 75% of the seeds needed to produce the …
Culinary breeding network aims to diversify veg crops
A Culinary Breeding Network comprised of seed growers, plant breeders, farmers, chefs and produce buyers has emerged in the Pacific Northwest. The group is identifying and developing varieties with traits …