Bioversity International

From the discussion, we agree that the underutilized neglected species have a place in reducing malnutrition. This is a challenge to us as Food scientist and nutritionists to bring this species to their appropriate place in the diets of the most vulnerable.The question we should all answer is in my "small" way, what is my contribution to bringing this crops on the table? We can do it, through targeted research and development work. << hide

I am a writer living in Kalpetta , Wayanad, Kerala, India. I am very much involved in the conservation and propagation of local variety seeds of Paddy, Plantain, Tapioca and Vegetable. 30 variety of Paddy is conserved in oue community gene bank and the same is distributed to farmers. Other seeds are stored and distributed. Because I belive that Agricultural biodiversity in each village has to be conserved and propagated to ensure culturally acceptable food security. Moreover local variety food crops are more nutritions than the high breed type seeds. Every body should do his /her share in protecting the agro-biodiversity for the coming generation. << hide

Dear All Hello I am from India working as Senior Scientist(Plant Breeding) in G B Pant University. India as we know remain a hot spot of diversity for different crops. The country land remains home for different plant species some utilized by the human being for food, fodder and requirements and other being used now adays. From ancient time different plant species which we callunderutilized are being used by different tribes for food, medicines and othe purpose. Recall Chennai decclarations which clearly emphasized the way how the biodiversity can be utilized to fight malnutrition problem.Many crops such as finger millet, barnyard millet, proso millet coix and number other small millets which are grown in different remote, inaccessible areas remain a major source nutrition for the people inhabiting in thse regions. Whith increasing importance it necessary to re establish and stregthen the identity of the neglected crops Be it climate change or threat to biotic crops these crops proven to be more tolerant other grown food crops. In India itself small millets are grown from 11000 ft amsl to sea level which indicate the adaptability of these crops. Number othe plant species such as Fagopyrum, Amaranth, Pyrilla etc and tree/ bushes such as Hippophae species which are considered NUS remain a important source of nutrition for local habitants. Thus it is emergent to all to rethink and replan their reseach activities for more to researched on these NUS. with regards Vijay K Yadav << hide

Indifference to under utilized species is not newness in Mexico. The mega diversity of Mexico represents a long list of endemic foods. Unfortunately there is no interest for their exploitation, and commercialization is given in little markets among local people. One strategy for the promotion of these species is the evaluation of nutritional and/or functional characteristics. The hope is that such information will attract the attention of government, industry and health organizations. Example of this is the work we have been done for the past three years of a cactaceae fruit known as berrycactus (Myrtillocactus geometrizans) and called locally “garambullo”. Grant comes from the European Communities (not from Mexico!); the project is called PAVUC (http://www.pavuc.soton.ac.uk/). The PAVUC consortium is coordinating by CIRAD (France) integrating three other more European universities and four Latin American organizations/universities. Our research in Mexico, demonstrated that garambullo fruit shows an outstanding antioxidant activity (high vitamin C, phenolic compounds and betalain contents), also the consumption of the fruit reduces glucose and cholesterol in healthy and diabetic rats and protects kidney from renal damage. The other tool for increase attention on garambullo, has been promotion. We have published notes for new papers, attend fairs, congress and organized a symposium to promote health benefices of garambullo. We have learned that if we, as a scientists, do not sacrifice some of our busy agenda in promoting under utilized foods, it will be more difficult to attract the attention over this type of foods. As a result of our work, some interest has been raised from the local industry in order to produce marmalade, juice, raisings, etc. Local health organizations are also interested in promoting consumption of garambullo among diabetic patients. This is only the beginning; the goal to promote this under utilized specie at national level is far away. << hide

Following the comments from Harriet Kuhnlein and Eunice Mutemi on neglected indigenous foods, I would like to add that a study carried out in western Kenya found out that perceptions and marketing practices could be major factors affecting production and consumption of Indigenous foods. There fore if we could get a way of making community members appreciate indigenous foods rather than associating them with backwardness and poverty, then we might make a step in enhancing their production and consumption. In addition, if the indigenous foods are also marketed well through adverts and packaged attractively this will positively contribute to their production and utilisation. << hide

Communities of Indigenous Peoples (referred to variously as indigenous and local communities) have many resources in ecologically local food systems that are becoming more and more neglected as industrialized foods become available. Low cost, energy dense and nutrient poor foods combined with less activity leads to increasing overweight, obesity and chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In our current work with communities of Indigenous Peoples in various global areas our project has assisted with data collection on food diversity and health. See www.mcgill.ca/cine in the Global Health section. On this website is a document of procedures that can assist local communities in recording their local food resources. Leaders can mobilize communities to recognize these resources, to protect them, and to encourage their use for many health benefits. Please browse our website for information about this. << hide

It is time that Africa revives the seed grain crops that they used for ages. Today there is a lot of interests in these grains, and all Africa needs to do is produce these grains and export the excess. This will earn them foreign currency and capacity build the poor communities in the process of sustainable livelihood. There is a need for capacity building within the African states, to alleviate poverty, first the hunger issue, by producing more grains. Second there is need to involve the very poor people, the rural folk, and researchers should work with such groups, because when the community is empowered then development is enabled.The weather in Africa is adequate for grain production, but more research can be done to find better means of producing more in a reduced time. The need to research on production by the small holder farmers is something that can benefit Sub-Saharan Africa. Its interesting to note that other continents are doing research on the traditional crops that we seem to have stopped producing, or are very minimally producing. We need to work. << hide

The contribution of indigenous foods in improving the nutrition status of a malnourished population ought to be empasised in the sub-saharan region.There are many factors that qualify these foods(According to current Research)as, 1. Nutritious 2.Affordable 3. Available 4.sustainable The above factors are a reallity especially after much analysis of the Socio-lEconomics situation in most SubSaharan countries.Much emphasis on the importance and utilization of locally available indegenous foods in the management of malnutrition is a major area of focus in the leading interventions implemented in our situation. I will be sharing some current ongoing and proposed interventions where biodiversity is a key form of focus in the management of malnutrition in KENYA. << hide

Land Misuse in Biodiversity Conservation and Increasing Food Insecurity International environmental policies and practices have dictated over use of land in biodiversity conservation which competed for food production in developing countries. My concern is on misuse of community forests which require to using for production of multiple products and services to complement the private resources for food production and sustain livelihoods of poor people. Their land institutions and farming systems of less developed countries are evolved based on complementary relationship between forest and private lands (thus public forests are de facto private property of local communities). In current level of information, technologies, and institutions, genetic materials and other resources could be protected better in small areas if it was followed alternative management models. The hidden reason for following the wrong model and using more lands in biodiversity conservation is for creating more area for permanent carbon sink and recreational uses. Local communities are being strategically misguided by elite and international agencies. The cheating on meals and livelihoods of starve/poor people and diverting the resources to dump waste (carbon pollution) created by luxurious and polluted industrial societies are done in active involvement of environmentalists, INGOs, UN institutions, and other donors. Their policies and practices have long term impacts. In addition global food production lands are diverted for bio-fuel production. All these contributed to decreasing food stock and increasing market food prices in developing countries where private lands are not sufficient for food production. As a result poor people are suffered to the level starvation to death. For details of the situations PLEASE search in Google engine as ''carbon politics and chainsaw charter'' and click on ''Cache'' file. In Mountain Forum homepage find ''Carbon politics beyond Chainsaw charter and immoral forest carbon trade regime'' Why diddn't international agencies strongly supporting the organized crime against humanity? << hide

This comment is divided into 3 parts. Part 3: The point is, if one wants to actually have ''sustainable use'' and get a good price (via supermarkets, can't get much of one in local markets where the local product gluts and the price is nothing) then you have to think through what the businesses need - quality, consistent, delivery, sufficient volume (often far more than the diversity project imagined, just to have the product ''on the table''), and so on. I have a bunch of stories of NGOs falling on their faces with the local products because their projects could not attain these commercial attributes, and their (uselessly, in the long run) complaining that the supermarkets did not understand their cultural/biodiversity/historical/ecosystem/gender/whatever value, but it was instead the NGO or scientist that had not understood that the supermarket manager is on a yearly contract and has to show that the products he/she sells pay for themselves and move. If the product can do that, fine, good, they will sell it. That is what I mean by the stages above. In the early stages, supermarkets do not need and really cannot use local niche products, so it is very hard to get them to stock them. In the more advanced stages (like supermarkets in Brazil now) there is a good chance to sell the diversity products'' - IF one makes sure of their commercial/transaction attributes (quality, consistency, volume, delivery, etc.). << hide

This comment is divided into 3 parts. Part 2: The key lesson (given that I believe that in the long run there is zero chance of not having supermarkets dominant) is that it is good to keep big gene banks of the local varieties because one day the big retailers will be desperate to get them and sell them, and they will thus (and only thus, in all developed countries (the future of developing countries) farmers markets are basically only 2-5% of retail at most) be resurrected. Supermarkets are local varieties friends, but mainly in the later stage of supermarkets, not the start. The other major lesson is that the fans of local diversity varieties waste time if they are not business savvy. I have seen this 1000 times. They are enthusiastic about x product, go to the retailer and say why don't you stock this product on the shelf, the retailer looks at them with various mixed emotions, and notes that it is just not practical. The enthusiast presses it and adds some media hype, and the retailer carries the product for a while, then drops it. The reason? It is very expensive to stock that item and get it in sufficient volumes and quality. So that product is a little nightmare. The eco/diversity enthusiast does not know that, and is not thinking of what the business person needs. In the longer run (meaning a year or two) the business person wins (the product goes off the shelf with some good excuse) and the eco/diversity person has already declared their pyrrhic victory and put up the success on the website, not realizing that it is all smoke and mirrors. << hide

This comment is divided into 3 parts. Part 1: In traditional markets, one has high local diversity sold by retailers or simply gathered/home consumed, with sharp seasonality. In the second stage, when supermarkets are in early stage of takeover, there is much less local diversity than in the first stage, because retailers select for low cost (of transaction and of product); it is true that local ''diversity'' products are mega cheap to gatherers and at road-side stands, but mega-expensive for big retailers to get and stock, and products (even imported or from far off production sites) that are commodities are far cheaper and easier to stock. (I have some good stories from Mexico on this.) Then as the supermarkets develop, and produce section becomes a key ''battle arm'' in competition, and consumers want more exotic and also local heirlooms (back to the old diversity products), those products are imported in (like the kiwi, a perfect example, which is a super folksy diversity product in the mountains of China, and the New Zealanders found it and bred it to be bigger and so on and then it became a mega commercial hit), or local diversity products are ''resurrected'' (like heirloom apples). << hide

The topic under consideration is trully relevant and the links between biodiversity and malnutrition are worth exploring. Its the first time in the history of nutrition agenda and debate that such a discussion is being persued. It will be interesting to see the influence of biodiversity on nutrition particularly in developing countries where nutritionan status has continued to be on decline across populations. To date, biodiversity issues have remained distant to nutrition discussions. I personally look forward and will be willing to make my contributions based on my nutrition experiences from Kenya. << hide

What has happened with local and traditional leafy greens in Kenya in the past few years is indeed remarkable. You can even find a couple of species nicely packaged in Uchumi supermarkets now. But, as the previous writer suggests, obstacles to wider adoption remain. One thing that is certainly needed is more information on preparation, and the idea of collating recipes is great. But easier access to good seed would also help. When I tried to obtain amaranthus seed last year in Nairobi it took me a morning to find someone who had some to sell, and I had to go back to her a couple of days later to actually get the seeds. I wonder what can be done to strengthen the ALV seed system, particularly in the urban areas. I'm sure there are plenty of people who could and would grow ALV in their compounds, along roadsides and in wasteland in Nairobi -- both to eat themselves and to sell -- but how are they going to get hold of a decent seed? Maybe providing training in seed production would help? << hide

I am writing in respect to underutilised/neglected foods plants and specifically the African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) whose consumption in Kenya has been seen to improve in the last few years. Recipe documentation is seen to contribute significantly in terms of enhancing utilization of the ALVs. At KENRIk we are documenting recipes across Kenya with the hope of presenting them in a published book to reach as many people as possible. Different methods/styles of cooking and presentation are explored;contemporary products are also well covered to take care of all age groups (especially the youth) and people from different socio-economic strata. The role recipes play in enhancing utilization of underutilzed foods can not be over-emphasized; we will now have communities consuming foods that were originally not from their own community, this further encourages dietary diversity hence improved nutrition for the nation. There is need to amalgamate recipes from different parts of the region/continent to have as many people consume foods from other parts of the world since our body systems (digestive system) are morphologically the same! << hide

Dietary diversification is a widely accepted, cost-effective and sustainable way of resolving nutrition related health problems across our African continent and the world. Promotion and use of traditional foods in achieving dietary diversity is the most suitable way in addressing nutritional needs of the community. Our continent is currently experiencing a nutritional transition; while in the west people have turned to traditional diets for clues of longevity and health, in the urban developing world, people are abandoning locally important foods rich in vital nutrients in favor of refined carbohydrates now cheaper than ever. No wonder, diseases such as cancers, diabetes, hypertension, heart condition and obesity, usually associated with the affluent west are now catching up with us. Nutritional supplements have become an option, but how many can afford them, and who are the beneficiaries? In as much as they help to address specific deficiencies in essential nutrients, research has shown that most essential nutrient deficiencies can be eliminated by small increase in diversity in the diet. African leafy vegetable (ALV) for example, are a rich source of micronutrient-Vitamin A, Iron, Vitamin C and Zinc. The link of Vitamin A to enhance immune system is a life boost for these vegetables. They are not only known to fulfill people's nutritional needs, they also have medicinal and therapeutic needs. Their micronutrient levels have been found to be much higher than the more commonly used exotic vegetable-kales and cabbages. For along time ALVs have always been perceived as a poor man's vegetable, but trends are now changing and they are a preferred delicacy by middle and upper income consumers. There is no doubt that ALVs are now a much sought-after item on menus of back-street eating venues, in the five-star hotels our supermarkets and homes because of their diverse roles. << hide

I read with interest the views from Glenn Hyman on May 8th and find them mind-boggling! Here is my take on them: Local versus National and International initiatives on biodiversity and nutrition:- National and international initiatives are very important but the central bolt to all these, with regard to biodiversity and nutrition, is local initiatives. Successful documentation of local initiatives makes it easier to scale up and out to national and international levels and public goods of both national and international dimensions that are normally produced as case studies further drives the point home. Other than looking at local versus national and international initiatives, we ought to look at the three as key mutually supportive and interlinked drives. Why fund orphaned crops?:- Without funding orphaned crops, the diversity within foods that is normally location- and community- specific and which has helped to sustain lives in many communities will be lost. A clear example is the broad diversity within the African leafy vegetables that span almost the entire continent but with only a few that cut across. Finding one or a few vegetables that would win hearts across the entire continent would meet serious challenges in being adopted. I could say more but I have no room! << hide

Homestead food production (HFP) adds variety to the diet by providing foods other than staple foods. This is important from a nutritional point of view, as it increases the intake of essential nutrients (essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, as well as from the viewpoint of improved quality of life, by making the diet more enjoyable due to increased palatability and variation. It stimulates biodiversity because it often involves growing locally available, indigenous varieties of fruits and vegetables, and keeping locally adapted breeds of animals. Greater biodiversity also benefits nutrition and health because it ensures the availability of strong and well-adapted local varieties that are able to make a good contribution to nutrition and health. Field crops, i.e. staple foods, provide the bulk of energy needed by the household, while the garden supplements the diet with vitamin-rich vegetables and fruits, energy-rich vegetable staples, animal sources of protein and minerals, and herbs and condiments. HFP contributes to household food security and nutrition by providing direct access to diverse foods that can be harvested, prepared and fed to family members, often on a daily basis. Even very poor and landless people can produce foods on small patches of homestead land, vacant lots, roof tops, containers, roadsides or field edges, and it may be done with virtually no economic resources using locally available planting materials, green manure, "live" fencing and indigenous methods of pest control. Until now, we have focused on the effectiveness of vitamin A-rich foods for improving vitamin A status, which is an essential part of the relationship between food consumption, nutritional status and health. A change in vitamin A status will affect health and vice-versa. And, because vitamin A-rich foods also contain other nutrients, changes of food consumption can also result in other improvements of nutritional status which can in-turn affect health. Foods can prevent both nutrient deficiencies and their consequences as well as degenerative diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and type II diabetes. So, by encouraging homestead food production, dietary diversity can be greatly increased and the consumption of high carb, high fat packaged foods can be minimized. << hide

I would like to comment on the point made by CS Silori on fast food and junk food keeping the younger generation away from the knowledge of biological diversity. This is also so true here in Micronesia! Previously children would hunt for the Indian almond (Terminalia catappa), red bead (Adenanthera pavovnina), wild passionfruit (Passiflora foetida), and other such foods and would spend time picking out the small nuts and fruits for eating. This provided important nutrients and was fun too! However, these days children are often given junk food and are less interested to spend time on hunting for bush foods and are often not learning about these potential foods, which are so close by. An overall campaign is urgently needed in order to raise the level of awareness about the problems of junk food and engage the support of community groups to encouraging children to continue hunting and consuming the healthy local foods and encouraging parents to support that. Documentation of the local foods is a first step, and was part of the work by our Island Food Community of Pohnpei in the case study in Pohnpei, Micronesia, the 12th of the case studies in the global health project led by the Centre for Indigenous Peoples'Nutrition and Environment, based in McGill University, Canada. << hide

Response to Yamuna Ghale: 1) The problem of restricted access to the poor's own natural resources, information, scientific knowledge and technology indeed deserves attention. Although some governments are taking steps to limit the type of access that biotech companies have, there is still much to be done. Governments need to develop and strengthen policies / institutions to control bio-piracy, the patenting rights of their resources and promote poor farmers'access to information and knowledge. 2) I interpret your second comment as a preference for investment in genetic improvements over processing. But how? If this means using available DNA-based technology, what would this do to the intra-species variety of crops? Are we talking about finding the super seed with a superior nutritional content, resistance to droughts, frost, higher yields? Relying mostly on one or two genetically improved seeds could render farmers vulnerable in the medium and long term as their plants will be susceptible to pest and disease. The other issue with the improvement of crops at the genetic level is the cost and time. Biotechnology companies will only invest in this type of research if there are future benefits to be reaped. The resulting seeds normally fall under the categories of V-Gurt where the second generation of seeds is sterile and/or T-Gurt where the seed works only if the plant is treated with chemicals sold by the biotechnology company. Promoting such technology requires considering and planning for issues of environmental and economic sustainability. Finally, resources are scarce and choices have to be made. Thinking long term as with biotechnology may be the appropriate approach in a given context but sometimes the right solution may be using available processing technology. In the case of Quinoa in the Bolivian Altiplano, the second option seemed the most appropriate and pragmatic. << hide

In reference to Appolinaire Tagne comments on information erosion and local knowledge, the erosion of information especially Traditional Knowledge should be first and foremost a concern to the communities that developed and use it and then to scientists that seek to add to it or validate it. In this aspect we have been working with scientist and empowering communities to document their own knowledge of their useful plant in their own languages. This includes knowledge and use of the useful plants for food and nutrition. The ''TK Journal Methodology'' uses simple ICT tools and has been applied in Yunnan, China, Kitui in Kenya and in Sarawak, Malaysia. A training video is being developed and will be published with UNEP Global Environment Facility-Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) and Bioversity's office for Asia - Pacific in Malaysia. Various GEF-SGP grantees in the Asia region are using this simple methodology that we have developed. Contact p.quek@cgiar.org if you wish to have a copy of the video on DVD. Scientists need to understand that Communities are entitled to engage in a participatory process to understand and assess the need to document their knowledge. Through such a community led process, communities develop a vision for their participation in the knowledge economy. This vision provides a framework for the components used in documenting TK. Sustaining knowledge in a community requires active participation of the community in developing their TK education system. TK can often be linked to or embedded in both formal and traditional systems of education for children and youth. It helps in keeping recipes and tastes alive among the young generation. Without such links to education and to systems for storing and transmitting traditional knowledge over time, TK becomes static and will erode in time. (An active cell can grow, a dead cell awaits assimilation by others). << hide

I am fully agree with the opinions of people that now a days edible biodiversity is deteriorating at a fast rate. I am working in India on various ethnobotanical aspects including edible plants.India is the country, comprises over 18000 species of flowering bearing (Angiosperms) plants only. Over 4000 species have got edible value. During the survey in various localities I came to know that over 250 species are used by tribal people during emergency period i.e, famine, scarcity, flood etc. An analysis on nutritional value of some such species indicates that these species possess a very high nutritional value. Emphasis must be made for conservation of such species. These can certanly redice the pressure from traditionally used species. In other parts of the world also such species are being used by tribals. There is need for popularizing the use of such species. << hide

I refer to the comment by Ester Carbon on the status of biodiversity in the island Dominica. I am myself from the island of Mauritius and can share our experience. We have since the early 1980's established a rather strong conservation NGO called Mauritian Wildlife Foundation which works closely with government agencies responsible for biodiversity conservation. It has received support from many international organisations (WWF, Kew Gardens UK, FFI, World Bank GEF, GEf small grants etc.) which helped to establish good baseline data on the status of many endangered plants and animals (bats and birds) as well undertake reasearch activities to conserve species on the brink of extinction and to restore degraded islands. My advice would be to create one in Island of Dominica and establish a working relationship with government and international organisations and help to write proposals and get the cash in for conservation work. << hide

I am referring to the comments posted by Dr Arefi of Iran on the ex situ collection of range, medicinal and forest species. I am please to learn that such an extensive collection of wild forest species exists and it seems that they are doing a good job to conserve them. I fully agree that there is need for a greater awareness of the existence of these genebank accessions which are being conserve for use. This is a great challenge for genebank curators, who traditionally have been focusing only on their conservation activities and have not done anything to ensure that their material are used. They have passively been distributing some germplasm but only on request. I think there is need for a change of atittude to gene-banking. Each genebank should include in their a strategy (they should have one for a start) and actively contact and market their accessions to potential users. The accessions should be fully characterised and the results publish in not only in peer review journals, but also in more popular magazines or the like which foresters, herbalists and general public read. << hide

The comments by Luigi Guarino and Yamuna Ghale are very important. Here in the Pacific Islands we are facing tremendous challenges with the present trend towards consuming imported food of poor nutritional quality and the nutrition/lifestyle change-related diseases that have followed. Problems of diabetes, heart disease and cancer are increasing at epidemic rates, and vitamin A deficiency in Micronesia causes a greatly ncreased risk of mortality and morbidity due to vulnerability to infection. The Island Food Community of Pohnpei has led an email discussion, showing that many people throughout the Pacific are now discussing matters of biodiversity, nutrition, and health and are interested in leading activities in their communities to raise the awareness about the problems. High school students have formed a "Let's Go Local" club to explain the benefits of local foods for food security, health, economic, environment and cultural benefits. Through the analysis of a number of the traditional varieties of the staple crops (bananas, giant swamp taro, breadfruit, and pandanus) and production of posters and print material to present the rich carotenoid content of many of these, there has been a resurge of interest. Inter-agency work is a cornerstone of our work. Funding support however is a serious challenge, particularly in obtaining funding for staff and office space. << hide

The potential of biodiversity in many communities is based not on crops that have been subjects of research, but generally on crops that have not benefited attention. Consequently the potential users among whom are the populations of urban cities are ignorant of the crops as well as their usefullness. The erosion of information as well as the loss of genetic material are going on everyday in the world community mostly in developing countries. What can we do to preserve both the local knowledge and the genetic material? Of course science based evidence will be further needed rather than perception! But should we not start somewhere? << hide

Biodiversity are prime source of dietary food, culturally acceptable and nutritionally rich. In the past, natural resources which encompasses many kinds of biodiversities considered as common heritage. During those times, access to those biodiversities were free to women and indigenous communities in specific. But now a days, these resources are bound within the perview of legal access and control. Due to poor access to information, scientific knowlegde and technology, access of poor and excluded groups are being consistently denied. At the sametime, the processed and imported food are becoming part and parcel of global phenomenon within trade liberalisation process. Therefore, biodiversity as a rich source of nutrition has to be consrved, used and also be processed for market without loosing its nutritional content. In this process, improvement of the quality at the genetic level is much more beneficial for all than to add value once processed. << hide

The focus on local initiatives is OK, but I think we need to focus on national and international efforts in biodiversity and nutrition. One reason the poor don't have diverse diets is because only a few staple crops have received most of the research and development funding. These are rice, maize and wheat - all three high in carbohydrates relative to micronutrients. Nor should we necessarily be funding the so-called "orphan" crops if they do not add substantially to nutrition. A major international effort would be needed on fruits and vegetable that have high contents of vitamins and minerals. We need research focused on higher yields and more efficiency to help bring the price of these foods down - so the poor can afford them. National governments need to subsidize fruits and vegetables, and support R+D in their countries. This would be a huge task, maybe 300 to 500 million dollars per year for international R+D, plus many hundreds of millions more from national governments. This effort would need a major nutrition/biodiversity education component.....I am worried that many of the solutions that are being offered regarding biodiversity and nutrition are just tinkering around the edges. The great dilemma in all this is: How do you convince a poor household near the poverty line to diversify their diet when they are mostly concerned with where their next meal is coming from? << hide

Introduction to the Natural Resources Gene Bank of IRAN Documents have shown that natural resources gene-bank in IRAN has begun its activities since 1960 decade in Research Institute of Forest and Rangeland (RIFR). After two decades of activities, for the reason of that, the plant genetic resource conservation has most priority, especially conserving the endemic and also plants that are under extinction, RIFR decided to increase the level of the gene bank unit to Gene bank division. So, the gene bank reorganized itself to collect and evaluate the range, medicinal and forest plant genetic materials. The organization chart of the natural resources gene bank, as follows: 1- Seed collection and Identification Group (SIG) 2- Evaluation and Regeneration Group (ERG) 3- Protection and Conservation Group (PCG) 4- Information and Data Management Unit (IDMU) So far, the number of accessions, which have been recorded, reached more than 25000. Records have shown that seed samples have been sent to applicants according their request .It includes 600 seed samples for provinces research centers, 250 for different research divisions in RIFR, 400 seed sample for universities and colleges and 700 seed samples for our colleagues in gene bank. For being certain of safe keeping the seed information and data, back up files have been prepared. We are pleased if we find the way(other than Geneflow etc.) to publish our research products in Gene Bank of IRAN. H.M.Arefi(Ph.D.) The Head of Natural Resources Gene Bank of IRAN << hide

I am speaking from the island of Dominica, where we celebrate biodiversity. Our entire economy is dependent on our natural resources, agriculture and tourism and most citizens understand the need to protect biodiversity. The problem as I see it is there is no environmental agency in the country. There is little baseline data on the status of our species, water, forests. I am not sure what push the international community can make with these islands to get people to understand the need for research and data, and not make policy decisions on speculation. << hide

Hello everybody, We all know that accumulation of Carbon di oxide or Carbon in the environment is the main source of global warming. Photosynthesis is the process by which we can extract the carbon from CO2 easily. So, if some genetically engineered plant could be developed which can have the capability to photosynthesis at a faster rate , then it will be quite helpful for a solution of the global warming problem. Pondering over this matter is needed as soon as possible. From, Sujoy Chabri. << hide

Following the Paris Declaration (January 2005), 3 major principals were very well defined: 1. Biodiversity is a Natural Heritage and a Vital Resource; 2. Biodiversity is being irreversibly destroyed; and 3. Biodiversity needs an important effort to be discovered, understood, used and conserved. If we are able to consciously and explicitly disseminate related information, documentation and/or knowledge about all comprehensible and straightforward biodiversity principals; trying to make them well accepted, acknowledged, understood and when possible, tacitly shared, by people, all over the World; I am sure, the biodiversity concepts (and principals) will be taken well into account by the population; they will work them out together and reach many development goals. << hide

I am sure, CGIAR's decision to have a System-Wide ICT-KM Program to promote and support the use of information and communications technologies, and knowledge management activities; connecting People for agricultural innovation; improving access to agricultural resources; providing related counsel, advice, guidance, help and support, as well as diverse opportunities to come ''together'' to a ''knowledge-based unified system'', to generate, share, analyse and preserve active, timely, cost-effective and multi-disciplinary agricultural information; to work, collaborate, create and communicate ''together''; making of CGIAR, an effective and efficient ''knowledge-based organizationi'', serving Poor People's needs and requirements; will help CGIAR: - To gain the necessary momentum; - To have a tremendous impact in its mission, sharing a common vision to build a world where there is less hunger, less poverty, less environmental degradation and greater well-being for all; - To expand his role, work and activities to foster sustainable livelihoods, achieve sustainable food security and reduce poverty, across the developing world, through scientific research and related activities, in the fields of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, environment and policy; - To enhance its ''Challenge Programs''; - To improve the effectiveness and efficiency of all its members (developing countries, industrialized countries, regional organizations, international organizations, private foundations, etc), sponsors, research centres, inter-center initiatives, eco-regional programs, etc; - Fostering innovation by encouraging the free flow of ideas; improving services by streamlining response time; boosting results by getting faster services; streamlining operations and reducing costs by eliminating redundant or unnecessary processes; enhancing People's knowledge; - To improve the effectiveness of all CGIAR System's day-to-day activities, helping and supporting multi-cultural - disciplinary and lingual teams, with explicit and tacit knowledge, as well as with implicit learning; The launch of CGXchange will be, surely, of full benefits to everyone involved. Congratulations ! << hide

By encouraging home food production the dietary diversity can be greatly increased and the consumption of high carb, high fat packaged foods can be minimized. Biodiversity in the diet and the use of indigenous vegetable resources is a part of our effort to cultivate food security by encouraging the small family garden, dooryard garden or kitchen garden. We have found that when a family works together in their garden the children are more likely to favor a fresh, nutritious diet that they had a hand in producing. It also provides opportunities for elders to share wisdom and stories with the children, providing cultural stability. In a small, intensive garden, adaptable for individuals with physical limitations the dietary diseases can be countered, a dependence on packaged foods, junk food, and high carb and fat foods can be countered. www.hungergrowaway.com << hide

I have gone through the comments on Biodiversity and Nutrition. As an Indian, I wish to say that our fast food culture, modern catering services in urban areas of our country have spoiled the community health of our people. Rural people in Tamilnadu still depend on small millets and solve nutrition. They are not affected by the harmful effects of the fast food and live longer. In fact the people living beneath mountains/hills in our State promote organic farming and are never lured by our the so called "Rich Foof" Tin Food and Fast Food being sold in cities. Voluntary organisations are engaged in developing non chemical packages for a variety of food crops. Traditional seed varities of small millets which were facing extinction are now revived and conserved. Contemporary relevance and applications of traditional knowledge systems will provide real world solutions. Traditional Biodiversity can defenitely solve malnutrition and we have evidences for this statement. In Tamilnadu, rural people are never affected by malnutrition as they depend on nutritious small millets like Millet, Ragi, Horse-gram and Green-gram and avoid rice. Rural people say that they take curry-leaf and escape from Diabetes. Urban people discard such green leaves. During my bilogical survey in several villages, I was surprised to note that rural people live longer and have lower rates of chronic diseases unlike their counterparts in urban areas. Indigenous medicinal plants found in villages are used in everyday meals as they are cost effective, easily available and trouble-free. The rural masses in Tamilnadu, especially living beneath hills and mountains (of Western Ghats) long to promote Endogenous Development. We are at a critical juncture for identification of appropriate standards for biodiversity/environment conservation. An essential step, in determining what should be done about environmental damage in our State is ''to value it and compare it with the costs of preventing the damage'' since our natural resources in the region remain susceptible to overexploitation. << hide