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Seed Conservation Essential for Food Security
ERITREA
19th February 2007
From Wagdy Sawahel at SciDevnet
Researchers have discovered varieties of barley with a surprisingly high level of genetic diversity in Eritrea, which could be useful for researchers trying to breed drought and disease resistant barley. But the scientists warn that the resource could be lost if seed conservation measures are not improved. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that about three-quarters of the genetic diversity of agricultural crops has been lost over the last century. Just 12 crops and 14 animal species now provide most of the world's food. Dr. Jacques Diouf, director-general of FAO, believes that biological diversity is one of the keys to ending world hunger. The barley, found in farmer's fields surrounding the capital city Asmara in Eritrea, has the highest level of genetic diversity ever discovered. Lead researcher Ahmed Jahoor, of the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, says he observed that the barley grows under diverse levels of drought severity, which could be useful to plant breeders wishing to select the level of drought tolerance needed. He expects to find genetic variability for disease resistance as well. Jahoor says the seeds will be invaluable for improving barley "not only in Eritrea but elsewhere in tropical highland where barley is grown". They could be used as a new source of useful genes that have not previously been used in barley breeding programmes, and will be available for research purposes through common material transfer agreement procedures. However, Jahoor told SciDev.Net that the new gene pool is under threat due to poor seed conservation facilities in Eritrea. He urged the scientific community to establish a seed bank to conserve the genetic resource before it is lost forever. Jahoor says he has had difficulties obtaining funding for a seed bank because the Danish government has stopped supporting Eritrea for political reasons, and other funding agencies have not committed any funds. Mike Gale, emeritus research fellow at the UK-based John Innes Centre, says the levels of genetic diversity that the researchers found clearly demonstrates the value of international genebanks. The research was part of the Integrated Cereal Disease Management programme that aims to enhance research collaboration between Danish research institutes, National Agricultural Research Institutes in developing countries and centres of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. It was published online in Theoretical & Applied Genetics on 6 February 2007. The article challenges the widely accepted hypothesis that wild barley, Hordeum vulgare subsp. spontaneum, from the 'Fertile Crescent', is the progenitor of cultivated barley. It indicates that an independent domestication might have taken place at the Horn of Africa. Citation: Journal Title - TAG Theoretical and Applied Genetics The Principles on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-SharingA framework to help gardens and herbaria develop policies and procedures on access and benefit-sharing. Find Out MoreBioversity International (formerly IPGRI) International Centre for Underutilised Crops The Global Crop Diversity Trust |
The Whole Grain Cookbook
 Delicious Recipes for Wheat, Barley, Oats, Rye, Amaranth, Spelt, Corn, Millet, Quinoa and More - With Instructions for Milling Your Own. You Amazon purchases earn money for BGCI at no cost to you.
BGCI Plant Search Database
 The BGCI plant search allows you to research plants in living collections all around the world. It gives cross-referenced information with Red Data Lists, plant images, the International Plant Names Index, Crop Wild Relatives, and the Tree Conservation Database.
Darwin's Harvest: Origins, Evolution, and Conservation of Crop Plants (Motley et al, 2006)
 This book describes how a variety of temperate and tropical crop plants were domesticated, using a broad selection of research studies that use both traditional and contemporary tools. Edited by Timothy J. Motley, Nyree Zerega & Hugh Cross, and published February 2006. More Securing Plant Diversity News 11th February 2008
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