Tag Archives: Agrobiodiversity

Modeling for Agrobiodiversity

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Rachel Friedman

Yesterday was Terra Madre Day, which celebrates local food traditions and agrobiodiversity. Today, the Landscapes Blog explores an example of this in practices. Landscapes Initiative Co-Organizer, Bioversity International discusses new research on how to support farmers and local institutions in … Continue reading →

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Why the world needs sustainable diets, and research about them

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Rachel Friedman

Diet plays a critical role not only in food and nutrition security, but also influencing the path of agricultural development. With the Convention on Biological Diversity well underway and the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) meeting progressing this week, … Continue reading →

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Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

Posted on October 10, 2012 by Rachel Friedman

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems, or GIAHS, have been defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as ”remarkable land use systems and landscapes which are rich in globally significant biological diversity evolving from the co-adaption of … Continue reading →

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Landscape of the Week: The scattered fruit tree meadows of the Swabian Alb

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Rachel Friedman

Kathrin Trommler, Project Coordinator with the Ecosystem Services Research Group, Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, provides a look into one European agricultural landscape with deep historical roots. Representing a slightly different type of agrobiodiversity than the field crops usually discussed, this diversity of fruit … Continue reading →

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Biodiversity on the Horizon

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Rachel Friedman

2012 is coming to a close with some fanfare, and major events on the horizon provide exciting opportunities to give voice to the nexus of sustainable agriculture, conservation, and rural livelihoods. The 11th Conference of the Parties for the Convention on … Continue reading →

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World Leaders on Food and Nature

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Rachel Friedman

One of the themes of the IUCN World Conservation Congress is Nature+Food. The World Leaders Dialogue on the topic this past Saturday set out to address the overarching question, ‘can we feed a growing population in a sustainable manner?’ The … Continue reading →

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Tropical Fruit Trees and Climate Change

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Rachel Friedman

Yesterday the Landscapes Blog explored how cocoa production in Ghana is shifting toward a more sustainable system. Expanding to other tropical tree crops, today marks the launch of a new book – Tropical Tree Fruit Species and Climate Change. Trees are … Continue reading →

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Niche Product Markets: A Silver Bullet for Agrobiodiversity Conservation?

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Rachel Friedman

By Adam G. Drucker, Senior Economist Bioversity International, Rome, Italy Only around 30 plants account for more than 85% of global crop production. The majority of the planet’s food comes from a very small number of crops: out of approximately … Continue reading →

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Landscape of the Week: Eastern High Atlas, Morocco

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Rachel Friedman

Safeguarding World Agricultural Heritage Systems By Jean Gault, Senior Officer of Natural Resources Management and Payment for Environmental Services Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy Worldwide, specific agricultural systems and landscapes have been created, shaped, … Continue reading →

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Time for a New Paradigm

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Rachel Friedman

By Dr. Emile Frison, Director General Bioversity International, Rome, Italy In recent years, evidence has been accumulating about the need for change in agriculture. The International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development report, the 2010 report to … Continue reading →

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