Articles highlight the role of local communities in protecting native rice varieties and the role of human selection in driving wide evolutionary radiation of crop biodiversity.
November 2010: The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has released its October-December issue of the magazine Rice Today, with articles highlighting the role of local communities in protecting native rice varieties and the role of human selection in driving wide evolutionary radiation of crop biodiversity.
In “Agricultural biodiversity: the lasting legacy of early farmers,” Ruaraidh Sackville Hamilton describes how early farmers sped up evolution by introducing cultivation and weeding, which favored crop varieties that grew better in improved soils. He also notes that farmers moved seeds beyond natural ranges, introducing them to new local climates and offering new opportunities for hybridization, leading to the creation of new biodiversity. Sackville Hamilton underscores that the desire for specific varieties has led to genetic bottlenecks. Finally, he notes that much of what is needed to adapt to climate change exists within the genes stored in gene banks.
“The Seed Keepers’ Treasure” describes efforts to preserve native rice varieties in the Philippines’ Cordillera region, particularly heirloom rice. The article underscores the higher margins that farmers growing exportable heirloom rice receive from specialized buyers.
IRRI is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). [Rice Today]