Farms and diets worldwide are narrowing to fewer crops, and local varieties are vanishing
Seed Saving
The heirloom bean or regional squash you save seed from in your own garden is part of a living library of local varieties that is disappearing from farms worldwide.
Over the past century, farms and dinner tables around the world have come to depend on a small number of big crops. Local varieties, and the know-how for growing and using them, are fading fast. Seed banks, community programs, and researchers are working to hold onto this diversity, but big gaps remain in what we know about how much has been lost.
Key Findings
Food systems are becoming more homogeneous, relying on a relatively narrow set of major crops in diets, production areas, and research pipelines
Local crop diversity and the associated knowledge and practices are being lost significantly over the past century
Conservation communities have responded, but gaps in understanding of these trends remain, and the authors outline priorities to safeguard and promote food plant diversity
chevron_right Technical Summary
The world's food supply leans on a shrinking set of major crops, while local varieties and the knowledge of how to grow and cook them are disappearing. The authors review the trends, current conservation responses, and the research gaps that need attention to protect what's left.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Food plant diversity in a rapidly changing world
Societal Impact Statement Diversity in food plants is essential to human and planetary health. On farms, in diets, and in many other areas of food systems, this diversity has undergone enormous cha...
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
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