Blog 4 - - - Activities - Cary Fowler: One seed at a time

Diversity of crops is very important and can be considered genetic resource. The diversity is critical for allowing crops to adapt to changing environments and able to cope with disease. The modification of the natural genetic is crumbling the critical structure for life. Verities of wheat and apples are shrinking at alarming rates, and many verities are now extinct, and streamlining is the main focus over of diversity. Saving only one example of a variety backs us into a corner. The future may require genes from variety that were useless in the past; nothing deserves to be eliminated because the current value is low.
Variety is critical for making climate ready crops. Making crops adapted for higher temperatures is a necessity for preventing a food crisis in Asia and Africa. Maize is the main food source in these countries, and there is only two more growing cycles to improve this crop, action has to be taken now.
Facilities are needed to preserve genetic diversity, such as seed banks. One problem is the mechanical failure and political mismanagement, leading to extinction of certain verities. This has lead to the construction of a building east of Greenland, which is remote and naturally cooled; it works as a backup system for agriculture. This is one of the few example were all the countries of the world have contributed to one project in a friendly manner.
Whatever happens in the future, if crop diversity doesn’t exist, no problems around the world can be solves relating to climate change. The climate is going to change, and the growing environment for plant is also going to change, requiring new diversity to grow throughout the world. Investing now in conservation, might save us in the future.

Genetic diversity is critical component of modern life. New medical and agricultural uses are being discovered daily and solving problem that have been plaguing humanity for centuries. If efforts aren’t made today, current growing areas will become extinct, cultures will go hungry, and world industries will faultier. The globe has to work together to find solutions for preserving genetic diversity and overall humanity.

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