Below the Fold - growing a weed (no, not that kind)

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Happy Friday, Below the Fold! This week, we’ve got a kind of plant underdog story. Or maybe it’s “one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure?” In this case, what Big Ag once considered weeds is now getting some recognition as possible saviors of our food supply. Wild varieties of crops could potentially contribute $115B to $120B in value to our global food supply. That’s a lot to chew on…

Wheat or weed? Depends on who’s looking
Mon Aug 29

It seems like climate change is ruining everything, but it’s only just getting started. Part of the preparation for major problems to come includes securing our food supplies. Pest, disease, and weather threaten much of our monocrop agriculture (where a single crop is grown in the same field every year), but potential solutions are already growing — literally. By increasing diversity in crops, the chances they’ll all die from the same problem decreases.

But this goes against modern agriculture. In fact, the industry sees the accidental new varieties of wheat at the borders of their monocrop fields as weeds. This is because monocrops are highly efficient and profitable. Switching to polycrop farming (where multiple crops are grown at once), however, is just the start of food security. What we introduce to the previously single-crop fields has to be unique and diverse, too.

The differences in “wild” native food crops could help us grow more resilient crops — if scientists can find them. Some organisms are found on tribal lands, requiring informed consent which isn’t yet a standardized process. Further, who gets access to the valuable genetic resource after research and how usage could be restricted to prevent corporate monopolization is still being debated. It’s a mess of negotiations between nations, agencies, tribes, and corporations.

In the meantime, botanical gardens are teaming up with Native American tribes to expand the native plant sections of the gardens and ultimately decolonize botany. This not only includes reintroducing Indigenous food sources from their “wild” classification but dismantling the false dichotomy of “wild” versus “domesticated” — all while documenting how agriculture worked for these tribes.

BELOW THE FOLD BYTES

Money Makes the World Ride the Train?

Germany has just wrapped up three months of dirt cheap public transit in a bid to lower emissions. Local and nationwide travel for a month could be had for just 9-euros ($9). With 52 million of these passes sold, the experiment reduced emissions by 1.8 million tons (enough to power 350,000 homes for a year). While significant, the reduction hasn’t been enough to cover the 3 million tons the transport sector missed in emission targets.

>> Read More

Women Bounce Back Into the Workplace

In previous editions, we lamented the decreased numbers of women in the workplace. Now, the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment ratios for women aged 25-54 have surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Men of the same age range have yet to see their numbers rise back to pre-pandemic levels. Overall, labor markets are still tight even with higher interest rates and major employers announcing job cuts.

>> Read More

🎬 Action of the Week

It seems every week climate change takes on a new victim. This week, we’re bringing attention to the flash floods that have already taken over 500 lives in Pakistan. Tens of thousands of homes have been damaged or completely destroyed, and those affected are in dire need of aid. Head to Penny Appeal to donate today and help a family in need.

THIS WEEK'S SOURCES

GeoPard Agriculture:
Pros & cons of monoculture
5 months old | 6 minutes long

Inside Climate News:

Botanists saving our food
12 days old | 20 minutes long

ASCII-ING ABOUT THE NEWS

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When life gives you dandelions, weed make a salad!

Art Credit: ASCII Art Archive

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Below the Fold - growing a weed (no, not that kind)

Money Makes the World Ride the Train?

Women Bounce Back Into the Workplace

🎬 Action of the Week

Older messages

keep calm and drink sewage…?

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breaking the (concrete) ceiling

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