Biodiversity of Vegetable Crops, A Living Heritage

Biodiversity of Vegetable Crops, A Living Heritage
Author: Massimiliano Renna
Publisher: MDPI
Total Pages: 174
Release: 2019-04-09
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3038977209

Intensive agriculture has generally resulted in higher productivity, but also in a trend towards decreasing levels of agro-biodiversity, which represents a key point in ensuring the adaptability and resilience of agro-ecosystems in the global challenge to produce more and better food in a sustainable way. The biodiversity of vegetable crops includes genetic diversity—both as species diversity (interspecific diversity) and as a diversity of genes within a species (intraspecific diversity) with regard to the vegetable varieties grown—and the diversity of agro-ecosystems (agro-biodiversity). The purpose of this Special Issue is to publish high-quality research papers addressing recent progress and perspectives on different aspects related to the biodiversity of vegetable crops. Original, high-quality contributions that have not yet been published, or that are not currently under review by other journals have been sought. The papers in this Special Issue cover a broad range of aspects and report recent research results regarding agro-biodiversity, which continues to be of significant relevance for both genetic and agricultural applications. All contributions are of significant relevance and could stimulate further research in this area.

Vegetable Crops at a Glance

Vegetable Crops at a Glance
Author: S.K. Tyagi
Publisher: Scientific Publishers - Competition Tutor
Total Pages: 646
Release: 2018-03-01
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9387991881

This book is a compendium which dealing with all aspects and facts of vegetable crops which will meet the requirements of all those preparing for JRF, SRF, NET, Ph.D., ARS, and other competitive examinations. This book encompasses all the utmost important features required to get through NET conducted by ASRB, New Delhi. The book incorporates the latest data and facts, which are frequently asked in various competitive exams. Information on recent advances in crop improvement, crop health management and crop production gives a cutting edge to this publication. Narration and presentation of different topics is simple and easily understandable. Specimen multiple choice questions are there with their answers. This would immensely help the aspirants of different, competitive examinations.

Eden's Endemics

Eden's Endemics
Author: Elizabeth Callaway
Publisher: University of Virginia Press
Total Pages: 255
Release: 2020-08-04
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 0813944589

In the past thirty years biodiversity has become one of the central organizing principles through which we understand the nonhuman environment. Its deceptively simple definition as the variation among living organisms masks its status as a hotly contested term both within the sciences and more broadly. In Eden’s Endemics, Elizabeth Callaway looks to cultural objects—novels, memoirs, databases, visualizations, and poetry— that depict many species at once to consider the question of how we narrate organisms in their multiplicity. Touching on topics ranging from seed banks to science fiction to bird-watching, Callaway argues that there is no set, generally accepted way to measure biodiversity. Westerners tend to conceptualize it according to one or more of an array of tropes rooted in colonial history such as the Lost Eden, Noah’s Ark, and Tree-of-Life imagery. These conceptualizations affect what kinds of biodiversities are prioritized for protection. While using biodiversity as a way to talk about the world aims to highlight what is most valued in nature, it can produce narratives that reinforce certain power differentials—with real-life consequences for conservation projects. Thus the choices made when portraying biodiversity impact what is visible, what is visceral, and what is unquestioned common sense about the patterns of life on Earth.

Growing Heritage

Growing Heritage
Author: Abigail Wincott
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 115
Release: 2020-07-23
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1351402854

This book is the first comprehensive critical analysis of the cultural politics of a new kind of British heritage discourse. Based on texts ranging from tweets to restaurant menus that tell the story of heritage vegetables, this book explores what it means to think about our food systems, and their future, through the lens of ‘heritage’. From town hall seed swaps to restaurant menus and coffee table books, it has become hard in recent years for consumers to avoid the idea of ‘heritage’ fruit and vegetables. The British counterpart of North American heirlooms, their varied colours, strange shapes and endearing names are charming. Yet their proponents claim far more for them, arguing it is vital that we safeguard our crop heritage for global food security, social justice and consumer choice. This book examines how heritage fruits and vegetables are adopted to subvert corporate food production and take food back into our own hands, while supermarkets are eagerly adding them to their luxury ranges. The book also discusses the practice of heritage seeds being stored in secure facilities where most of the world’s growers cannot reach them. Written in an accessible style, this book will appeal to those studying, and those interested in, food studies and food politics; heritage studies; geography and environmental studies; the sociology of consumption and cultural studies.

Urban Agricultural Heritage

Urban Agricultural Heritage
Author: Frank Lohrberg
Publisher: Birkhäuser
Total Pages: 220
Release: 2022-11-21
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 3035622523

Urban gardening and agriculture have become important elements of sustainable urban planning in the context of persistent urbanization amid limited resources. However, a consideration of the cultural-historical dimension has been lacking up to now. The editors present the first comprehensive outline of traditional forms of food production in cities to help preserve this valuable knowledge. On the basis of current research findings, they develop new perspectives and guidelines for recognizing traditional food production systems as an aspect of cultural heritage and for dealing with urban agriculture worldwide.