Until the cows come home

Valuable Stabiliser heifers go AWOL.

Shocks and stocks

Interesting wrap up of international meetings and discussions surrounding the recent 'Food Security for All' meeting in Madrid. Video commentaries from, among others, Steve Wiggins and Lawrence Haddad

Views from the south

And how is the financial downturn affecting small-scale agriculture in less wealthy countries? Read some views from LEISA's regional partners

Bankers need not apply

Nice little piece on the Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog on how some people are reacting positively to the current economic downturn by thinking more locally and sustainably about production.

They're in the post!

According to Cary Fowler, Executive Director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust, Irelands contribution of seeds to the Svalbard vault is expected to arrive before April this year. Anyone know what crops, varieties? How much and from whom?

What about ye, Sammy?

Can someone do us all a bloody big favour and quickly send a copy of Tim Flannery's, the Weather Makers, to Stormont House for Sammy Wilson to read. Maybe after that he will keep his mouth shut. He denies climate change and is responsible for the organisation that is allowing NI's protected areas fall into a state of disrepair. Time he was shown the door I think.

Darwin's Birthday

Today marks the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Darwin, a man who work and ideas have contributed so much to the rural environment and continue to do so. To mark the event Queens University have just announced a new era in conservation research. My friends over at the Global Crop Diversity Trust have posted this nice piece, Darwin on the Farm. I understand that there are Darwin parties all over the land including those happening now at Trinity College Dublin. Also today at TCD there is a lecture on Darwin and Ireland. The speaker, Miguel Dearce has a book of the same title forthcoming this year and has also written on this subject before.