[MPWG] In Twenty Years Chocolate Will Be A Rare Delicacy-breeding
MoonBranch Botanicals
moonbranch at earthlink.net
Fri Nov 12 13:17:04 CST 2010
This needn't be so complex, but obviously my point is not getting through here. I could expand endlessly or choose to oversimplify here. Due to time restraints, I will choose the latter.
I never intended to direct this toward plant (or animal) "breeders". The operative here of course being the word "breeder".
According to Wiktionary:
Noun
breeder (plural breeders)
1. A person who breeds plants or animals professionally.
and
Verb
to breed (third-person singular simple present breeds, present participle breeding, simple past and past participle bred)
1. To sexually produce offspring.
So, if the technique involved, either traditional or enhanced involves "sexual" reproduction (as is infinitely possible in the natural world, albeit generally within genera) and a transfer of genetic information in the case of plants via pollen, that is one thing.
But the creation of new "transgenic" organisms by the transfer of genetic material across naturally occurring boundaries of genera and even kingdoms is quite another.
I'm not sure why this is so hard for people to get. Simply put and according to me (and maybe only me) humans are part of a greater "whole" and as part of the "whole" it is impossible to comprehend that "whole" in its entirety. Again simply put, it is hard for me to believe that we have the capabilities either physically or cognitively to "out-do" hundreds of thousands of years of trial and error and the resulting evolution of creation.
Make sense?
-----Original Message-----
>From: "Jeanine M. Davis" <Jeanine_Davis at ncsu.edu>
>Sent: Nov 12, 2010 1:02 PM
>To: MoonBranch Botanicals <moonbranch at earthlink.net>
>Cc: mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org
>Subject: Re: [MPWG] In Twenty Years Chocolate Will Be A Rare Delicacy-breeding
>
>In defense of many plant breeders, Robin, I must interject that there are
>ways to breed new plants that are much faster than classical breeding but
>are not transgenic. Anther culture and the use of marker assisted
>breeding are just two examples. The tomato breeder I'm working with uses
>these techniques NOT to make money for himself or the university. He does
>so to create tomato varieties with disease resistance so farmers can grow
>tomatoes with fewer pesticides and especially so organic farmers can grow
>tomatoes here in WNC. Where it might take 12 seasons to develop a new
>disease resistant tomato variety using classical breeding techniques, it
>may be done in 2-4 seasons with these other methods.
>
>Jeanine
>
>> I
>> think one needs to look no further than what has happened with maize/corn
>> to determine the future path of where most plant genomic research leads.
>> The following excerpt from:
>> http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2009-11/decoded-corn-genome-promises-higher-yields-better-bio-fuels-new-plastics;
>> is most illustrative.<br><br><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">"Maize
>> actually underwent significant genetic alteration during the
>> domestication process thousands of years ago, with the early settlers of
>> the Americas increasing the yield, altering ear geometry, and
>> augmenting the stalk strength through years of selective breeding. Now,
>> with the genome laid bare, scientists can accomplish the same level of
>> engineering in fractions of the time."</span><br><br>If the lack of
>> genetic diversity is handicapping small farmer production, then yes, by
>> all means, introduce diversity into that production. This of course can
>> easily be accomplished by the time honored horticultural practices of
>> selection and hybridization introducing germplasm sourced from "wild"
>> populations (apparently occurring in the Amazon Basin) into that
>> production.<br><br>In this day and age however, I'm afraid that the
>> inclination of most researchers is to follow the quicker, more profitable
>> (for the researcher) and "patentable" path of transgenic manipulation.
>> Despite the claims of Mars, Inc. that the resulting findings will be
>> "public domain" history and the long trail of research dollars generally
>> have led to the opposite, eventually. Of course, only time will
>> tell.....<br><br><br><blockquote style="padding-left: 5px; margin-left:
>> 0px; border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 255);">-----Original Message-----
>> <br>From: Jennifer Chesworth <cafesombra at gmail.com>
>> <br>Sent: Nov 12, 2010 11:51 AM
>> <br>To: mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org
>> <br>Subject: Re: [MPWG] In Twenty Years Chocolate Will Be A Rare Delicacy
>>
>> <br><br>Jean, in the case of cacao you are mistaken. Several years
>> ago,
>> chocolate manufacturers experienced a crisis when they discovered the
>> stock of almost ALL global plantations (and small holdings) of cacao
>> were descended from the seed of a single cacao plant brought to
>> Martinique by the French in 1660. All plantations were similarly
>> resilient or not to any number of diseases, and a single plague could
>> devastate the entire industry. "Maintaining resilience" of cacao
>> requires tissue culture, something most small holders cannot achieve on
>> their own.<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Nov 12, 2010 at
>> 11:47 AM, Jennifer Chesworth <span dir="ltr"><<a target="_blank"
>> href="mailto:cafesombra at gmail.com">cafesombra at gmail.com</a>></span>
>> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt
>> 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
>> <br><div><div class="h5">
>> <br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Nov 12, 2010 at 11:27 AM, Jean
>> Giblette <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:hfg at capital.net"
>> target="_blank">hfg at capital.net</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote
>> class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px
>> solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
>>
>> <div style="word-wrap: break-word;">
>> <div>Thanks, Robin.</div><div><br></div>Quoted from the Independent
>> article:<div><br></div><div>"<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);
>> font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px;">Despite price rises on the trading
>> floor, precious little reaches the smallholders who make up 95 per cent of
>> growers, according to Mr. Lass, a former Cadburys trader and ethical
>> sourcing advisor who has co-authored a book on the cocoa
>> industry.</span><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; line-height: 11px;">
>>
>> <font style="font: 12px Verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" color="#333333"
>> face="Verdana" size="3">"These smallholders earn just 80 cents a day," he
>> says. "So there is no incentive to replant trees when they die off, and to
>> wait up to five years for a new crop, and no younger generation around to
>> do the replanting."</font></p>
>>
>> <div><div>Note the main thrust of these articles, which is to celebrate
>> the genome sequencing in hopes that a genetic engineering "solution" will
>> be found, when all we have to do is incentivize the farmers to replant on
>> a regular basis and to maintain/enhance the resilience of the small
>> holdings.</div>
>>
>> <div><br></div><div>These articles portray the microcosm of what's wrong
>> with medicinal plant production worldwide: the growers are neither
>> adequately compensated nor rewarded for good stewardship. At the
>> same time, industrial ag (including its ultimate manifestation, genetic
>> engineering) displaces the growers. These dynamics are based on
>> social constructs, and social constructs can be revised.</div>
>>
>> <div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Mother Nature is waiting to reward us with
>> chocolate and all the abundance of the fertile earth. All we have to
>> do is follow her lead and cooperate with her. Why is this so hard
>> for us to understand?</div>
>>
>> <div><br></div><div>Jean</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>On Nov
>> 12, 2010, at 10:50 AM, MoonBranch Botanicals wrote:</div><br><blockquote
>> type="cite"><div style="margin: 0px;">Chocolate Black Hole; Chocolate
>> consumption is increasing faster than production, meaning the future will
>> probably be less chocolaty....</div>
>>
>> <div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style="margin:
>> 0px;"><a
>> href="http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-11/future-chocolate-will-be-rare-delicacy-analysts-say"
>> target="_blank">http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-11/future-chocolate-will-be-rare-delicacy-analysts-say</a></div>
>>
>> <div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style="margin:
>> 0px;"><a
>> href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/chocolate-worth-its-weight-in-gold-2127874.html"
>> target="_blank">http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/chocolate-worth-its-weight-in-gold-2127874.html</a></div>
>>
>> <div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style="margin:
>> 0px;"><a
>> href="http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-09/sweet-breakthrough-scientists-led-candy-company-sequence-chocolate-genome"
>> target="_blank">http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-09/sweet-breakthrough-scientists-led-candy-company-sequence-chocolate-genome</a></div>
>>
>> <div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style="margin:
>> 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style="margin: 0px; min-height:
>> 14px;"><br></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Robin Alton Suggs</div><div
>> style="margin: 0px;">
>>
>> MoonBranch Botanicals</div><div style="margin: 0px;">5294 Yellow Creek
>> Road</div><div style="margin: 0px;">Robbinsville, North Carolina
>> 28771<span> </span></div><div style="margin: 0px;">USA</div><div
>> style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
>>
>> <br></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Telephone: 828.479.2788</div><div
>> style="margin: 0px;">Email: <a href="mailto:moonbranch at earthlink.net"
>> target="_blank">moonbranch at earthlink.net</a></div><div style="margin: 0px;
>> min-height: 14px;">
>>
>> <br></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><a href="http://www.moonbranch.com"
>> target="_blank">www.moonbranch.com</a></div><div style="margin:
>> 0px;"><span>
>> </span>&</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><a
>> href="http://www.localharvest.org/store/M16074"
>> target="_blank">www.localharvest.org/store/M16074</a></div>
>>
>> <div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style="margin:
>> 0px;">Member:</div><div style="margin: 0px;">Appalachian Sustainable
>> Agriculture Project; Farm Partner</div><div style="margin: 0px;">Green
>> Products Alliance<span> </span></div>
>>
>> <div style="margin: 0px;">North Carolina Consortium on Natural
>> Medicines<span> </span></div><div style="margin: 0px;">North Carolina
>> Goodness Grows/NCDA&CS<span> </span></div><div style="margin:
>> 0px;">Southwestern North Carolina RC&D Council</div>
>>
>> <div style="margin: 0px;">United Plant Savers</div><div style="margin:
>> 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style="margin: 0px;">“If people
>> let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take,
>> their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those
>> who live under tyranny.â€</div>
>>
>> <div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style="margin:
>> 0px;">- Thomas Jefferson</div><div style="margin: 0px; min-height:
>> 14px;"><br></div><div style="margin: 0px; min-height:
>> 14px;"><br></div><div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
>>
>> <br></div><div style="margin:
>> 0px;">_______________________________________________</div><div
>> style="margin: 0px;">PCA's Medicinal Plant Working Group mailing
>> list</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><a
>> href="mailto:MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org"
>> target="_blank">MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org</a></div>
>>
>> <div style="margin: 0px;"><a
>> href="http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/mpwg_lists.plantconservation.org"
>> target="_blank">http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/mpwg_lists.plantconservation.org</a></div>
>>
>> <div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style="margin:
>> 0px;">To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to <a
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>>
>> <div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style="margin:
>> 0px;">Disclaimer</div><div style="margin: 0px;">Any advice given on this
>> list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc. reflects ONLY the opinion of
>> the individual who posts the message. The information contained in posts
>> is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical
>> advice relative to your specific medical condition or question. All
>> medical and other healthcare information that is discussed on this list
>> should be carefully reviewed by the individual reader and their qualified
>> healthcare professional. Posts do not reflect any official opinions or
>> positions of the Plant Conservation Alliance. <span>
>>
>>
>> </span></div>
>>
>> </blockquote></div><br><font color="#888888"><div> <span
>> style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; color:
>> rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style:
>> normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing:
>> normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none;
>> white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><div>
>>
>> Jean Giblette, Owner</div><div>HIGH FALLS GARDENS</div><div>Box 125
>> Philmont NY 12565</div><div>518-672-7365, <a href="mailto:hfg at capital.net"
>> target="_blank">hfg at capital.net</a></div><div><a
>> href="http://www.highfallsgardens.net"
>> target="_blank">www.highfallsgardens.net</a></div>
>>
>> <div><br></div><br></span></span><br>
>> </div><br></font></div></div><br><br>
>> _______________________________________________<br>
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>> target="_blank">MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org</a><br>
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>> <br>
>> Disclaimer<br>
>> Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc.
>> reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The
>> information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a
>> substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific
>> medical condition or question. All medical and other healthcare
>> information that is discussed on this list should be carefully reviewed by
>> the individual reader and their qualified healthcare professional. Posts
>> do not reflect any official opinions or positions of the Plant
>> Conservation Alliance.
>>
>> <br>
>>
>> </blockquote></div><br>
>> </div></div><br></blockquote></div><br>
>> </cafesombra at gmail.com></blockquote></body><pre>
>>
>> Robin Alton Suggs
>> MoonBranch Botanicals
>> 5294 Yellow Creek Road
>> Robbinsville, North Carolina 28771
>> USA
>>
>> Telephone: 828.479.2788
>> Email: moonbranch at earthlink.net
>>
>> www.moonbranch.com
>> &
>> www.localharvest.org/store/M16074
>>
>> Member:
>> Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project; Farm Partner
>> Green Products Alliance
>> North Carolina Consortium on Natural Medicines
>> North Carolina Goodness Grows/NCDA&CS
>> Southwestern North Carolina RC&D Council
>> United Plant Savers
>>
>> “If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines
>> they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls
>> of those who live under tyranny.â€
>>
>> - Thomas Jefferson
>> </pre>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> PCA's Medicinal Plant Working Group mailing list
>> MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org
>> http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/mpwg_lists.plantconservation.org
>>
>> To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to MPWG-request at lists.plantconservation.org
>> with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
>>
>> Disclaimer
>> Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc.
>> reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The
>> information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a
>> substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific
>> medical condition or question. All medical and other healthcare
>> information that is discussed on this list should be carefully reviewed by
>> the individual reader and their qualified healthcare professional. Posts
>> do not reflect any official opinions or positions of the Plant
>> Conservation Alliance.
>
>
>Jeanine M. Davis, Ph.D.
>Associate Professor and Extension Specialist
>Department of Horticultural Science
>North Carolina State University
>EMAIL: Jeanine_Davis at ncsu.edu
>WEBSITES: http://ncherb.org, http://ncspecialtycrops.org,
>and http://ncorganic.org
>BLOG: http://ncalternativecropsandorganics.blogspot.com/
>TWITTER: http://twitter.com/JeanineNCSU
>FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeanine-Davis/1442912228
>ADDRESS: Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center
>455 Research Drive, Mills River, NC 28759
>PHONE: 828-684-3562
>FAX: 828-684-8715
>
>
Robin Alton Suggs
MoonBranch Botanicals
5294 Yellow Creek Road
Robbinsville, North Carolina 28771
USA
Telephone: 828.479.2788
Email: moonbranch at earthlink.net
www.moonbranch.com
&
www.localharvest.org/store/M16074
Member:
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project; Farm Partner
Green Products Alliance
North Carolina Consortium on Natural Medicines
North Carolina Goodness Grows/NCDA&CS
Southwestern North Carolina RC&D Council
United Plant Savers
“If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.”
- Thomas Jefferson
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