Nit de la recerca: [ENG] Micro-talk: The underestimated power of orphan crops – how exploring biodiversity can help us combating climate change (CRAG)

When? Friday 30 September 2022, between 19:30h and 20:30h (PASE 3).

As part of the La Noche de la Investigación event, postdoctoral researcher at CRAG Natalie Laibach will offer a 7-minutes micro-talk on how exploring biodiversity can help us combating climate change. A safe and stable food supply is crucial to human well-being, and thus agriculture is facing many different challenges. The efficiency of food production needs to be increased sustainably without using more land or disrupting biodiversity. On the other hand, it has to be resilient towards climate change and pests. In this microtalk, she will introduce the treasure chest of crop (and plant) biodiversity that can help us meet these demands if we dare open it. Through re-discovering traditional crops, which got disregarded during the agricultural revolution, these so called “orphan crops” or “neglected crops” like Sorghum, Amaranth or Yams are worth to be reconsidered in science and agriculture, as they improve crop diversity and bring different advantages, largely unknown to the wider public. She’ll present approaches to re-integrate these crops into our agriculture and provide a short glimpse on how research (including her own) can get hold of their potential.

More info and registration soon