DailyDirt: Rediscovering Heirloom Plants

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Wed, Nov 27th 2013 5:00pm — Joyce Hung

It turns out that many Americans aren't paying much attention to the ongoing battle over labeling genetically modified foods. A recent survey by researchers at Rutgers University found that half of Americans know very little or nothing at all about GM foods, while a quarter have never even heard of them. Furthermore, they found that many Americans are also confused about what types of GM foods are on the market. Meanwhile, heirloom fruits, vegetables, and grains are gaining popularity. These are plants that have been grown and passed down from one generation to another -- some for more than 100 years -- often selected for their superior flavor, as well as other characteristics such as productivity, hardiness, and adaptability. If you want to avoid GM foods, why not spend some time rediscovering heirloom varieties? Here are a few links to get you started.

Glass Gem corn is a stunning variety of heirloom corn that's named for its multi-colored, gem-like kernels. You really have to see it to believe it. Glass Gem is the result of many years of selective breeding of corn that exhibited vivid, translucent colors.[url]
Tartine Bakery in San Francisco has started incorporating heirloom and ancient varieties of grains into the bread they make. Apparently, these older varieties of grains -- rye, barley, einkorn, and emmer -- have a different gluten quality that makes them easier to digest. [url]
In case of an apocalyptic disaster that destroys the world's crops, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault will make sure we can rebuild the global plant population. Built on the edge of the Arctic Ocean in Svalbard, Norway -- away from civilization -- the seed vault can hold up to 4.5 million different seed varieties and keep them safe from disasters caused by climate change, asteroid strikes, plant diseases, nuclear warfare, and even earthquakes. [url]

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Filed Under: biotech, bread, food, genetically modified foods, glass gem corn, gmo, grain, heirloom corn, heirloom varieties, plants, seeds, svalbard global seed vault

9 Comments

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Anonymous, 27 Nov 2013 @ 5:04pm

Svalbard...kingdom of the ice bears. All hail Iorek Byrnisson!
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Paraquat (profile), 27 Nov 2013 @ 5:19pm

GM Foods, Inc
...A recent survey by researchers at Rutgers University found that half of Americans know very little or nothing at all about GM foods, while a quarter have never even heard of them.

GM Foods? You mean General Motors makes food? Gosh, I didn't know that. I learn something new everyday.
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Anonymous Coward, 27 Nov 2013 @ 5:42pm

Re: GM Foods, Inc
Search for "Annual Turkey Pardon" and be amazed.
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Anonymous Coward, 27 Nov 2013 @ 6:21pm

I hate GM supporters
They always think the debate is you being a moron, and that you just can't understand the "genius" behind GM food, when its not at all about the science. I understand the science behind it perfectly, but I refuse to support copyrighting our food supply to a few world monopolies. Considering the damage patents and copyright maximalists have had on simple things like books, moving pictures, and sound, pardon me for not trusting them with the basics of life like food and water.
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Pegr, 27 Nov 2013 @ 7:14pm

Re: I hate GM supporters
I'm not an expert, but my understanding of the present state of law is that you can patent the method by which you produce GM, but not the actual result. Copyright, of course, has nothing to do with anything in this discussion.
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Nick (profile), 27 Nov 2013 @ 8:36pm

Oh, heirloom p"L"ants. Man, I haven't played WOW in a year but it still worms its way into article headlines...
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Rekrul, 27 Nov 2013 @ 9:22pm

That Glass Gem corn looks interesting. How long until Monsanto files a patent for it and forces everyone else to stop growing it?
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alternatives(), 28 Nov 2013 @ 10:02am

have a different gluten quality that makes them easier to digest.

There is an entire book called Wheat Belly on the topic that may be worth a read.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Nov 2013 @ 6:01pm

Re: Re: I hate GM supporters
look up Monsanto and read about the farmers that can't use Monsanto seeds from last years crops or they'll be sued .. it's pretty bad out there especially if you happen to be the guy who owns crops between Monsanto seed users .. unintentional cross pollination from gm crops to family owned seeds can get you sued
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