HAPPY ALMOST EARTH DAY!

Food Organizations Join Forces to Reintroduce Neglected Crops to Global Ecosystems...

Happy Almost Earth Day! It's spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the perfect time to think of new crops to plant whether you're a farmer or have a few pots on your balcony. This year may be the time to try some fruits and vegetables that you haven't heard of because they typically don't make their way into grocery stores or farmers markets. Some farmers depend on these neglected and underutilized crops to both feed their families and restore economic and biological diversity to their communities. According to Marie Haga, Executive Director of the Crop Trust, "Maintaining agricultural biodiversity is fundamental for our survival as a species, yet has seldom made it to major international agreements broader than its immediate arena."  Today, only 30 species provide 95 percent of the world’s calories and out of 30,000 species of edible plants, humans cultivate less than 150 of them. Diversity in food is important not only for crop rotations but also for human health. Food organizations realize the importance of biodiversity in food crops and are beginning to raise awareness about this issue. Food+Tech Connect produced an entire editorial series celebrating entrepreneurs, farmers, and researchers who value biodiversity in food. The Future Market published a deep dive report on crop diversity and its direct impact on consumers and growers. The Crop Trustlaunched the Food Forever Initiative to revitalize some of the world’s forgotten foods. And theLexicon of Sustainability partnered with 16 organizations, including Food Tank, to shine a spotlight on underutilized yet nutritionally valuable crops through an extensive campaign called the Rediscovered Food Initiative. What are some neglected or underutilized foods from your area? Please email me atdanielle@foodtank.com to share with us!Sincerely, Danielle Nierenberg