From Collection to Cultivation: Historical Perspectives on Crop Diversity and Food Security (360G-Wellcome-217968_Z_19_Z)
Many experts agree that crop genetic diversity is essential to agricultural productivity, present and future, and therefore an important determinant of human health and well-being. Yet the routes through which this diversity is made valuable in agriculture, for example in breeding more disease-resistant or nutritious crops, remain underexplored. The dominant narrative credits plant breeders alone with generating value from crop diversity and has enabled breeders and seed companies to claim ownership over plant varieties. This in turn has encouraged a dramatic consolidation of the seed industry that many consider a threat to global food security. The narrative of breeder-generated value must be assessed and challenged. Through four historical case studies and a synthetic account, this project argues for a more encompassing view of how diverse materials give rise to the crops eaten around the world. It documents the contributions of researchers engaged in plant exploration, introduction, conservation, and utilisation. It charts efforts to locate disease-resistant varieties, prevent the spread of crop pathogens, ensure access to dietary diversity, and locate the genes that give rise to nutrient-rich varieties. By following neglected actors and methods, the project changes our understanding of how and by whom modern agricultural crops have been made.
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Grant Details
Amount Awarded | 886718 |
Applicant Surname | Curry |
Approval Committee | Humanities and Social Science Selection Panel |
Award Date | 2019-07-30T00:00:00+00:00 |
Financial Year | 2018/19 |
Grant Programme: Title | Investigator Award in H&SS |
Internal ID | 217968/Z/19/Z |
Lead Applicant | Dr Helen Anne Curry |
Partnership Value | 886718 |
Planned Dates: End Date | 2025-08-01T00:00:00+00:00 |
Planned Dates: Start Date | 2020-08-01T00:00:00+00:00 |
Recipient Org: Country | United Kingdom |
Region | East of England |