Nigel J. H. Smith

Crop Germplasm Conservation and Developing Countries

Loss of the genetic diversity of some of the worlds crops has accelerated in recent decades, with many crops becoming increasingly susceptible to diseases, pests, and environmental stresses. A global network of gene banks has therefore been established to provide plant breeders with the genetic resources necessary for developing more resistant crops that will enable farmers to maintain high yields. Most of these gene banks now store the germplasm of only the major crops such as cereals, potatoes, and grain legumes. Cultivated varieties of these crops are conserved as well as wild species that might otherwise become extinct. Tropical cash crops such as bananas and coconuts are also important food crops in many Third World countries, and more effort needs to be made to conserve the germplasm of these crops as well as of other important plants such as plantation crops, medicinal herbs, and fruit and timber trees.

Sustaining Agricultural Yields

D ramatic gains in crop yield can be ephemeral unless a follow-up research program is in place to shore up the advances. Stable yields and sustainable agriculture are as important as raising the yield ceiling of crops. The concept of shoring up yield gains applies equally to monocultures and mixed farming systems. Here we define such maintenance research, review its principles, outline its scope and dimensions, and discuss its policy implications. The effort to sustain productivity and damp oscillations in crop and livestock yields has been called maintenance research, productivitysustaining research, protective research, genetic management, or defense-of-gains research. Maintenance is an integral part of agricultural research, not a separate category. Upholding yield gains is the core concept of maintenance research, and it applies to all improved crops in both industrial nations and developing countries.

Networking in International Agricultural Research

Informal and structured collaboration is becoming increasingly common in international agricultural research. A network approach to research generally reduces costs, minimizes duplication, and boosts efficiency. Collaborative teams, sometimes involving hundreds of scientists in dozens of countries, have been formed to tackle numerous constraints to boosting food production. Networks have been established to test crop germplasm over a broad range of environments, explore ways of boosting the efficiency of fertilizer use, upgrade disease resistance in livestock, and identify socioeconomic obstacles to improved agricultural output. The benefits of networking are especially valuable to countries with limited funds and scientific manpower.

Agroforestry trajectories among smallholders in the Brazilian Amazon: innovation and resiliency in pioneer and older settled areas

Abstract Concern is mounting that swidden agriculture is increasingly “unsustainable” because of the onrush of settlers into tropical forests and other development pressures. One way to curtail rampant deforestation is to find alternatives to the practice of shifting fields every few years, such as by planting perennial crops instead of allowing the land to revert to second growth. A trend towards tree farming in the Brazilian Amazon is being propelled primarily by smallholders taking advantage of market opportunities. In a survey of 136 polycultural fields with perennials in widely scattered locations in the Brazilian Amazon, 108 agroforestry configurations were noted involving 72 crops. Small-scale entrepreneurs are clearly experimenting with a wide array of perennial crops, mostly on their own initiative. Cropping patterns and agroforestry dynamics are analyzed and major constraints on further development of agroforestry, such as insufficient agro-industries and high-quality planting material, are discussed.

Guaraná's Journey from Regional Tonic to Aphrodisiac and Global Energy Drink

Guaraná (Paullinia cupana H.B.K., Sapindaceae) is a rainforest vine that was domesticated in the Amazon for its caffeine-rich fruits. Guaraná has long been used as a tonic and to treat various disorders in Brazil and abroad and became a national soda in Brazil about a century ago. In the last two decades or so, guaraná has emerged as a key ingredient in various ‘sports’ and energy drinks as well as concoctions that allegedly boost ones libido. For some time, guaranás high caffeine content was thought to be a detriment because of health concerns about excessive intake of caffeine-rich drinks. But it is precisely this quality, and the fact that it has a mysterious name and comes from an exotic land, that has propelled guaraná into a global beverage.

Aquatic turtles of Amazonia: An endangered resource

Abstract Turtles have long served man as an important food resource in Amazonia. During the colonial period, Portuguese traders disturbed nesting beaches on a large scale in search of eggs which were converted into oil for cooking and lighting. Exploitation was increasingly intense by the end of the 19th century and turtle populations had declined drastically. Although legislation has been passed to protect them, enforcement is lax and turtles face increasing pressure from man not only for food but as a result of habitat disturbance.

HOME GARDENS AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR AGROFORESTRY DEVELOPMENT IN AMAZONIA

SUMMARY Home gardens are an often overlooked resource for agricultural development. In both upland and floodplain areas of the Brazilian Amazon, home gardens contain a wealth of promising material that could be planted on a wider scale for income generation and restoring degraded habitats. Over seventy perennial species are cultivated in dooryard gardens in Amazonia, and new domesticated plants are being constantly recruited for the surrounding forest; forest conservation and agro- forestry development are thus linked.

Caimans, Capybaras, otters, manatees, and man in amazonia

Abstract Amazonia, the worlds largest tropical rain forest, is often assumed to be a virtually untouched wilderness. The region is often referred to as a demographic void; there is on average only about one person per sq. km. Yet in response to international market forces, the hand of man has penetrated deep into the imposing forests. Since colonial times, wildlife, particularly along rivers, has been exploited on a large-scale basis for commercial purposes. This paper focuses on the effects of the trade on some aquatic animals.

Colonization Lessons from a Tropical Forest

The decade-old Transamazon Highway provides a useful stage for examining some of the major issues related to frontier conquest and the impact of pioneer settlement on one of the worlds richest biomes. The highway project is an ambitious colonization scheme and the lessons that can be drawn from it, ranging from the environmental effects of stripping back the tree cover to the spread of diseases, will be useful in guiding development policy in other tropical regions.

The Impact of Cultural and Ecological Change on Amazonian Fisheries

Abstract Fish have long provided an important item in the diet of Amazonians, but ecological and cultural changes threaten the long-term productivity of aquatic ecosystems. Population growth, the opening of extra-regional markets and the introduction of new or improved technologies, have increased pressure on fisheries of Amazonia, the worlds largest freshwater catchment. Habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and development projects also threatens to undermine fishing yields. Modern conservation practices, such as the establishment of parks and reserves and the enactment of protective legislation, are only gaining a tentative foothold in the region.