Dr. Yosef Mizrahi on Monday described Israeli efforts to trial and adapt wild and cultivated plants, particularly from Africa, that are tolerant of salinity and drought. We must make greater efforts to turn back humankind's drive to clear more and more land of its natural vegetation. We need to consider sustainable ways to conserve the genetic diversity of cultivated plants. I will be proposing that this is to keep them in culture - that is with the grower. Fruit and nut crops are different to cereals and vegetable crops in that preservation occurs in field collections which tie up land more than annual crops.
Germplasm banks exist but field trials are essential for assessment of varieties.
It is not enough for the plants to exist - without being available to growers. The best way for that to happen is for the growers to take on the job of maintaining diversity themselves. Heritage varieties of fruit and nut trees require different treatments to modern varieties. Skills in pruning, pest management and harvesting techniques need to be preserved as well as the varieties. Not only should the varieties be kept but also the know-how on what other plants are beneficial to their thriving in good health.