The steamroller of modern monoculture and factory farming is sweeping away our crop and domestic livestock diversity, putting future food production at risk.
Uniformity is the watchword of industrial agriculture.
Hope Shand exposes the brave new world of the fields. Plant breeders declared it to be one of the botanical finds of the century. The rare perennial maize proved to be resistant to seven viral diseases that plague domesticated maize. Conserva-tionists called for a nature preserve to protect the rare maize in its natural habitat as they feared the local poor farmers, in constant need of grazing land, would soon wipe out the few remaining patches. A nature preserve was eventually established and farmers kept out.