Man cannot afford to turn his back on the origins of his food supply. Too much inbreeding can weaken both crops and livestock. The rain forest, with its vast collection of species, can supply. For example, Mexican botanist Rafael Guzman discovered a new species of grass related to modern corn. His find excited farmers because this grass is resistant to five of the seven major diseases that ravage crops of corn.
Scientists hope to use the new species to develop disease-resistant variety of corns.
In 1987, the Mexican government protected the mountain range where this wild corn was found. But with so much forest being destroyed, invaluable species like this one are doubtless being lost, even before they are discovered. In the forests of Southeast Asia, there are several species of wild cattle that could strengthen the breeds of domestic herds. However, all these species hover on the brink of extinction because of the destruction of their habitat. Fresh air is just as important as the food we eat.