Banking On the Gene (Programme 44)
Producer: Tina Cawte, Series Editor: Robert Lamb
Director: Luke Gawin,
Series Year: 1998
Genre: educational, documentary
Region: United Kingdom
Duration: 26"
Language: English
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Banking On the Gene (Programme 44)
Producer: Tina Cawte, Series Editor: Robert Lamb
Series Year: 1998
Genre: educational, documentary Region: United Kingdom Duration: 26" Language: English |
Essential for food, fuel, clothing and shelter - plants are the lifeblood of
the world. Yet almost everywhere, that lifeblood is being drained away - as
pollution, deforestation, urbanisation and modern agriculture all take their
toll. Earth Report investigates how the diversity of plant life on the
planet could solve some of the greatest challenges facing humankind today -
if we can halt its destruction. Just four crops - rice, wheat, maize, and
potatoes - provide over half the world's energy intake. As the world's
population increases and the climate changes, it is essential to develop
new, more productive crops. Scientists and farmers are increasingly
realising that they need to work together to conserve the many thousands of
wild and cultivated crop varieties, safeguarding their future in both gene
banks and in farmers' fields.
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