25th June 2001

Preventing crop shortages

The number of crop varieties grown by farmers has plummeted by more than seventy-five percent over the past hundred years, as superstrains have come to dominate the global market. But this increases the vulnerability of crops to a major outbreak of pests or diseases; so the old breeds are needed for their valuable genetic material. The UN's discussing a proposal today to safeguard that gene pool for the future, by making seeds in seed banks available to all who need them - from farmers to commercial breeders and researchers.

plummeted: if an amount or price plummets, it decreases quickly and suddenly

superstrains: a strain of a plant is a variety of it; these superstrains are the most resilient or strongest variety of crops

vulnerability: weakness and lack of protection

outbreak: a sudden occurrence of disease

pest: an insect or small animal which damages crops or food supplies

genetic: concerned with genes : genes are parts of cells which control the growth and development of living things. They are passed on from one generation to another

to safeguard: to protect

gene pool: the available genes that could be used

in the first place: originally; first of all

seed banks: a central place where seeds are kept ready for use

a levy: money that must be paid to a government or official organisation, like a tax

crop diversity: to have many different kinds of wheat or rice or other food plants

voicing strong opposition: if someone voices strong opposition to something they strongly disagree or oppose it

undermine: if you undermine something then you make it weaker or destroy it bit by bit

afforded: if you afford protection to someone then you give protection to them

intellectual property rights: the legal right to own scientific or creative ideas