Hitting the Books: 'Miracle Rice' fed China's revolution but endangered its crop diversity

Feeding the planet's 8 billion people is challenge enough and our current industrialized commercial practices are causing such ecological damage that we may soon find ourselves hard-pressed to feed any more. For decades, scientists have sought out higher yields and faster growth at the expense of genetic diversity and disease — just look at what we've done to the humble banana. Now, finally, researchers are working to revitalize landrace and heirloom crop varieties, using their unique, and largely forgotten, genetic diversity to reimagine global agriculture. In his new book, Eating to Extinction: The World's Rarest Foods and Why We Need to Save Them, BBC food journalist Dan Saladino scours the planet in search of animals, vegetables and legumes most at-risk of extinction, documenting their origins and declines, as well as the efforts being made to preserve and restore them. In the excerpt below, Saladino takes a look at all-important rice, the cereal that serves as a staple crop for more than 3.5 billion people around the world.Farrar, Straus and Giroux publishingExcerpted from Eating to Extinction: The World's Rarest Foods and Why We Need to Save Them by Dan Saladino. Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Copyright © 2021 by Dan Saladino. All rights reserved.Whereas the global Green Revolution was largely steered by American science and finance, China’s push for greater food production was more self-contained. Both efforts happened more or less in parallel. Mao’s... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2022-02-05 16:30:43 UTC ]
News tagged with: #book written

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Hitting the Books: 'Miracle Rice' fed China's revolution but endangered its crop diversity'


Hitting the Books: What exactly did Jodi Foster hear in 'Contact'?

Art may imitate life but it rarely does so with realistic fidelity. As Naomi Pequette, Space Science Programs Specialist at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, argues in her essay "The Sounds of Contact" as part of The Science if Sci-Fi Cinema: Essays on the Art and Principles of Ten Films,... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-09-04 15:30:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #central theme #literally millions #science fiction


Booksellers Hit the Books

A newly launched professional bookseller certification program aims to boost indie bookselling skills. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-09-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #booksellers hit #bookseller


Hitting the Books: How Tesla engineers solved the problem of exploding EV batteries

Between CEO Elon Musk's often erratic antics, strident competition from existing industry titans, and a public that is still not fully sold on the idea of traveling via electrical charge, Tesla's road to prominence has not been a smooth one. But facing a federal investigation into its driver... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-08-21 15:00:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #taking place #driven home #penguin random house


Hitting the Books: How a radio telescope cost this West Virginia town its modernity

Deep in the heart of Appalachia, modern science and America's bucolic past meet at a unique crossroad of scientific discovery and luddite lifestyles. The Quiet Zone, by journalist Stephen Kurczy, is the story of a sleepy small town that hosts the Green Bank radio telescope. But the presence of... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-08-14 15:30:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #unique place #finally put #wildest dreams #harpercollins


China market turns frosty for Taiwan books, as tensions rise

These days, just being an author from Taiwan could dash your chances of getting a book published in China Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2021-08-11 14:32:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book published


Anglia Ruskin launches bursary to improve children's book illustration diversity

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) has launched a new inclusivity bursary worth £11,200 to study for a masters degree in children's book illustration.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-04 15:16:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book illustration #children's book


Authors Guild Diversity Webinar Asks: Can Book Publishing Change?

The Authors Guild's virtual panel "Centering Black Voices: Short-Term Progress or Sustainable Change?," held on July 27, offered a wide-ranging examination of the history and potential of the book industry’s continuing struggle to address diversity. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-07-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors guild #sustainable change #book industry #address diversity #book publishing


Diverse Book Awards longlists features Zephaniah, Lawrence and Wilson

The longlists for the second Diverse Book Awards have been revealed, recognising inclusivity in children’s, YA and adult fiction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-07-27 07:16:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #adult fiction


Self-censorship hits Hong Kong book fair in wake of national security law

Far fewer politically sensitive titles are on display in the first such event since Beijing imposed sweeping new regulations Booksellers at Hong Kong’s annual book fair are offering a reduced selection of books deemed politically sensitive, as they try to avoid violating a sweeping national... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-07-15 10:57:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hong kong #coronavirus pandemic #draws hundreds #latest bestsellers #book fair


Saqi Books in London Hit by Monday’s Flash Flooding

An emergency fund has been opened to get quick aid to West London's Saqi Books, a publisher and bookstore reporting severe flood damage. The post Saqi Books in London Hit by Monday’s Flash Flooding appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-07-13 19:52:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #saqi books #emergency fund #west london #bookstore


U.S. Book Show: Ijeoma Oluo Wants to Talk About Revolution

In a keynote Q&A with HarperOne executive editor Rakesh Satyal, Ijeoma Oluo advocated for ordinary people dismantling racism at the grassroots level and spoke about her forthcoming book, 'Be a Revolution.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-05-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book show #ijeoma oluo


Hachette Book Group Announces Diversity Progress in 2020

The Hachette Book Group workforce in 2020 was 3.9 percent black, the company says, 6.7 percent Asian, 20 percent Hispanic or Latinx. The post Hachette Book Group Announces Diversity Progress in 2020 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-05-13 15:32:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book group


How Inclusive Is That Diverse Book Cover, Though?

As more and more books for middle grade and YA readers showcase ensemble casts, why do they lack visible disability representation? Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-04-26 10:31:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #middle grade #diverse book


Want a best-selling book or hit movie? You need this 1 key ingredient, says research

Blockbuster projects share one common trait. Do you dream of opening that blockbuster restaurant, writing a New York Times best-selling book, or releasing a chart-topping album? A new study out of Northwestern University suggests a pivotal ingredient.Read Full Story Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2021-04-09 16:21:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hit movie #best-selling book


Columbia, Howard University to Launch Black Studies Book Series, Diversity Program

Columbia University Press, in collaboration with Howard University and Columbia University, is launching a new Black studies book series, with plans to also recruit and train students for the book industry. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-03-03 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #columbia university #book industry


Diversity in Romance Books Still Lags

The Ripped Bodice bookstore's fifth annual state of diversity in romance survey found some progress by publishers in signing more authors of color to write novels, but more work still needs to be done. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-03-02 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #romance books #annual state #write novels


We Need Diverse Books is partnering with Penguin Random House to establish a Black Creatives Fund.

Some good news: today, Publishers Weekly reported that We Need Diverse Books is partnering with Penguin Random House on a series of programs to get more books by Black writers published. The Black Creatives Fund initiative involves a “Revisions Workshop”; a mentoring program; and marketing... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-02-17 18:23:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #diverse books #publishers weekly #penguin random house


Amazon Hit with E-book Price Fixing Suit

The law firm that successfully sued Apple and five major publishers for colluding to fix e-book prices in 2011 has filed a class action against Amazon, accusing the company of colluding with the Big Five publishers to eliminate price competition from the e-book market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-01-14 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #major publishers #law firm #class action #e-book market #e-book #e-book price


Are Book Biz Diversity Efforts Starting to Kick In?

Publishing employees who weighed in on a new 'PW' survey are hoping new initiatives will yield results. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-12-31 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


The Joy of Diverse Stories: One Book at a Time

Eileen Robinson and Move Books are inspiring middle graders to find joy in reading through diverse characters and exciting stories. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-11-23 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #diverse stories #move books #diverse characters