thank you and good afternoon this brown shriveled thing it’s an apple
shriveled thing it’s an apple
shriveled thing it’s an apple it is a sad looking Apple but it’s still
it is a sad looking Apple but it’s still
it is a sad looking Apple but it’s still an apple and here we have a grape vine
an apple and here we have a grape vine
an apple and here we have a grape vine it’s seen better days
it’s seen better days
it’s seen better days for sure here is potato certainly not
for sure here is potato certainly not
for sure here is potato certainly not the type that you’d want to bake and eat
the type that you’d want to bake and eat
the type that you’d want to bake and eat I’m sure this is a banana tree and it’s
I’m sure this is a banana tree and it’s
I’m sure this is a banana tree and it’s on its last leg the thing that these
on its last leg the thing that these
on its last leg the thing that these plants have in common is that they are
plants have in common is that they are
plants have in common is that they are ill and this is a problem for us because
ill and this is a problem for us because
ill and this is a problem for us because a threat to plant life is a very real
a threat to plant life is a very real
a threat to plant life is a very real threat to human life when a plant
threat to human life when a plant
threat to human life when a plant becomes ill it’s functions are impaired
becomes ill it’s functions are impaired
becomes ill it’s functions are impaired much like a human’s except instead of a
much like a human’s except instead of a
much like a human’s except instead of a rash or a fever its roots might not be
rash or a fever its roots might not be
rash or a fever its roots might not be able to sufficiently draw water from the
able to sufficiently draw water from the
able to sufficiently draw water from the ground or its leaves might wilt and
ground or its leaves might wilt and
ground or its leaves might wilt and Brown unable to synthesize the
Brown unable to synthesize the
Brown unable to synthesize the chlorophyll needed to sustain its life
chlorophyll needed to sustain its life
chlorophyll needed to sustain its life now the culprit might be an insect or a
now the culprit might be an insect or a
now the culprit might be an insect or a fungus or a bacterium but regardless if
fungus or a bacterium but regardless if
fungus or a bacterium but regardless if the disease is severe enough the plant
the disease is severe enough the plant
the disease is severe enough the plant will die and this can be devastating
will die and this can be devastating
will die and this can be devastating because stress on plant populations can
because stress on plant populations can
because stress on plant populations can spell disaster for human ones now a
spell disaster for human ones now a
spell disaster for human ones now a caveat I am not a biologist I’m not a
caveat I am not a biologist I’m not a
caveat I am not a biologist I’m not a scientist or a botanist but I am a food
scientist or a botanist but I am a food
scientist or a botanist but I am a food historian by training and I’d like to
historian by training and I’d like to
historian by training and I’d like to share a number of historical examples of
share a number of historical examples of
share a number of historical examples of the types of ecological consequences
the types of ecological consequences
the types of ecological consequences brought on by plant disease what we may
brought on by plant disease what we may
brought on by plant disease what we may call blight and see what we might learn
call blight and see what we might learn
call blight and see what we might learn from them so let’s begin here in New
from them so let’s begin here in New
from them so let’s begin here in New Jersey with the gypsy moth some of you
Jersey with the gypsy moth some of you
Jersey with the gypsy moth some of you might be familiar with this insect and
might be familiar with this insect and
might be familiar with this insect and it’s law
it’s law
it’s law form here we are a fuzzy caterpillar
form here we are a fuzzy caterpillar
form here we are a fuzzy caterpillar with a voracious appetite for leaves now
with a voracious appetite for leaves now
with a voracious appetite for leaves now the gypsy moth was introduced
the gypsy moth was introduced
the gypsy moth was introduced accidentally to the United States in the
accidentally to the United States in the
accidentally to the United States in the 1860s within about a decade outbreaks
1860s within about a decade outbreaks
1860s within about a decade outbreaks began and the federal and state
began and the federal and state
began and the federal and state governments were quick to recognize that
governments were quick to recognize that
governments were quick to recognize that it was a problem it began around Boston
it was a problem it began around Boston
it was a problem it began around Boston and spread quickly and despite the
and spread quickly and despite the
and spread quickly and despite the efforts of the government it wasn’t
efforts of the government it wasn’t
efforts of the government it wasn’t possible to eradicate and the current
possible to eradicate and the current
possible to eradicate and the current range is the entire northeast of America
range is the entire northeast of America
range is the entire northeast of America in 1981 thirteen million acres of forest
in 1981 thirteen million acres of forest
in 1981 thirteen million acres of forest including many orchards were D foliated
including many orchards were D foliated
including many orchards were D foliated devastated what does 13 million acres
devastated what does 13 million acres
devastated what does 13 million acres look like it’s the area highlighted in
look like it’s the area highlighted in
look like it’s the area highlighted in red absolutely remarkable
red absolutely remarkable
red absolutely remarkable another example bananas this is the
another example bananas this is the
another example bananas this is the banana that you’re probably all familiar
banana that you’re probably all familiar
banana that you’re probably all familiar with it’s a variety that we all eat it’s
with it’s a variety that we all eat it’s
with it’s a variety that we all eat it’s called Cavendish now our grandparents
called Cavendish now our grandparents
called Cavendish now our grandparents and great-grandparents wouldn’t have
and great-grandparents wouldn’t have
and great-grandparents wouldn’t have been familiar with this they were more
been familiar with this they were more
been familiar with this they were more accustomed to enjoying a variety that
accustomed to enjoying a variety that
accustomed to enjoying a variety that looked similar but some say tasted a lot
looked similar but some say tasted a lot
looked similar but some say tasted a lot better called gros Michelle what
better called gros Michelle what
better called gros Michelle what happened why aren’t we eating the same
happened why aren’t we eating the same
happened why aren’t we eating the same bananas that our grandparents and
bananas that our grandparents and
bananas that our grandparents and great-grandparents had well in the 1950s
great-grandparents had well in the 1950s
great-grandparents had well in the 1950s a blight called Panama disease a fungus
a blight called Panama disease a fungus
a blight called Panama disease a fungus struck in Central America and growers
struck in Central America and growers
struck in Central America and growers and exporters of bananas sought to find
and exporters of bananas sought to find
and exporters of bananas sought to find a solution so they replaced a grow
a solution so they replaced a grow
a solution so they replaced a grow Michelle with Cavendish however this was
Michelle with Cavendish however this was
Michelle with Cavendish however this was not the best idea it was like putting a
not the best idea it was like putting a
not the best idea it was like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound a temporary
band-aid on a bullet wound a temporary
band-aid on a bullet wound a temporary solution because nowadays a new strain
solution because nowadays a new strain
solution because nowadays a new strain of Panama disease is attacking Cavendish
of Panama disease is attacking Cavendish
of Panama disease is attacking Cavendish such that our children or grandchildren
such that our children or grandchildren
such that our children or grandchildren might not know it this unassuming little
might not know it this unassuming little
might not know it this unassuming little bug by the common name Falak szura
bug by the common name Falak szura
bug by the common name Falak szura almost eradicated
almost eradicated
almost eradicated a plant called vidis vinifera now you
a plant called vidis vinifera now you
a plant called vidis vinifera now you might not be familiar with its
might not be familiar with its
might not be familiar with its scientific name but I assure you most of
scientific name but I assure you most of
scientific name but I assure you most of you know it’s a common parlance it is
you know it’s a common parlance it is
you know it’s a common parlance it is the grapevine responsible for the
the grapevine responsible for the
the grapevine responsible for the world’s fine wines the Cabernet is the
world’s fine wines the Cabernet is the
world’s fine wines the Cabernet is the Merlot’s the Chardonnay is when this bug
Merlot’s the Chardonnay is when this bug
Merlot’s the Chardonnay is when this bug infested European vineyards in the late
infested European vineyards in the late
infested European vineyards in the late 19th century French wine production in a
19th century French wine production in a
19th century French wine production in a period of 20 years declined by 73% now
period of 20 years declined by 73% now
period of 20 years declined by 73% now imagine that a world without wine
imagine that a world without wine
imagine that a world without wine stop don’t imagine that joking aside
stop don’t imagine that joking aside
stop don’t imagine that joking aside even if you aren’t a fan of trees you
even if you aren’t a fan of trees you
even if you aren’t a fan of trees you don’t like bananas and you don’t drink
don’t like bananas and you don’t drink
don’t like bananas and you don’t drink wine let me provide one last example
wine let me provide one last example
wine let me provide one last example that might open you up to the fact that
that might open you up to the fact that
that might open you up to the fact that a blight has a really true impact on
a blight has a really true impact on
a blight has a really true impact on humans 1845 to 1852 the great famine of
humans 1845 to 1852 the great famine of
humans 1845 to 1852 the great famine of Ireland decimates the population the
Ireland decimates the population the
Ireland decimates the population the proximate cause is a water mould that
proximate cause is a water mould that
proximate cause is a water mould that destroys and kills potato plants 1
destroys and kills potato plants 1
destroys and kills potato plants 1 million people died 1 million people
million people died 1 million people
million people died 1 million people emigrated the remarkable fact is that
emigrated the remarkable fact is that
emigrated the remarkable fact is that the population of Ireland today is still
the population of Ireland today is still
the population of Ireland today is still lower than it was in 1840 so how did we
lower than it was in 1840 so how did we
lower than it was in 1840 so how did we get here what happened well relative to
get here what happened well relative to
get here what happened well relative to geological time that is the history of
geological time that is the history of
geological time that is the history of the planet Earth disease and plants were
the planet Earth disease and plants were
the planet Earth disease and plants were in relative equal aaja chol equilibrium
in relative equal aaja chol equilibrium
in relative equal aaja chol equilibrium and the fact is that it wasn’t so much a
and the fact is that it wasn’t so much a
and the fact is that it wasn’t so much a problem however in the last 500 years
problem however in the last 500 years
problem however in the last 500 years something changed what was it what
something changed what was it what
something changed what was it what tipped the balance of the scales in
tipped the balance of the scales in
tipped the balance of the scales in favor of disease that made it spread
favor of disease that made it spread
favor of disease that made it spread more quickly and with greater intensity
more quickly and with greater intensity
more quickly and with greater intensity well it’s us humans Homo sapiens we are
well it’s us humans Homo sapiens we are
well it’s us humans Homo sapiens we are a problem in a way and we’re not all
a problem in a way and we’re not all
a problem in a way and we’re not all that great for plants allow me to
that great for plants allow me to
that great for plants allow me to explain
explain
explain three particular human triggered events
three particular human triggered events
three particular human triggered events really set the stage for the prevalence
really set the stage for the prevalence
really set the stage for the prevalence of light to get worse
of light to get worse
of light to get worse first Columbus discovered America
first Columbus discovered America
first Columbus discovered America oh he’s not having a good day in
oh he’s not having a good day in
oh he’s not having a good day in connecting continents in bringing
connecting continents in bringing
connecting continents in bringing together north and south america with
together north and south america with
together north and south america with europe and africa and asia he
europe and africa and asia he
europe and africa and asia he effectively Shrunk the world the planet
effectively Shrunk the world the planet
effectively Shrunk the world the planet became a smaller place next the 19th and
became a smaller place next the 19th and
became a smaller place next the 19th and 20th century saw a flurry of innovations
20th century saw a flurry of innovations
20th century saw a flurry of innovations which sped up the speed of travel
which sped up the speed of travel
which sped up the speed of travel technology essentially collapsed time
technology essentially collapsed time
technology essentially collapsed time and third even though humans have been
agricultural beings for approximately
agricultural beings for approximately 12,000 years it really wasn’t until the
12,000 years it really wasn’t until the
12,000 years it really wasn’t until the last hundred or so which we perfected
last hundred or so which we perfected
last hundred or so which we perfected the art of efficient agriculture however
the art of efficient agriculture however
the art of efficient agriculture however this had its cost and reduced
this had its cost and reduced
this had its cost and reduced biodiversity now let me explain a little
biodiversity now let me explain a little
biodiversity now let me explain a little further here we have Columbus and in
further here we have Columbus and in
further here we have Columbus and in making the world a smaller place he
making the world a smaller place he
making the world a smaller place he brought in contact numbers of species
brought in contact numbers of species
brought in contact numbers of species that hadn’t necessarily co-evolved
that hadn’t necessarily co-evolved
that hadn’t necessarily co-evolved plants and animals that had been
plants and animals that had been
plants and animals that had been separated for millennia had all of a
separated for millennia had all of a
separated for millennia had all of a sudden come in contact with one another
sudden come in contact with one another
sudden come in contact with one another and hadn’t necessarily gained immunity
and hadn’t necessarily gained immunity
and hadn’t necessarily gained immunity or resistance to invasive or foreign
or resistance to invasive or foreign
or resistance to invasive or foreign species further the advent of the steam
species further the advent of the steam
species further the advent of the steam engine in the 19th century followed by
engine in the 19th century followed by
engine in the 19th century followed by the combustion engine collapsed time now
the combustion engine collapsed time now
the combustion engine collapsed time now in 1620 it took the Mayflower
in 1620 it took the Mayflower
in 1620 it took the Mayflower approximately more than two months to
approximately more than two months to
approximately more than two months to cross the Atlantic to go from Plymouth
cross the Atlantic to go from Plymouth
cross the Atlantic to go from Plymouth England to Cape Cod
England to Cape Cod
England to Cape Cod by the 1850s the steamship the average
by the 1850s the steamship the average
by the 1850s the steamship the average trout transatlantic voyage took about
trout transatlantic voyage took about
trout transatlantic voyage took about two weeks time served as a natural
two weeks time served as a natural
two weeks time served as a natural barrier to the spread of foreign
barrier to the spread of foreign
barrier to the spread of foreign biological matter the rise of blight in
biological matter the rise of blight in
biological matter the rise of blight in the form of potato blight or wine blight
the form of potato blight or wine blight
the form of potato blight or wine blight came about because people move more
came about because people move more
came about because people move more quickly whether we want to or not when
quickly whether we want to or not when
quickly whether we want to or not when we travel we bring luggage with us
we travel we bring luggage with us
we travel we bring luggage with us intended or otherwise in the 19th
intended or otherwise in the 19th
intended or otherwise in the 19th century saw this natural firewall
century saw this natural firewall
century saw this natural firewall demolished now we get to modern
demolished now we get to modern
demolished now we get to modern agriculture a true phenomena however
agriculture a true phenomena however
agriculture a true phenomena however modern agriculture has reduced
modern agriculture has reduced
modern agriculture has reduced biodiversity by dedicating more land to
biodiversity by dedicating more land to
biodiversity by dedicating more land to fewer species in the drive to grow some
fewer species in the drive to grow some
fewer species in the drive to grow some plants better we ultimately grow fewer
plants better we ultimately grow fewer
plants better we ultimately grow fewer plants now the efficiency of modern
plants now the efficiency of modern
plants now the efficiency of modern agriculture is truly astounding between
agriculture is truly astounding between
agriculture is truly astounding between 1920 and 1950 global agricultural output
1920 and 1950 global agricultural output
1920 and 1950 global agricultural output doubled again between 1950 and 1965 and
doubled again between 1950 and 1965 and
doubled again between 1950 and 1965 and yet again it doubled between 1965 and
yet again it doubled between 1965 and
yet again it doubled between 1965 and 1975 but it had cost more land had to be
1975 but it had cost more land had to be
1975 but it had cost more land had to be dedicated to growing fewer species
dedicated to growing fewer species
dedicated to growing fewer species monoculture was increased and selective
monoculture was increased and selective
monoculture was increased and selective breeding meant again that we grew fewer
breeding meant again that we grew fewer
breeding meant again that we grew fewer species of plants with fewer species
species of plants with fewer species
species of plants with fewer species available the likelihood that disease
available the likelihood that disease
available the likelihood that disease would spread amongst the species that
would spread amongst the species that
would spread amongst the species that remained was greater so then what do we
remained was greater so then what do we
remained was greater so then what do we do if we recognize there’s a problem and
do if we recognize there’s a problem and
do if we recognize there’s a problem and the problem is us from a plants
the problem is us from a plants
the problem is us from a plants perspective we are the weedy species we
perspective we are the weedy species we
perspective we are the weedy species we are unwanted and we are instructed
are unwanted and we are instructed
are unwanted and we are instructed destructive so what actions can we take
destructive so what actions can we take
destructive so what actions can we take to undo or prevent some of the harm
to undo or prevent some of the harm
to undo or prevent some of the harm we’ve done as a species to plants well
we’ve done as a species to plants well
we’ve done as a species to plants well first we can follow the rules now
first we can follow the rules now
first we can follow the rules now if today is the first time that this
if today is the first time that this
if today is the first time that this problem has been made explicit to you
problem has been made explicit to you
problem has been made explicit to you rest assured people have been aware of
rest assured people have been aware of
rest assured people have been aware of it for quite some time and we’re working
it for quite some time and we’re working
it for quite some time and we’re working on it
on it
on it the United Nations in 1951 passed the
the United Nations in 1951 passed the
the United Nations in 1951 passed the International Plant Protection
International Plant Protection
International Plant Protection convention precisely to give
convention precisely to give
convention precisely to give government’s guidelines to allow for
government’s guidelines to allow for
government’s guidelines to allow for quarantines and restrictions there are
quarantines and restrictions there are
quarantines and restrictions there are rules now that govern the transportation
rules now that govern the transportation
rules now that govern the transportation of biological matter so I urge that when
of biological matter so I urge that when
of biological matter so I urge that when you go on vacation to obey quarantine
you go on vacation to obey quarantine
you go on vacation to obey quarantine restrictions the pieces of paper you
restrictions the pieces of paper you
restrictions the pieces of paper you receive on airplanes that you know
receive on airplanes that you know
receive on airplanes that you know normally toss out actually read them
second we can celebrate biodiversity now
second we can celebrate biodiversity now how can we do this we can simply shop
how can we do this we can simply shop
how can we do this we can simply shop differently not necessarily for
differently not necessarily for
differently not necessarily for different foods but different types of
different foods but different types of
different foods but different types of plants today more than 90% of our
plants today more than 90% of our
plants today more than 90% of our caloric intake and protein comes from an
caloric intake and protein comes from an
caloric intake and protein comes from an astonishingly small amount of species
astonishingly small amount of species
astonishingly small amount of species just 15 different types of plants and
just 15 different types of plants and
just 15 different types of plants and eight types of animals wheat rice and
eight types of animals wheat rice and
eight types of animals wheat rice and corn account for more than 50% of global
corn account for more than 50% of global
corn account for more than 50% of global plant caloric intake that is incredible
plant caloric intake that is incredible
plant caloric intake that is incredible we need to do better for ourselves and
we need to do better for ourselves and
we need to do better for ourselves and for plants so next time you go shopping
for plants so next time you go shopping
for plants so next time you go shopping try some something new buy an heirloom
try some something new buy an heirloom
try some something new buy an heirloom variety of a favorite food go to the
variety of a favorite food go to the
variety of a favorite food go to the farmers market try different food avoid
farmers market try different food avoid
farmers market try different food avoid buying generically named fruits or
buying generically named fruits or
buying generically named fruits or vegetables as these tend to be the ones
vegetables as these tend to be the ones
vegetables as these tend to be the ones propagated on industrial farms finally
propagated on industrial farms finally
propagated on industrial farms finally we need to work with nature the past is
we need to work with nature the past is
we need to work with nature the past is instructive though we have fungicides
instructive though we have fungicides
instructive though we have fungicides and pesticides galore if we open our
and pesticides galore if we open our
and pesticides galore if we open our eyes and our minds the solution can
eyes and our minds the solution can
eyes and our minds the solution can sometimes be right in front of us the
sometimes be right in front of us the
sometimes be right in front of us the past is instructive if we look to the
past is instructive if we look to the
past is instructive if we look to the wind light of the late 19th century how
wind light of the late 19th century how
wind light of the late 19th century how was the scourge of Falak Sarah defeated
was the scourge of Falak Sarah defeated
was the scourge of Falak Sarah defeated quite simply botanist discovered that if
quite simply botanist discovered that if
quite simply botanist discovered that if you connected the top
you connected the top
you connected the top of a vulnerable European vine like
of a vulnerable European vine like
of a vulnerable European vine like Merlot to a Hardy resistant root stock
Merlot to a Hardy resistant root stock
Merlot to a Hardy resistant root stock from America the problem would be solved
from America the problem would be solved
from America the problem would be solved and wine indeed was saved by this simple
and wine indeed was saved by this simple
and wine indeed was saved by this simple and elegant solution to a terrifying and
and elegant solution to a terrifying and
and elegant solution to a terrifying and worrisome problem no wine so again I
worrisome problem no wine so again I
worrisome problem no wine so again I urge you to follow the rules
urge you to follow the rules
urge you to follow the rules celebrate biodiversity and work with
celebrate biodiversity and work with
celebrate biodiversity and work with nature these are good ideas for people
nature these are good ideas for people
nature these are good ideas for people but more their great ideas for plants
but more their great ideas for plants
but more their great ideas for plants thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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