we all have an opportunity to shape our food system by the choices we make and
food system by the choices we make and
food system by the choices we make and what we eat it’s important that we
what we eat it’s important that we
what we eat it’s important that we diversify the genetic base of
diversify the genetic base of
diversify the genetic base of Agriculture this is important for food
Agriculture this is important for food
Agriculture this is important for food security for the sustainability and for
security for the sustainability and for
security for the sustainability and for improving the quality of our food system
improving the quality of our food system
improving the quality of our food system and we can diversify the base of
and we can diversify the base of
and we can diversify the base of agriculture by diversifying what we
agriculture by diversifying what we
agriculture by diversifying what we choose to eat severe crop uniformity at
choose to eat severe crop uniformity at
choose to eat severe crop uniformity at a genetic level makes agriculture very
a genetic level makes agriculture very
a genetic level makes agriculture very vulnerable
vulnerable
vulnerable you might remember learning about the
you might remember learning about the
you might remember learning about the Irish potato famine yes it was
Irish potato famine yes it was
Irish potato famine yes it was complicated by politics and social
complicated by politics and social
complicated by politics and social issues but the fact remains that in the
issues but the fact remains that in the
issues but the fact remains that in the mid 1840s in Ireland most farmers were
mid 1840s in Ireland most farmers were
mid 1840s in Ireland most farmers were planting only one crop potatoes and only
planting only one crop potatoes and only
planting only one crop potatoes and only one type of potatoes so when a new
one type of potatoes so when a new
one type of potatoes so when a new disease showed up there was complete
disease showed up there was complete
disease showed up there was complete crop failure across the entire country
crop failure across the entire country
crop failure across the entire country and this lasted four years resulting in
and this lasted four years resulting in
and this lasted four years resulting in a million people dying because there
a million people dying because there
a million people dying because there wasn’t anything to eat a similar wide
wasn’t anything to eat a similar wide
wasn’t anything to eat a similar wide scale crop failure happened here in the
scale crop failure happened here in the
scale crop failure happened here in the United States in 1970 there was a blight
United States in 1970 there was a blight
United States in 1970 there was a blight that took out most of the corn crop
that took out most of the corn crop
that took out most of the corn crop fortunately it only lasted for one
fortunately it only lasted for one
fortunately it only lasted for one season and at that time we had the other
season and at that time we had the other
season and at that time we had the other food sources to rely on so there wasn’t
food sources to rely on so there wasn’t
food sources to rely on so there wasn’t mass famine but the loss of this crop
mass famine but the loss of this crop
mass famine but the loss of this crop had ripple effects across the entire
had ripple effects across the entire
had ripple effects across the entire world now today we still have some crop
world now today we still have some crop
world now today we still have some crop uniformity issues the industry is most
uniformity issues the industry is most
uniformity issues the industry is most seriously concerned about the uniformity
seriously concerned about the uniformity
seriously concerned about the uniformity producing vulnerability in bananas
producing vulnerability in bananas
producing vulnerability in bananas citrus chocolate and coffee
citrus chocolate and coffee
citrus chocolate and coffee so crop uniformity isn’t always bad it’s
so crop uniformity isn’t always bad it’s
so crop uniformity isn’t always bad it’s actually been very good for most of
actually been very good for most of
actually been very good for most of Agriculture it allows for mechanization
Agriculture it allows for mechanization
Agriculture it allows for mechanization in the field for production and per post
in the field for production and per post
in the field for production and per post harvest processing which has allowed AG
harvest processing which has allowed AG
harvest processing which has allowed AG businesses to scale up and produce more
businesses to scale up and produce more
businesses to scale up and produce more food on my land a lot of uniformity in
food on my land a lot of uniformity in
food on my land a lot of uniformity in crops is attributed to improved seed
crops is attributed to improved seed
crops is attributed to improved seed varieties these new varieties displace
varieties these new varieties displace
varieties these new varieties displace old historic varieties they’re improved
old historic varieties they’re improved
old historic varieties they’re improved their higher yielding they’re easier to
their higher yielding they’re easier to
their higher yielding they’re easier to grow they’re more disease resistant so
grow they’re more disease resistant so
grow they’re more disease resistant so they’re better
they’re better
they’re better the rowers right now so the latest UN
the rowers right now so the latest UN
the rowers right now so the latest UN report on global malnourishment looks
report on global malnourishment looks
report on global malnourishment looks pretty good we currently have less
pretty good we currently have less
pretty good we currently have less malnourished people in the world today
malnourished people in the world today
malnourished people in the world today than we did 25 years ago despite
than we did 25 years ago despite
than we did 25 years ago despite population growth and we currently
population growth and we currently
population growth and we currently produce more than enough food to feed
produce more than enough food to feed
produce more than enough food to feed everyone we just still have an access
everyone we just still have an access
everyone we just still have an access and distribution problem however though
and distribution problem however though
and distribution problem however though we’re doing all right with agriculture
we’re doing all right with agriculture
we’re doing all right with agriculture 80 percent of the global caloric intake
80 percent of the global caloric intake
80 percent of the global caloric intake comes from less than a dozen crops and
comes from less than a dozen crops and
comes from less than a dozen crops and of these dozen crops we’re only using a
of these dozen crops we’re only using a
of these dozen crops we’re only using a fraction of the genetic diversity
fraction of the genetic diversity
fraction of the genetic diversity available there this puts us in an
available there this puts us in an
available there this puts us in an extremely vulnerable situation in the
extremely vulnerable situation in the
extremely vulnerable situation in the event of climate change bringing
event of climate change bringing
event of climate change bringing previously unknown stress to our
previously unknown stress to our
previously unknown stress to our agriculture system so we as consumers
agriculture system so we as consumers
agriculture system so we as consumers can change this by diversifying what we
can change this by diversifying what we
can change this by diversifying what we eat and the first step in diversifying
eat and the first step in diversifying
eat and the first step in diversifying what we eat is to learn about something
what we eat is to learn about something
what we eat is to learn about something new today I’m going to tell you about
new today I’m going to tell you about
new today I’m going to tell you about lima beans I happen to study lima beans
lima beans I happen to study lima beans
lima beans I happen to study lima beans for my PhD so I’m a little bit biased
for my PhD so I’m a little bit biased
for my PhD so I’m a little bit biased but you could tell a similar story about
but you could tell a similar story about
but you could tell a similar story about any of your favorite crops so lima beans
any of your favorite crops so lima beans
any of your favorite crops so lima beans we actually should be calling them lima
we actually should be calling them lima
we actually should be calling them lima beans because they were originally
beans because they were originally
beans because they were originally exported from lima peru in crates and
exported from lima peru in crates and
exported from lima peru in crates and when the crates arrived mark de lima it
when the crates arrived mark de lima it
when the crates arrived mark de lima it was mispronounced you might know them
was mispronounced you might know them
was mispronounced you might know them better as butter beans which is a great
better as butter beans which is a great
better as butter beans which is a great name because it reflects their creamy
name because it reflects their creamy
name because it reflects their creamy texture and rich flavor and their Latin
texture and rich flavor and their Latin
texture and rich flavor and their Latin name is Phyllis leonatus
name is Phyllis leonatus
name is Phyllis leonatus these are the lima beans most of us are
these are the lima beans most of us are
these are the lima beans most of us are familiar with this is what you can get
familiar with this is what you can get
familiar with this is what you can get in your local grocery store the green
in your local grocery store the green
in your local grocery store the green succulent type are grown in the
succulent type are grown in the
succulent type are grown in the mid-atlantic area around here they’re
mid-atlantic area around here they’re
mid-atlantic area around here they’re harvested immature and usually canned or
harvested immature and usually canned or
harvested immature and usually canned or frozen but you can also eat them fresh
frozen but you can also eat them fresh
frozen but you can also eat them fresh the white varieties are mostly grown in
the white varieties are mostly grown in
the white varieties are mostly grown in the western United States where there’s
the western United States where there’s
the western United States where there’s a longer growing season so they can dry
a longer growing season so they can dry
a longer growing season so they can dry down grow to maturity in the field and
down grow to maturity in the field and
down grow to maturity in the field and then after being harvested a lot of them
then after being harvested a lot of them
then after being harvested a lot of them are actually shipped to Asia to be
are actually shipped to Asia to be
are actually shipped to Asia to be turned into sweet bean paste but you can
turned into sweet bean paste but you can
turned into sweet bean paste but you can get them in the local dry food section
get them in the local dry food section
get them in the local dry food section of your grocery store so California has
of your grocery store so California has
of your grocery store so California has a long history of growing lima beans
a long history of growing lima beans
a long history of growing lima beans before they were Beverly Hills mansions
before they were Beverly Hills mansions
before they were Beverly Hills mansions there were Beverly Hills lima bean field
there were Beverly Hills lima bean field
there were Beverly Hills lima bean field and still today California growers enjoy
and still today California growers enjoy
and still today California growers enjoy growing lima beans and rotation because
growing lima beans and rotation because
growing lima beans and rotation because they are
they are
they are Crier little water there nitrogen-fixing
Crier little water there nitrogen-fixing
Crier little water there nitrogen-fixing and they produce a lot of biomass all of
and they produce a lot of biomass all of
and they produce a lot of biomass all of which are good for the soil so at the
which are good for the soil so at the
which are good for the soil so at the request of California growers and it’s
request of California growers and it’s
request of California growers and it’s part of the University of California
part of the University of California
part of the University of California Davis bean team I was tasked with
Davis bean team I was tasked with
Davis bean team I was tasked with helping to develop improve lima bean
helping to develop improve lima bean
helping to develop improve lima bean varieties with insect resistance so that
varieties with insect resistance so that
varieties with insect resistance so that California growers could use less
California growers could use less
California growers could use less pesticide so in order to create a better
pesticide so in order to create a better
pesticide so in order to create a better bean for the future we need to
bean for the future we need to
bean for the future we need to understand about the past going back
understand about the past going back
understand about the past going back three million years ago lima beans
three million years ago lima beans
three million years ago lima beans became a species they separated from
became a species they separated from
became a species they separated from other beans someplace in the Americas
other beans someplace in the Americas
other beans someplace in the Americas and they spread out through the Isthmus
and they spread out through the Isthmus
and they spread out through the Isthmus of Panama down through South America
of Panama down through South America
of Panama down through South America they cross the Andes and continued along
they cross the Andes and continued along
they cross the Andes and continued along the coast of the Pacific they also went
the coast of the Pacific they also went
the coast of the Pacific they also went all the way up into Mexico so over three
all the way up into Mexico so over three
all the way up into Mexico so over three million years of natural selection lima
million years of natural selection lima
million years of natural selection lima beans evolved to grow from sea level to
beans evolved to grow from sea level to
beans evolved to grow from sea level to over 5,000 feet of elevation and they
over 5,000 feet of elevation and they
over 5,000 feet of elevation and they evolved to grow in hot dry regions and
evolved to grow in hot dry regions and
evolved to grow in hot dry regions and in cold wet regions and they accumulated
in cold wet regions and they accumulated
in cold wet regions and they accumulated a lot of mutations over three million
a lot of mutations over three million
a lot of mutations over three million years so the DNA in lima beans that are
years so the DNA in lima beans that are
years so the DNA in lima beans that are adapted to her on mountaintops is
adapted to her on mountaintops is
adapted to her on mountaintops is different than the DNA of lima beans are
different than the DNA of lima beans are
different than the DNA of lima beans are adapted to grow on river banks then just
adapted to grow on river banks then just
adapted to grow on river banks then just ten thousand years ago approximately
ten thousand years ago approximately
ten thousand years ago approximately agriculture started and lima beans were
agriculture started and lima beans were
agriculture started and lima beans were domesticated what this means was early
domesticated what this means was early
domesticated what this means was early farmers collected beans from the wild
farmers collected beans from the wild
farmers collected beans from the wild and planted them in their garden a few
and planted them in their garden a few
and planted them in their garden a few of the beans grow and some of the beans
of the beans grow and some of the beans
of the beans grow and some of the beans they liked they replanted those beans so
they liked they replanted those beans so
they liked they replanted those beans so those chosen beans got to pass their DNA
those chosen beans got to pass their DNA
those chosen beans got to pass their DNA on to the next generation so similar to
on to the next generation so similar to
on to the next generation so similar to natural selection human selection also
natural selection human selection also
natural selection human selection also affects the DNA that gets passed on to
affects the DNA that gets passed on to
affects the DNA that gets passed on to the next generation we know that lima
the next generation we know that lima
the next generation we know that lima beans were domesticated on at least two
beans were domesticated on at least two
beans were domesticated on at least two occasions once in Mesoamerica southern
occasions once in Mesoamerica southern
occasions once in Mesoamerica southern Mexico and then once in the Western
Mexico and then once in the Western
Mexico and then once in the Western Andes and we know this based on
Andes and we know this based on
Andes and we know this based on archaeological information found at
archaeological information found at
archaeological information found at these sites as well as on genetic data
these sites as well as on genetic data
these sites as well as on genetic data today is cultivated lima beans
today is cultivated lima beans
today is cultivated lima beans our mote their DNA is most similar to
our mote their DNA is most similar to
our mote their DNA is most similar to wild lima beans from these areas which
wild lima beans from these areas which
wild lima beans from these areas which means wild lima beans from the rest of
means wild lima beans from the rest of
means wild lima beans from the rest of Central America and South America didn’t
Central America and South America didn’t
Central America and South America didn’t get a chance to contribute their DNA to
get a chance to contribute their DNA to
get a chance to contribute their DNA to the beans were growing today then just
the beans were growing today then just
the beans were growing today then just about 500 years ago there was an
about 500 years ago there was an
about 500 years ago there was an explosion of seed and food trade around
explosion of seed and food trade around
explosion of seed and food trade around the
the
the world this happened after Columbus made
world this happened after Columbus made
world this happened after Columbus made contact with the new world and regular
contact with the new world and regular
contact with the new world and regular trade routes were established prior to
trade routes were established prior to
trade routes were established prior to Columbus is trip there were no lima
Columbus is trip there were no lima
Columbus is trip there were no lima beans potatoes or tomatoes in Europe and
beans potatoes or tomatoes in Europe and
beans potatoes or tomatoes in Europe and we know this from looking at old
we know this from looking at old
we know this from looking at old cookbooks so we’re kind of up to speed
cookbooks so we’re kind of up to speed
cookbooks so we’re kind of up to speed on how much diversity could exist in
on how much diversity could exist in
on how much diversity could exist in lima beans in the wild and cultivated
lima beans in the wild and cultivated
lima beans in the wild and cultivated now that we know they’re grown all
now that we know they’re grown all
now that we know they’re grown all around the world so these two are lima
around the world so these two are lima
around the world so these two are lima beans this is a small example of what
beans this is a small example of what
beans this is a small example of what could exist this is just what I brought
could exist this is just what I brought
could exist this is just what I brought home in my pocket after work and you can
home in my pocket after work and you can
home in my pocket after work and you can see there’s a lot of diversity in there
see there’s a lot of diversity in there
see there’s a lot of diversity in there so how does one access this diversity as
so how does one access this diversity as
so how does one access this diversity as a public bean breeder it’s easy to
a public bean breeder it’s easy to
a public bean breeder it’s easy to contact a seed bank a seed bank is very
contact a seed bank a seed bank is very
contact a seed bank a seed bank is very simply a giant freezer that holds a
simply a giant freezer that holds a
simply a giant freezer that holds a collection of seeds that have been
collection of seeds that have been
collection of seeds that have been collected from around the world to
collected from around the world to
collected from around the world to preserve them for future use so wyman
preserve them for future use so wyman
preserve them for future use so wyman beans have been collected or all around
beans have been collected or all around
beans have been collected or all around the world this is an example in Latin
the world this is an example in Latin
the world this is an example in Latin America you can see the yellow spots
America you can see the yellow spots
America you can see the yellow spots going along both coasts of South America
going along both coasts of South America
going along both coasts of South America so we have lima beans in seed banks from
so we have lima beans in seed banks from
so we have lima beans in seed banks from all of these places there’s also a lot
all of these places there’s also a lot
all of these places there’s also a lot of South America where lima beans have
of South America where lima beans have
of South America where lima beans have not been collected it might be because
not been collected it might be because
not been collected it might be because they’re not growing there it’s more
they’re not growing there it’s more
they’re not growing there it’s more likely because no one’s gone to collect
likely because no one’s gone to collect
likely because no one’s gone to collect so if you’re an adventurer and you’re
so if you’re an adventurer and you’re
so if you’re an adventurer and you’re interested in botany actually collecting
interested in botany actually collecting
interested in botany actually collecting seeds and contributing them to seed
seeds and contributing them to seed
seeds and contributing them to seed banks is something you can do that I’d
banks is something you can do that I’d
banks is something you can do that I’d Salyut agriculture and if you choose to
Salyut agriculture and if you choose to
Salyut agriculture and if you choose to this is what a feral lima bean would
this is what a feral lima bean would
this is what a feral lima bean would look like growing on the edge of a
look like growing on the edge of a
look like growing on the edge of a farmer’s field in Mexico you can tell
farmer’s field in Mexico you can tell
farmer’s field in Mexico you can tell it’s a lima bean because of the dry moon
it’s a lima bean because of the dry moon
it’s a lima bean because of the dry moon shaped pods so I did not go seed
shaped pods so I did not go seed
shaped pods so I did not go seed collecting instead I contacted the seed
collecting instead I contacted the seed
collecting instead I contacted the seed banks the USDA maintains several seed
banks the USDA maintains several seed
banks the USDA maintains several seed banks their lima bean collection is held
banks their lima bean collection is held
banks their lima bean collection is held in Pullman Washington and has over 500
in Pullman Washington and has over 500
in Pullman Washington and has over 500 varieties of lima beans
varieties of lima beans
varieties of lima beans pretty impressive but the world’s
pretty impressive but the world’s
pretty impressive but the world’s largest collection is held in Cali
largest collection is held in Cali
largest collection is held in Cali Colombia at the international center of
Colombia at the international center of
Colombia at the international center of tropical agriculture I got to visit they
tropical agriculture I got to visit they
tropical agriculture I got to visit they have over 3,000 varieties of lima beans
have over 3,000 varieties of lima beans
have over 3,000 varieties of lima beans which is pretty exciting for a lima bean
which is pretty exciting for a lima bean
which is pretty exciting for a lima bean enthusiast and they do give tours
enthusiast and they do give tours
enthusiast and they do give tours so our research team ordered 300 exotic
so our research team ordered 300 exotic
so our research team ordered 300 exotic varieties of lima beans in hopes that
varieties of lima beans in hopes that
varieties of lima beans in hopes that some of them would add insect resistance
some of them would add insect resistance
some of them would add insect resistance to the California varieties we planted
to the California varieties we planted
to the California varieties we planted out these 300 different types of lima
out these 300 different types of lima
out these 300 different types of lima beans they all grew in California but
beans they all grew in California but
beans they all grew in California but only 10% of them flowered and only 1% of
only 10% of them flowered and only 1% of
only 10% of them flowered and only 1% of them produced enough seeds to consider
them produced enough seeds to consider
them produced enough seeds to consider adding it to the lima bean breeding
adding it to the lima bean breeding
adding it to the lima bean breeding program for California
program for California
program for California that’s a 99 percent failure rate
that’s a 99 percent failure rate
that’s a 99 percent failure rate planning this diverse population of lima
planning this diverse population of lima
planning this diverse population of lima beans that’s not something a farmer can
beans that’s not something a farmer can
beans that’s not something a farmer can do that is something that a public
do that is something that a public
do that is something that a public computer can do in order to try to add
computer can do in order to try to add
computer can do in order to try to add this diversity to the lima beans so I
this diversity to the lima beans so I
this diversity to the lima beans so I took these three beat these three new
took these three beat these three new
took these three beat these three new bean varieties that actually produce
bean varieties that actually produce
bean varieties that actually produce seeds in California and cross them to
seeds in California and cross them to
seeds in California and cross them to leading California varieties in hopes
leading California varieties in hopes
leading California varieties in hopes that the progeny would inherit insect
that the progeny would inherit insect
that the progeny would inherit insect resistance
resistance
resistance well the progeny looked good they’re
well the progeny looked good they’re
well the progeny looked good they’re high yielding they’re insect resistant
high yielding they’re insect resistant
high yielding they’re insect resistant but they’re speckled and there’s no
but they’re speckled and there’s no
but they’re speckled and there’s no market for speckled lima beans in
market for speckled lima beans in
market for speckled lima beans in California California grows white lima
California California grows white lima
California California grows white lima beans so I’ll take these beans and I’ll
beans so I’ll take these beans and I’ll
beans so I’ll take these beans and I’ll cross them back to the white parent and
cross them back to the white parent and
cross them back to the white parent and hope that they maintain the insect
hope that they maintain the insect
hope that they maintain the insect resistance exotic DNA and lose the
resistance exotic DNA and lose the
resistance exotic DNA and lose the speckles but while I’m doing that if a
speckles but while I’m doing that if a
speckles but while I’m doing that if a California farmer offers to sell you
California farmer offers to sell you
California farmer offers to sell you speckled beans with less pesticide
speckled beans with less pesticide
speckled beans with less pesticide consider taking her up on the offer so
consider taking her up on the offer so
consider taking her up on the offer so our lab is also simultaneously crossing
our lab is also simultaneously crossing
our lab is also simultaneously crossing popular California varieties with each
popular California varieties with each
popular California varieties with each other in hopes that recombining the DNA
other in hopes that recombining the DNA
other in hopes that recombining the DNA this new mixture will be more insect
this new mixture will be more insect
this new mixture will be more insect resistant the progeny also look good and
resistant the progeny also look good and
resistant the progeny also look good and they’re all white but this doesn’t
they’re all white but this doesn’t
they’re all white but this doesn’t actually add any new DNA it just remixes
actually add any new DNA it just remixes
actually add any new DNA it just remixes the DNA that’s already there so if
the DNA that’s already there so if
the DNA that’s already there so if there’s vulnerability present in the
there’s vulnerability present in the
there’s vulnerability present in the california lima beans it’s still there
california lima beans it’s still there
california lima beans it’s still there so like my father
so like my father
so like my father relaxing in this original beanbag chair
we here are in a position of privilege
we here are in a position of privilege we get to choose what we eat so we
we get to choose what we eat so we
we get to choose what we eat so we should be conscientious consumers and
should be conscientious consumers and
should be conscientious consumers and choose to eat diversity so that farmers
choose to eat diversity so that farmers
choose to eat diversity so that farmers can plant diversity and we can diversify
can plant diversity and we can diversify
can plant diversity and we can diversify our agriculture system there have been
our agriculture system there have been
our agriculture system there have been more than a thousand crops domesticated
more than a thousand crops domesticated
more than a thousand crops domesticated so I’m a beans isn’t the only thing we
so I’m a beans isn’t the only thing we
so I’m a beans isn’t the only thing we have to choose from there’s a lot to
have to choose from there’s a lot to
have to choose from there’s a lot to choose from
choose from
choose from thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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