Molecular anthropology of cassava – a cultural ecology of plant varietal preferences
Engelsk titel: Molecular anthropology of cassava – a cultural ecology of plant varietal preferences
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Författare:
Chiwona-Karltun, Linley
Email: linley.chiwona.karltun@slu.se
Språk: Eng
Antal referenser: 23
Dokumenttyp:
Artikel
UI-nummer: 18020125
Sammanfattning
Molecular genetics has provided science with innovative tools for increasing
food production. One of the legacies that Hans Rosling has left behind is
understanding of cassava cyanogenesis and how molecular plant genetics
could better contribute to the reversal of the “poverty, population and
environment spiral” (PPE-spiral). This requires incorporating appropriate
methods and tools for routine use in breeding programmes; with breeders
in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, farmers and more specifically
female farmers. In other words, molecular anthropology, the combining of
anthropological methods from the social sciences with biochemical methods
in surveys. The combination of biological sciences with social sciences, in the
understanding of cassava cyanogenesis could rapidly advance and be a cost
effective way for understanding farmer varietal preferences and their needs
for food security. While funding has improved somewhat, evidence shows that
despite the central role that women play in provisioning household food security
there remains a severe lack of integration of a critical gendered approach.