Where the Wild Crops Are
by Mickey Bolyard
As the climate crisis worsens, a food crisis emerges. Floods and droughts threaten the supply and prices of food, and scientists predict a dramatic fall in future crop production. Wheat, maize, and rice make up half of all of the calories we consume; because we are so culturally dependent on these crops, it is not realistic to entirely replace these plants. So, how can we preserve the foods we love?
A crop wild relative (CWR) is a wild plant that is closely related to a domesticated plant. Modern domesticated crops have become less genetically diverse, making them vulnerable to drought, flooding, salinity, pests, or disease. CWRs have the potential to diversify the genes of modern crops, making them more resistant to environmental threats. By preserving wild plant species, we can protect domesticated crops.
In the past, CWRs have been used to save endangered domesticated plant species. In the 1800’s, vineyards in England, France and Germany were nearly destroyed by an invasive insect species from North America. North American vineyards—which were already resistant to the insects—were able fortify European wines and save them from extinction. Similarly, potatoes in Ireland became threatened by water mold in the 1840’s. Known as “late blight,” potatoes became moldy and turned into slime, contributing to the well-known Irish Potato Famine. Since then, species of wild potato have shown blight-resistant properties, potentially allowing modern potato farmers to prevent water mold without using fungicides.
How are crop wild relatives located? Scientists compile data—old and new—to create maps which outline possible locations of certain species. Civilian scientists and amateur botanists then work to verify these locations and preserve seeds and other plant material. The Crop Wild Relatives Project is a global effort to support the conservation of CWRs; about 1,750 genebanks worldwide safeguard the world’s seed diversity (Check out www.cwrdiversity.org to learn more).
One endangered plant may be valuable to college students in particular: coffee! More than sixty percent of all coffee bean species are endangered, and forty-five percent of these species are not contained in any genebank. Twenty-eight percent of all coffee bean species are not known to inhabit any protected area. While commercial coffee bean supplies are threatened, noncommercial coffee bean species could be used in their place in order to tolerate droughts, pests, and diseases.
Coffee is not the only crop at stake; walnut trees, sunflowers, and potato beans are also endangered. First, the walnut tree is often used in orchards, but it is rarely found in the wild due to invasive pests. By grafting together the top of a fragile English walnut tree and the pest-resistant roots of a Northern California walnut tree (Juglans hindsii), modern walnut trees can better withstand nonnative species.
Next, sunflowers are not only valuable for their tasty seeds, but also for their oil. Sunflower oil is very healthy and has a high burning point, making it a very important cooking oil, second to olive oil. Wild sunflowers (Helianthus paradoxus) can be used to increase commercial sunflowers’ tolerance to soil salinity.
Lastly, the potato bean (Apios Americana) is a vine that grows protein-rich, potato-like tubers underground. Self-fertilizing and rich in plant protein, the potato bean could be very useful in ameliorating the future food crisis. However, conservation efforts are required to save this extremely endangered species.
The food crisis may be rearing its ugly head but crop wild relatives can be conserved and used to protect modern domesticated crops against climate change, pests, and disease. By raising awareness for CWRs and supporting the Crop Wild Relatives Project, we can increase farming sustainability and food security.
Visit www.cwrdiversity.org to learn more about the global initiative to preserve wild crops. The CWR Project has news, maps, data, and other information regarding where wild crops are located. You can help support this initiative by sharing the CWR Project on social media and by working with citizen scientists. The CWR Project relies heavily on citizen scientists and botanists to collect data from flora in their area, and you can support them by participating in citizen science projects. To locate a citizen science project near you, visit SciStarter.org, Zooniverse.org, CitizenScience.gov., or your local library!