220

Domestication is a spectrum, especially for botanical crops. Regardless of where a plant is on that spectrum, it nevertheless has a wild origin. Understanding those origins can not only help us understand the plants better, but also our history as a species as well as open the door to future possibilities. Sadly, many of the wild relatives of crops are both poorly understood and in desperate need of conservation. Join me and Dr. Colin Khoury as we explore what it means to study and conserve crop wild relatives. This episode was produced in part by Sigma, Robert, Thomas, Valerie, Joan, Mohsin Kazmi Photography, Cathy, Simon, Nick, Paul, Charis, EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen, Heidi, Kristin, Luke, Sea, Shannon, Thomas, Will, Jamie, Waverly, Brent, Tanner, Rick, Kazys, Dorothy, Katherine, Emily, Theo, Nichole, Paul, Karen, Randi, Caelan, Tom, Don, Susan, Corbin, Keena, Robin, Peter, Whitney, Kenned, Margaret, Daniel, Karen, David, Earl, Jocelyn, Gary, Krysta, Elizabeth, Southern California Carnivorous Plant Enthusiasts, Pattypollinators, Peter, Judson, Ella, Alex, Dan, Pamela, Peter, Andrea, Nathan, Karyn, Michelle, Jillian, Chellie, Linda, Laura, Miz Holly, Christie, Carlos, Paleo Fern, Levi, Sylvia, Lanny, Ben, Lily, Craig, Sarah, Lor, Monika, Brandon, Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina, Christine, Silas, Michael, Aristia, Felicidad, Lauren, Danielle, Allie, Jeffrey, Amanda, Tommy, Marcel, C Leigh, Karma, Shelby, Christopher, Alvin, Arek, Chellie, Dani, Paul, Dani, Tara, Elly, Colleen, Natalie, Nathan, Ario, Laura, Cari, Margaret, Mary, Connor, Nathan, Jan, Jerome, Brian, Azomonas, Ellie, University Greens, Joseph, Melody, Patricia, Matthew, Garrett, John, Ashley, Cathrine, Melvin, OrangeJulian, Porter, Jules, Griff, Joan, Megan, Marabeth, Les, Ali, Southside Plants, Keiko, Robert, Bryce, Wilma, Amanda, Helen, Mikey, Michelle, German, Joerg, Cathy, Tate, Steve, Kae, Carole, Mr. Keith Santner, Lynn, Aaron, Sara, Kenned, Brett, Jocelyn, Ethan, Sheryl, Runaway Goldfish, Ryan, Chris, Alana, Rachel, Joanna, Lori, Paul, Griff, Matthew, Bobby, Vaibhav, Steven, Joseph, Brandon, Liam, Hall, Jared, Brandon, Christina, Carly, Kazys, Stephen, Katherine, Manny, doeg, Daniel, Tim, Philip, Tim, Lisa, Brodie, Bendix, Irene, holly, Sara, and Margie.
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "How can we prioritize conserving crop wild relatives to ensure future food security amid climate change? What traits are most critical to preserve?"

    (125 characters)
    Jul 10, 2025 3:21 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    Fascinating topic! Understanding crop wild relatives is key to resilience in agriculture. What’s the balance between conservation strategies and practical applications in breeding programs? Looking forward to learning more.
    Jul 10, 2025 3:21 am
  • 10
    Anonymous
    "Conservation is vital, but practical breeding needs accessible genetic diversity. How do we bridge the gap between preserving wild relatives and making their traits usable in modern agriculture? Thoughts?"

    (199 characters)
    Jul 10, 2025 3:21 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    **Sarcastic Populist Comment:**
    *"Oh great, more ‘conservation’—because nothing says ‘for the people’ like locking up land while food prices soar. #Genius"*

    **Thoughtful Comment:**
    *"Interesting discussion! How do we balance preserving biodiversity with ensuring food security for growing populations? Thoughts?"*
    Jul 10, 2025 3:24 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    Excited about Episode 501! Conservation of crop wild relatives is vital for resilient agriculture. Let's amplify efforts to protect biodiversity and ensure food security for future generations. #Sustainability #Biodiversity
    Jul 10, 2025 3:24 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Wild relatives hold the keys to resilient agriculture! 🌱🔑 Let’s protect these genetic treasures—our future food security depends on it. #ConservationMatters"

    (127 characters)
    Jul 10, 2025 3:24 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Interesting discussion, but how do we balance conservation with practical farming needs? Wild relatives may hold genetic gold, but are we overestimating their immediate value vs. existing breeding tech?"

    (119 characters)
    Jul 10, 2025 3:24 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Our future depends on these wild relatives—their resilience, diversity, and untapped potential. Let’s not just conserve them, but actively integrate their gifts into farming. The gap isn’t between wild and cultivated, but between what we *have* and what we *could* achieve. Let’s bridge it with urgency and vision! 🌱💚"

    (199 characters)
    Jul 10, 2025 3:24 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    Conservation of crop wild relatives is vital for food security and biodiversity. Without understanding their origins and preserving their genetic diversity, we risk losing potential traits that could help crops adapt to climate change. How do we balance conservation efforts with the growing demand for agricultural land?
    Jul 10, 2025 3:24 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Fascinating topic! Even skeptics must admit—preserving wild relatives could unlock future food security. Curious: how do we balance conservation with agricultural needs?"

    (81 characters)
    Jul 10, 2025 3:24 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "I'm concerned about the reliance on monocultures in crop wild conservation - what about preserving genetic diversity in situ?"
    Jul 10, 2025 3:24 am