The Documentary Podcast Ark of the dry lands
Women’s Cooperative Empowers Farmers
- Laziza Atmani and ten women formed the Al-Amal Farming Cooperative in Morocco to make couscous by hand.
- They empowered themselves financially and socially despite prolonged drought and men's migration for work.
Significance of Drylands
- Drylands cover almost half the Earth's surface and are crucial for global food production.
- Climate change intensifies the challenge by increasing heat and water scarcity in these regions.
Unlocking the Future of Farming with Ancient Seeds
ICARDA in Morocco houses a vital gene bank preserving around 150,000 seed varieties, including ancient landraces and wild relatives of crops. These seeds are duplicates, safeguarded from disasters like fire, earthquake, or war by storing copies in global facilities, including the Svalbard global seed vault.
Scientists like Filippo Bassi and Ahmed Amri use these seeds to breed new varieties of wheat and other crops that are resistant to drought and diseases, crucial for dryland agriculture threatened by climate change and prolonged droughts.
The gene bank operates as a living resource, freely distributing seeds worldwide to farmers and researchers, fostering resilience in food systems and empowering farming communities like the Al-Amal women's cooperative in Morocco.
This process involves testing, cross-breeding, and field trials to ensure the new varieties thrive in harsh conditions, supporting food security now and for future generations.
