diff --git a/wiki/pages/human-practices.html b/wiki/pages/human-practices.html index 457b6555deab8f90c83ab7b7dba5c396abebe678..07dd27c12721673c139b3636112be3157a1791c9 100644 --- a/wiki/pages/human-practices.html +++ b/wiki/pages/human-practices.html @@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ the world. Consider how the world affects your work and how your work affects th <img class="img-inline" src="https://static.igem.wiki/teams/4729/wiki/hp/soini.png" alt="Soini Akomena in a graduation robe"> <p> - Fact is that climate change will have more devastating consequences in the global south than in the northern + It is a fact that climate change will have more devastating consequences in the southern hemisphere than in the northern hemisphere. It was therefore important for us to also include perspectives from these countries. Besides Professor Bespalhok we had the chance to include the perspective of a young Namibian woman whose goal is to improve the ecological situation of her home country. @@ -439,7 +439,8 @@ the world. Consider how the world affects your work and how your work affects th </p> <p> - When it comes to climate change Ms. Akomena sees Namibia as one of the hot spots, as it has been one of the driest countries in the world, in addition to an irregular ecosystem with harsh weather and condition changes. For this ecology is the + When it comes to climate change Ms. Akomena sees Namibia as one of the hotspots, as it has been one of the driest countries in the + world, in addition to an ecosystem with harsh weather and condition changes. For this ecology is the perspective for the future. (see <a class="igem" href="https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/namibia/climate-data-historical">here</a>) </p> @@ -454,10 +455,11 @@ the world. Consider how the world affects your work and how your work affects th </blockquote> <p> - Not only finding solutions is important for the further of Namibia Ms. Akomena points out the importance of education + Not only finding solutions is important for the future of Namibia Ms. Akomena points out the importance of education when it comes to agriculture, climate, and especially climate change and its consequences. Ms. Akomena's own impressions are that "Especially farmers and people in the villages do not have enough knowledge of what is - happening.". Following that, the people, who are relying on their farming as a source of food or income, are the most severely affected by the increasing challenges of farming due to climate + happening.". Following that, the people, who are relying on their farming as a source of food or income, are the most severely + affected by the increasing challenges of farming due to climate change. </p> @@ -475,11 +477,11 @@ the world. Consider how the world affects your work and how your work affects th <p> One of Namibia's forthcoming challenges is food security. Even by today, there is a huge struggle when it comes to - feeding everyone. From Ms. Akomena 's observation, the main problem is money and low incomes in general. The Namibian + feeding everyone. From Ms. Akomena's observation, the main problem is money and low incomes in general. The Namibian agriculture sector is not producing enough food for their country thus, Namibia is depending on food imports and buying food to form the global market which led to price increases, especially today. "If food would get cheaper that would be a great solution to a lot of problems in Namibia", Ms. Akomena answers smiling. But when it comes to GMOs she is careful - to weigh them as she says they might cause problems by solving others for example the great influence major companies + to weigh them as she says they might cause problems by solving others for example the market power big companies could gain. But still, she refers to it being a better opportunity than starving. </p> @@ -558,8 +560,8 @@ the world. Consider how the world affects your work and how your work affects th <p> - One of our goals was to find new nutrient-rich food sources such as the Bambara groundnut. As studies show, food and - eating are part of our cultural identity, shaped by the food we ate as children (Malachowska, 2021). Thus, the task of + One of our goals was to find new nutrient-rich food sources such as the Bambara groundnut. The food we eat is part of our cultural + identity. Our food of choice is shaped by the food we ate as children (Malachowska, 2021). Thus, the task of expanding the food variety and creating new diets is not only done with excess new food and plants but it has to be introduced into the culture in order to be accepted. Ethnobotany is the scientific field that covers the interaction between humans and their usage of plants as food, medicine, and ritual causes. @@ -586,36 +588,35 @@ the world. Consider how the world affects your work and how your work affects th <p> It was fascinating for us to dive into the new topic. Prof. Bussmann revealed to us the wide subject of ethnobotany: by the examples he used we were stunned by the dimension of these disciplines and the immense impact ethnobotanists can - have. As that it can even explain political and economic scales. + have. It can even explain political and economic scales. </p> <p> The beginnings of ethnobotany lay in a colonial discipline as it originated from the descriptions of what plants - natives used. As being in the field of ethnobotany for a long time Mister Bussmann could point out significant changes within + natives used. As being in the field of ethnobotany for a long time, Mister Bussmann could point out significant changes within the way research is made over the time. When he started with his dissertation it was not usual to include the local workers. Their important knowledge about the local ecosystems and plants is the base for any academic research, but in the past their contribution had not been named nor were they profeeding from the research in any way. Today there is an attempt to increase the transparency of intellectual property within academic research. The Nagoya protocol is such an attempt where locals are named on the publications and every research about their habitat has to be translated into - their local language thus that they can benefit from the research. This trend was accelerated as Mister Bussmann told - us by the Covid-19 pandemic when the researcher could not travel to the places of their research and had to work close - together with the locals. But even though this is a first step in the right direction there is still a long way to go. - There are many open questions left as Prof. Bussmann pointed out. For example, the question of intellectual property - when it comes to gaining profit out of the research. And including this that it is ecological for the locals to - participate in the research. + their local language thus that they can benefit from the research. This trend was accelerated, as Mister Bussmann told + us, by the Covid-19 pandemic, when the researcher could not travel to the places of their research and had to work close + together with the locals. But even though this is a first step in the right direction, there is still a long way to go. + There are still numerous unanswered questions, as noted by Prof. Bussmann. For example the question of intellectual property when it + comes to profiting from the research. Additionally, it must be ensured that the local population benefits from taking part in the + research. </p> <p> With increasing worries about food security in the future the ethnobotanical research field returns to Europe. The focus on the traditional knowledge about edible plants tends the way people subsisted during harsh climate periods from - starvation in the past. Research as Prof. Bussmann's current research follows the question of forgotten plants in - South Germany. + starvation in the past. Prof. Bussmann's current research focuses on the question of forgotten plants in southern Germany. </p> <p> - Besides extending the knowledge about plants there is also the cultural note within ethnobotany. It is not enough to - know about possible edible plants or create new ones as it has to be exalted by the people to make an impact otherwise - it would be pointless to do so. To highlight this Prof. Bussmann refers to the golden rice: + Besides extending the knowledge about plants, there is also the cultural note within ethnobotany. It is not enough to + know about possible edible plants or create new ones, as it has to be exalted by the people to make an impact, otherwise + it would be pointless to do so. To highlight this, Prof. Bussmann refers to the golden rice: </p> <blockquote> @@ -628,16 +629,14 @@ the world. Consider how the world affects your work and how your work affects th </blockquote> <p> - Professor Bussmann sees the future of ethnobotany within the Even though by know there is skepticism against - biotechnology Mister Bussmann sees the future of ethnobotany in it: + Even though there is skepticism against biotechnology, Professor Bussmann sees the future of ethnobotany within biotechnology: </p> <blockquote> <p> - I would definitely say so because we cannot just rely on trying to find some potentially resistant variety somewhere - and then try to get them into a breeding program because it is simply too slow. So if we have a species that has a - gene that makes it more climate resistant, then I think it would be important to try to insert that into other useful - plants that are affected by climate change. + I would definitely say yes, because we cannot just rely on finding a potentially resistant variety somewhere and then trying to get + it into a breeding programme, because that is just too slow. So if we have a species that has a gene that makes it more + climate-resilient, then I think it would be important to try and get that into other crops that are affected by climate change. </p> <cite>Rainer Bussmann</cite> </blockquote>