Sales at specific locatiopment, fewer than 10 organizations/farms, accounting for less than 0. 1% of the total agricultural productivity ns or directly to membe he focus of some farms is on the promotion of environmental education, not production Hong Kong organic Farm Association established in mid-1999. 8. Prospect of Organic Far Hong kong ealth food and environmental preservation Strong economy and high education level of the people help promote organic farming Plant Resources Improvements Past Keeping the world fed, heal thy, happy ts to plant productivity and global population Breeding/selecting new genotypes Molecular biotechnology Plant Resources Improvements Earth at its limits Accelerated expansion since industrialization Human population cannot grow indefinite Expectation beyond subsistence living not sustain conventional agricult Salt accumulation Plant Resources Improvements What do humans want fiom plants? Food Industrial products ant Resources Improvements What are the threats? Insufficient land /water Pollutants Politics/economics Plant resources Impro What has been lost alread But now greater threats to m go exterminated 39 species of birds mals to extinction 10% of species to extinct in next 20 years Up to 50% to extinct in 50 years Temperate developed countries have already lost most of their native vegetation Forest clearing for pastures and agriculture st of undocumented diversity is in tropics Conservation strategies possible for all countries lant Resources Improvements Wild gemplasm New hybrids with distant relatives New genotypes of cultivated species lant Resources Improvements Hunter- plants for food, fuel, fiber, shelter Ancient civilizations esources Improvements Genetic selection by early farmers(domestication) eest heads eper ed so selected for disease resistance 22 Infancy stage of development, fewer than 10 organizations/farms, accounting for less than 0.1% of the total agricultural productivity Sales at specific locations or directly to members The focus of some farms is on the promotion of environmental education, not production Hong Kong Organic Farm Association established in mid-1999. Organic Farming in Hong Kong 8. Prospect of Organic Farming in Hong Kong Growing understanding of organic farm produce Growing awareness of the need for health food and environmental preservation Strong economy and high education level of the people help promote organic farming Another option for consumers Plant Resources & Improvements (Past – Present – Future) Summary Keeping the world fed, healthy, happy Limits to plant productivity and global population Genetic options and resources Wild germplasm Breeding/selecting new genotypes Molecular biotechnology Plant Resources & Improvements Earth at its limits Accelerated expansion since industrialization Human population cannot grow indefinitely Expectation beyond subsistence living The environment cannot sustain conventional agriculture No more forests to slash and burn Accelerated topsoil erosion Salt accumulation Plant Resources & Improvements What do humans want from plants? Food Fuel Fiber Pharmaceuticals Industrial products Plant Resources & Improvements What are the threats? Population growth Insufficient land / water Loss of biodiversity Pollutants Politics/economics Plant Resources & Improvements What has been lost already? Animal and plant extinction began with human civilization First North Americans 20,000 years ago rapidly hunted large mammals to extinction First Hawaiians 2,000 years ago exterminated 39 species of birds But now greater threats to many more species Plant Resources & Improvements Future trends 10% of species to extinct in next 20 years Up to 50% to extinct in 50 years What can be saved? Temperate developed countries have already lost most of their native vegetation Forest clearing for pastures and agriculture Urbanization Most of undocumented diversity is in tropics Conservation strategies possible for all countries Plant Resources & Improvements Finding new genes Wild germplasm New uncultivated species New hybrids with distant relatives New genotypes of cultivated species Plant Resources & Improvements History of plant cultivation Hunter-gatherer Useful plants for food, fuel, fiber, shelter Minimal cultivation Ancient civilizations Aztecs, Mayans Chinese Egyptians, Greek, Romans Plant Resources & Improvements Genetic selection by early farmers (domestication) Cereals Seed collected from grasses with largest heads Repeated selection over many generations Major crops are wheat, barley and oat Possibly also selected for disease resistance