The southern Fertile Crescent is the ancient center
of origin for wild wheat, the mother of all cultivated wheats.
Wild wheat still grows in undisturbed meadows and field edges.
Indigenous Fertile Crescent wheats have been selected by generations
of traditional farmers have richer flavor and complex disease
resistances than the modern wheat bred for yield and uniformity.
However today about 90% of the wheat eaten in Israel, Palestine
and Jordan is imported from the US. Mideast traditional wild foods,
vegetables and wheats, many of which date back to Biblical times,
are in critical danger. In a creative response, regional seed
curators, artisan bakers and farmers are pooling our resources
together to restore our ancient wheats for the common good.
Dr. A.A. Jaradat, - USDA, Dr. Adnan
Yassin, Dr. Hussein Migdadi - Jordan Genebank, Dr. Munqez Shtaya
- BERC, Dr. Rivka Hadas, Alon Zinger-Israel Genebank and Eli
Rogosa (taking the photo)
Yiftah Barakat & his delicious emmer artisan
bread
farmers and researchers discuss ancient wheats
farmers and genebanks discuss
how to conserve our threatened landraces
'Restoring
Ancient Wheat 'Planning Team
farmers and genebanks discuss
how to conserve our threatened landraces
