Crop landraces – Α unique treasure

Α unique treasure

Crop landraces

Crop landraces are heterogeneous, genetically rich, dynamic populations of cultivated plants which have evolved under natural and farmers’ selection in low-input agricultural systems.

Islands and isolated places around the country have developed a large number of landraces, creating a genetic pool of adaptivity, high nutrional value and resistance against natural enemies. Unfortunately, intensification of agriculture has drove to extinction a huge percentage of landraces, leading to genetic degradation and as a consequence to genetic vulnerability of crops.

A mainly agricultural island since ancient times, Lemnos has reserved a wealth of crop landraces, the most known of them being the grape varieties “’Kalambaki’” and “Moschato”, “Aspromytiko” (‘white-nose’) bean, “Afkos” and “Lafiri” or “Lathouri” (local varieties of split peas), sesame, the “Kaspakino” fig, as well as many vegetables, like pumpkins and melons. These landraces require protection not only for their genetic value but also for their role in the development of the local economy.

The Terra Lemnia project aims to ensure the survival of these landraces, with emphasis to “afkos”, “lafiri”, “aspromytika” beans, sesame, anise and local “Panaghias” barley, though an action grid of in situ and ex situ conservation, by raising awareness to the public, and by preparing the scientific and technical documentation for their inscription in the National Registry of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

At the core of our actions lies the creation of network of seed guardians, building on the important work that has already been done since the early 2010s by AUA and Anemoessa.

The goal of the project’s first year was to record the situation as it was through visits to farmers of the island. During the second year the producer’s network will be gradually activated, economic assessment for the selected races and various promoting and educational events will take place.

Photos

The Terra Lemnia Project has begun! Please find all the necessary information for the practices we run and learn how you can participate in one of them!

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Videos

[ucaddon_uc_caption_hover_effects_6 caption_title=”The Mandras of Lemnos” caption_sub_title=”an invaluable heritage” button_text=”Δείτε το υλικό” image=”188″ button_link=”/en/the-mandras-of-lemnos/” desc=”The mandras of Lemnos are built out of local materials such as stone, clay, reeds and seaweed” uc_fonts_data=”JTdCJTdE”][ucaddon_uc_caption_hover_effects_6 caption_title=”Crop landraces” caption_sub_title=”Α unique treasure” button_text=”Δείτε το υλικό” image=”428″ button_link=”/en/crop-landraces-unique-treasure/” desc=”A mainly agricultural island since ancient times, Lemnos has reserved a wealth of crop landraces” uc_fonts_data=”JTdCJTdE”]
[ucaddon_uc_caption_hover_effects_6 caption_title=”Stories of Lemnos” caption_sub_title=”The island through its people” button_text=”Δείτε το υλικό” image=”420″ button_link=”#” desc=”The stories of Lemnos are the stories of its people and those who were inspired by it and worked to understand it” uc_fonts_data=”JTdCJTdE”][ucaddon_uc_caption_hover_effects_6 caption_title=”Stockbreeding” caption_sub_title=”Past and present” button_text=”Δείτε το υλικό” image=”423″ button_link=”/en/stockraising-past-and-present/” desc=”On the other hand, farmland in Lemnos today is mostly used for fodder production” uc_fonts_data=”JTdCJTdE”]
[ucaddon_uc_caption_hover_effects_6 caption_title=”Wild flora and herbs” caption_sub_title=”a feast of colors” button_text=”Δείτε το υλικό” image=”421″ button_link=”/en/wild-flora-herbs/” desc=”Lemnos presents special geographical, biogeographical and ecological interest” uc_fonts_data=”JTdCJTdE”][ucaddon_uc_caption_hover_effects_6 caption_title=”Quality products” caption_sub_title=”from the field to the shelf” button_text=”Περισσότερα” image=”1223″ button_link=”/en/quality-products-from-the-field/” desc=”Lemnos’s fertile land and centuries’ tradition have contributed to the creation of products of exceptional quality, high nutritional value and exquisite taste.” uc_fonts_data=”JTdCJTdE”]
[ucaddon_uc_caption_hover_effects_6 caption_title=”The Mandras of Lemnos” caption_sub_title=”an invaluable heritage” button_text=”Δείτε το υλικό” image=”188″ button_link=”/en/the-mandras-of-lemnos/” desc=”The mandras of Lemnos are built out of local materials such as stone, clay, reeds and seaweed” uc_fonts_data=”JTdCJTdE”][ucaddon_uc_caption_hover_effects_6 caption_title=”Crop landraces” caption_sub_title=”Α unique treasure” button_text=”Δείτε το υλικό” image=”428″ button_link=”/en/crop-landraces-unique-treasure/” desc=”A mainly agricultural island since ancient times, Lemnos has reserved a wealth of crop landraces” uc_fonts_data=”JTdCJTdE”][ucaddon_uc_caption_hover_effects_6 caption_title=”Wild flora and herbs” caption_sub_title=”a feast of colors” button_text=”Δείτε το υλικό” image=”421″ button_link=”/en/wild-flora-herbs/” desc=”Lemnos presents special geographical, biogeographical and ecological interest” uc_fonts_data=”JTdCJTdE”]
[ucaddon_uc_caption_hover_effects_6 caption_title=”Stories of Lemnos” caption_sub_title=”The island through its people” button_text=”Δείτε το υλικό” image=”420″ button_link=”#” desc=”The stories of Lemnos are the stories of its people and those who were inspired by it and worked to understand it” uc_fonts_data=”JTdCJTdE”][ucaddon_uc_caption_hover_effects_6 caption_title=”Stockbreeding” caption_sub_title=”Past and present” button_text=”Δείτε το υλικό” image=”423″ button_link=”/en/stockraising-past-and-present/” desc=”On the other hand, farmland in Lemnos today is mostly used for fodder production” uc_fonts_data=”JTdCJTdE”][ucaddon_uc_caption_hover_effects_6 caption_title=”Quality products” caption_sub_title=”from the field to the shelf” button_text=”Περισσότερα” image=”1223″ button_link=”/en/quality-products-from-the-field/” desc=”Lemnos’s fertile land and centuries’ tradition have contributed to the creation of products of exceptional quality, high nutritional value and exquisite taste.” uc_fonts_data=”JTdCJTdE”]