Thank a Seed Saver on May 22

May 22 is the International Day of Biodiversity.

May 22 is the International Day of Biodiversity.
Worldwide, people and organizations will celebrate the importance of ecosystems and biodiversity for human well-being.

When you eat your Saturday meals, take a moment to reflect on the importance of biodiversity in the food you eat. The wheat in your morning toast or pancakes, the apples in your lunch, the potatoes in your dinner: all need a healthy agricultural diversity to keep feeding the world's people every day.

Some Facts about Food Biodiversity

• There are about 5000 species of edible plants in the world, but only about 150 have been produced commercially.Only three species provide about 60% of the calories and protein that the world's people get from plants. (wheat, rice, and corn)
• It is estimated that during the past 100 years, about 3/4 of food biodiversity has disappeared forever, due to the losses of thousands of plant varieties.Currently, less than 10% of the remaining edible seed varieties in Canada are available to gardeners and farmers.
  Seeds of Diversity members are saving food biodiversity. This year, we exchanged and saved more seed varieties than ever before (over 2700 varieties!) And our seed saver members will rescue more endangered varieties every year, with your support.
  

When you eat your Saturday meals on May 22, thank a seed saver for keeping food biodiversity alive!

Special thanks to Seeds of Diversity, who I got this e-mail from :)