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GREECE 1969. FAO Wheat Exploration Mission

July 1969. Sofikón, northeast Peloponnese, Greece. Threshing wheat. Threshing machines like this travel through Greek villages, except in the most remote areas. In each village, the entire grain harvest is gathered in one location to await the arrival of the thresher.

07/01/1969

UNFAO Source FAO Photo Library

File size 2.92 MB

Unique ID UF213T9

Editorial use only. Photo credit must be given. For further information contact: Photo-Library@fao.org

Background Information

In July 1969, Erna Bennett, Genetic Conservation and Information
Specialist from the Crop Ecology and Genetic Resources Branch of the
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), carried
out a mission in Greeoe searching for and collecting primitive wheat
varieties native to the mountains and valleys of that country. These
primitive wheat races are one of the world's richest storehouses of the
genetic characteristics that plant breeders require. They will build desirable characteristics from crops as old as agricultural man, like
building blocks, into new high-yielding varieties. But old races are
being swamped by the spread of modern varieties, and in certain azeas
and in the case of certain crops - emergency measures are necessary to
collect these old races before they disappear completely. FAO and other
leading international crop improvement organizations are increasingly
concerned with the conservation of primitive crop· races, in whose
amazing diversity hides the promise of betterlcrpps to come.