Food Crops
(SB:175-177)
SB 175 Food Crops. General Works
Summary:
Foodplant DB is a database on Native American food plants, of which this
site serves as the class query page. The site is an AGIS database and a
service of the National Agricultural Library of the USDA.
Upon accessing the site, the user will find a link for general information
on the site, via the site's title. Within the site's main page are the
search fields. Users can activate the common name/family/genus/taxon field
and the "browse" field to browse the database. Similarly, the user can
select searches that involve querying by example, query building, ACEDB
query language, or table makers. For each of these latter search
specifications, users will have a query page appear, in which they can make
search specifications.
When browsing the database, the user will have to choose from items
displayed in a sublist selection field and a common name field. Once
choices
are made, a listing of taxonomic names appears. Selecting a name then
reveals the final record: (1) genus; (2) species; (3) author (of reference);
(4) family; (5) common name; (6) plant uses; and (7) areas of growth and
presence. At the bottom of every final record page are the standard search
method links, viewed on the site's first page.
The site is maintained by Stephen M. Beckstrom-Sternberg and James A. Duke;
the National Agricultural Library; USDA; Beltsville, Maryland.
To Search:
Select applicable search fields from main page and follow screen links to
view complete plant records.
SB 176.A4 Food Crops. By Country or Region, A-Z. Africa
Summary:
Lost Crops of Africa: Volume I: Grains, a publication of the National
Academy Press, is available for browsing through this WWW site, a directory
for the National Academy Press Bookstore. Here, users can view and purchase
the publication, as well as have access to the various services provided by
the National Academy Press Bookstore.
"...Africa has more than 2,000 native grains and fruits --'lost' species due
for rediscovery and exploitation. This volume focuses on native cereals,
including...African rice...Finger millet...Fonio (acha), probably the oldest
African cereal...Pearl millet...Sorghum...Tef...and other cultivated and
wild grains. This readable and engaging book dispels myths, often based on
western bias, avbout the nutritional value, flavor, and yield of these
African grains. Designed as a tool for economic development, the volume is
organized with increasing levels of detail to meet the needs of both lay and
professional readers. The authors present the available information on
where and how each grain in grown, harvested, and processed, and they list
its benefits and limitations as a food source. The authors describe 'next
steps' for increasing the use of each grain, outline research needs, and
address issues in building commercial production....This fact-filled volume
will be of great interest to agricultural experts, entrepreneurs,
researchers, and individuals concerned about restoring food production,
environmental health, and economic opportunity to sub-Saharan Africa."
A special feature of this site allows the user to order the publication
through an onscreen link, as well as to access the various information links
within the National Academy Press Bookstore, the publishers of several
government research groups.
The site is maintained by the National Academy Press and the National
Academy Press Bookstore; Washington, D.C.
To Search:
Follow onscreen links to view publication contents and ordering information.
Onscreen links provided to the bookstore and its services, as well as to the
National Academy Press homepage.