Legumes and Tubers: The Hidden Heroes of Agriculture with Dr. Steven Cannon

The Poor Prole’s Almanac

Dr. Steven Cannon, a distinguished research geneticist from the USDA Agricultural Research Service, graces the podcast with his expertise in plant genomics and crop improvement. From a childhood love of gardening to pioneering work in bioinformatics, Dr. Cannon's journey is as enriching as the legumes he studies. We explore the promising, yet challenging, world of Apios americana, or groundnut—an ancient crop with high protein content and deep roots in North American indigenous cultures. Despite its potential, the labor-intensive harvesting process has kept it from dominating our fields, but ongoing research at institutions like LSU and Iowa State University continues to push its boundaries.

Our conversation doesn't stop there. We shine a spotlight on the world of lesser-known legume crops and tubers. These include climate warriors like winged bean and scarlet runner bean, which offer sustainable solutions amidst the challenges of climate change. We discuss the underexplored potential of legumes like lupini beans and grass pea in enriching American diets while contributing to sustainable agriculture. As climate change accelerates, learning from resilient crops like apios and jicama is crucial. From the marama groundnut to the Kentucky coffee tree, this episode is a treasure trove of insights into building a more diverse, resilient, and sustainable food system for the future.

To check out Dr. Cannon's work, check out his profile here.

For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org

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Key Words:

Plant Genomics, Crop Improvement, Legumes, Apios Americana, Groundnut, Indigenous Cultures, Sustainable Solutions, Climate Change, Resilient Crops, Tubers, Lupini Beans, Grass Pea, Ahipa, Jicama, Kentucky Coffee Tree, Landrace Crops, Agriculture, Bioinformatics, Breeding, Productivity, Nutrition, Diversity