FAO`s Plant Production and Protection Division has just published "Biotechnology tools for conservation and use of plants: A school play for senior students", with the story line, script and graphic design by R. Speedy and character illustration by I. Steele and R. Speedy. The 144-page play, for high school students aged 15 to 16 years, tells the story of maintenance and use of cassava. Through it, the play introduces students to the main concepts in plant genetic resources and the various biotechnology tools (such as tissue culture, micropropagation, cryopreservation and marker-assisted selection) used for their conservation and for crop production and long term food security. See http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/ai212e/ai212e00.htm or contact [email protected] to request a copy.

09/12/2007