International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 (GS Paper 3, Economy)
Context:
- Spearheaded by the Prime Minister, the Government of India sponsored the proposal for International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 which was accepted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
- The declaration has been instrumental for the Government of India to be at the forefront in celebrating the IYM.
Millets:
- ‘Millets’ were among the first crops to be domesticated in India with several evidence of its consumption during the Indus valley civilization.
- Being grown in more than 130 countries at present, Millets are considered traditional food for more than half a billion people across Asia and Africa.
- In India, millets are primarily a kharif crop, requiring less water and agricultural inputs than other similar staples.
Related activities:
- Recognising the enormous potential of Millets, which also aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Government of India (GoI) has prioritized Millets.
- In April 2018, Millets were rebranded as “Nutri Cereals”, followed by the year 2018 being declared as the National Year of Millets, aiming at larger promotion and demand generation.
- The global millets market is projected to register a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period between 2021-2026.
- On 6th December 2022, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, organized an opening ceremony for the International Year of Millets – 2023 at Rome, Italy.
- Next in the series, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare hosted a special ‘Millet Luncheon’ for the Members of the Parliament at the Parliament house.
Collaborative approach:
- The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has taken a proactive multi-stakeholder engagement approach (engaging all the central government ministries, states/UTs, farmers, start-ups, exporters, retail businesses, hotels, Indian Embassies etc.) to achieve the aim of IYM 2023 and taking Indian millets globally.
- Ministries, states and Indian embassies have been allocated focussed months in 2023 to carry out various activities for promotion of IYM and increase awareness about benefits of millets for the Consumer, Cultivator and Climate.
- Towards this endeavour, through a collaborative approach, the DA&FW urges everyone including the International Organizations, Academia, Hotels, Media, Indian Diaspora, Start-up communities, Civil Society, and all others in the Millets value-chain to come forward and join hands to revive the forgotten glory of ‘Miracle Millets’ through the grand celebration of International Year of Millets - 2023.
- Millets are also an integral part of the G-20 meetings and delegates will be given a true millet experience through tasting, meeting farmers and interactive sessions with start-ups and FPOs.
Potential climate change-nutrition connection in plant metabolism uncovered by researchers
(GS Paper 3, Science and Tech)
Why in news?
- A new study from researchers at Michigan State University underscores that there’s still much to learn regarding how plants will function, and how nutritious they will be, as more carbon enters atmosphere.
- That same influx of carbon is helping drive climate change, meaning this new work, may be revealing an unexpected way this global phenomenon is reshaping nature and our lives.
Key Highlights:
- Although elevated levels of carbon dioxide can be good for photosynthesis, it showed that increasing CO2 levels can tinker with other metabolic processes in plants. And these lesser-known processes could have implications for other functions like protein production.
- The new research brings up surprising questions about how plants will make and metabolize amino acids with more carbon dioxide around.
Photorespiration:
- The basics of photosynthesis are famously straightforward: Plants take water and carbon dioxide from their surroundings and, with power from the sun’s light, turn those ingredients into sugar and oxygen.
- But sometimes this process starts off on the wrong foot. The enzyme responsible for collecting carbon dioxide can instead grab onto oxygen molecules.
- This produces a byproduct that, left unchecked, would essentially choke out the plant. However, plants have evolved a process called photorespiration that clears out the harmful byproduct and lets the enzyme take another swing at photosynthesis.
- Photorespiration is not nearly as famous as photosynthesis, and it sometimes gets a bad rap because it takes up carbon and energy that could be used for making food. Inefficient though it may be, photorespiration is better than the alternative.
- To do its job, photorespiration incorporates carbon into other molecules or metabolites, some of which are amino acids, the precursors to proteins.
Metabolic sleuthing:
- When it comes to where amino acids produced by photorespiration end up, one established theory was that they remained in a closed loop. That means that metabolites made in the process are constrained to a select group of organelles and biochemical processes.
- Now, the researchers have shown that’s not always the case. In particular, they’ve shown that the amino acids glycine and serine are able to escape the confines of that closed loop.
- What ultimately becomes of the compounds is a lingering question and one that could become increasingly important as carbon dioxide levels rise.
- Plants photorespire less when more carbon dioxide is available, so scientists will need to probe deeper into how plants produce and use these amino acids overall.
Background:
- For the time being, though, he and his team are excited they’ve reached this finding, which was no trivial feat.
- It involved feeding the plants a special type of carbon dioxide in which the carbon atoms had one more neutron than the carbon typically found in the atmosphere.
- A neutron is a subatomic particle and, as such, it has a very small mass.
- But the MSU collaboration had the tools and expertise needed to measure that subtle difference in mass. Those measurements, coupled with computational modeling, enabled the researchers to follow that slightly beefy carbon and see how plants integrate it at different metabolic stages when conditions favor photorespiration.
Significance:
- This new technique enabled a better and more quantitative understanding of important metabolic pathways in plants.
Coral cryopreservation
(GS Paper 3, Environment)
Why in news?
- In 2020, scientists at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) conducted a trial of coral cryopreservation on the Great Barrier Reef. This was the first time that coral cryopreservation had been attempted on a large scale in the field.
- The trial involved collecting small pieces of coral from the Great Barrier Reef and freezing them in liquid nitrogen. The coral was then thawed and transplanted onto a damaged section of the reef in the hope that it would survive and grow.
- The trial was part of a larger research project called the Great Barrier Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program, which is aimed at finding ways to protect and restore the Great Barrier Reef in the face of climate change and other threats.
What is ‘coral cryopreservation’?
- Coral cryopreservation is a technique that involves preserving coral tissue or gametes (eggs and sperm) at very low temperatures, often using liquid nitrogen.
- The goal of coral cryopreservation is to maintain the genetic diversity of coral species and to provide a means of propagating coral populations in the future.
Positive impacts:
- Genetic diversity: Coral cryopreservation can help to preserve the genetic diversity of coral species, which can help to ensure the long-term survival of these species and the ecosystems they support.
- Propagation: Coral cryopreservation can provide a means of propagating coral populations, which can help to restore damaged reefs and support the recovery of coral reefs.
- Biodiversity: Coral reefs are home to a wide range of marine life, and they support the ecosystems that these species rely on. Coral cryopreservation can help to preserve the biodiversity of coral reefs.
Negative impacts:
- Cost: Cryopreservation can be a costly process, and it may not be feasible for all coral reefs or coral species.
- Limited success: Cryopreservation is still a relatively new technique, and it is not yet clear how well it will work for all coral species. There is a risk that cryopreservation may not be successful for all coral species or may not be able to preserve all of the genetic diversity of a species.
- Limited practical application: Cryopreservation may not be a practical solution for many coral reefs, especially those that are located in remote or hard-to-reach areas.
- Ethical considerations: There are also ethical considerations to consider when it comes to cryopreservation, including questions about the role of humans in conserving and restoring natural ecosystems and the potential impacts on local communities and economies.
What are coral reefs?
- Coral reefs are underwater structures made up of skeletons of coral, which are marine animals that secrete calcium carbonate to form hard, protective shells. It is found in shallow, warm waters in tropical and subtropical regions around the world.
- Coral reefs are some of the most diverse and productive ecosystems on earth, supporting a wide range of marine life, including fish, invertebrates, and other organisms.
- It also provides a number of important benefits to humans, including coastal protection, fisheries, tourism, and pharmaceuticals.
Significance of coral reefs:
- Coastal protection: Coral reefs provide a natural barrier that can help to protect coastlines from the impacts of storms and waves. This can help to reduce the risk of flooding and erosion, which can have serious consequences for human communities and infrastructure.
- Fisheries: Coral reefs support important fisheries that provide food and income for millions of people around the world. Protecting coral reefs can help to ensure the long-term sustainability of these fisheries.
- Tourism: Coral reefs are a major attraction for tourists, and they support important industries such as diving and snorkelling. Protecting coral reefs can help to ensure the long-term viability of these industries and the jobs and income they provide.
- Carbon sequestration: Coral reefs absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which can help to mitigate the greenhouse effect and slow the rate of global warming.
- Medicine: Coral reefs are a source of new drugs and other medical treatments that are being developed to address a variety of health issues. Protecting coral reefs can help to ensure that we have access to these important resources in the future.
Alternatives to coral cryopreservation:
- Coral propagation and transplantation: This involves collecting small pieces of coral from existing reefs and growing them in a laboratory or on a coral farm. The propagated coral can then be transplanted back onto reefs to help restore damaged areas.
- Coral gardening: This involves collecting fragments of coral and attaching them to a substrate (such as a metal frame or PVC pipe) in a sheltered area. The coral fragments can then grow and eventually be transplanted onto reefs to help restore damaged areas.
- Artificial reefs: Artificial reefs are man-made structures that are designed to mimic the functions of natural reefs. They can be used to provide habitat for marine life and to help protect coastlines from erosion and storms.
- Restoration and rehabilitation: This involves a variety of approaches to help restore damaged reefs, including removing debris and invasive species, replanting coral, and improving water quality.
