Germany: Panel calls for transformation of German agriculture | News | DW dw.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dw.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Rediscovering ancient crop varieties
Old and diverse crop varieties are packed full of nutrients and adapted to local environmental conditions. But since the 1900s, some 75% of plant genetic diversity has been lost with big implications for food security.
Gravenstein: Available since 1669
Shoppers will usually find just six kinds of apples in German supermarkets all of which have a long shelf-life. Yet the country has around 2000 regional apple varieties. Allergy sufferers tend to better tolerate older varieties, most likely because they contain high levels of polyphenol. The micronutrient is undesired in supermarket apples because it causes brown spots when slicing the fruit.