A Hidden Citrus Garden That Holds a Powerful Message About Nature

Biodiversity is essential Because if nature exists, it is for a reason that biodiversity is key to not being [Music] vulnerable. What we basically do from the foundation is accumulate biodiversity, produce the sustainable and self-sufficient system of traditional citrus growers, the genetics of citrus. It is very complex, its genome is extremely complex but work is being done on it because if not we will end up losing commercial citrus farming as we understand it [Music] despite the significance of the research shows a growing trend towards uniformity in the global food supply over the past five decades Of the 6000 plant species cultivated for food, only nine varieties constitute the majority of overall crop production, moreover, diversity within species is decreasing, for example, among the hundreds of different citrus types. When we go to the shop, we are lucky if we find more than three varieties, this is increasing. Reliance on monocultures reflects A broader decline in biodiversity worldwide posing a threat to the sustainability of food systems for future generations in 2022 Spain exported 3.2 billion euros of citrus mostly to Northern Europe making it the largest exporter of citrus in the world and being the citrus orchard of the world doesn't come easily the country particularly the region of [Music] I come from a family of not citrus growers but of citrus specialists I am the fifth generation it is called planter it is a collection it is a germplasm bank as you say that It has the imprint of Vicente Todolí, obviously, so that freedom when it comes to not only what the bank is like but also what varieties you are going to include. With what criteria, that freedom is what makes this bank particular and special as well, but I realized I really got into art, let's say I broke the chain and I didn't think I would continue with culture. I got to this, let's say, a bit by chance and necessity. In 2010 I took a trip with Fer to the south of France to Piñ. Because he told me there are some nurseries that have many, many varieties of citrus and I was surprised I didn't give it a go and when I got there I saw that they did indeed have hundreds of estates But all planted and I asked Ferr how these people make this effort in a place where the citrus don't grow well, instead my area that Valencia is the citrus area, nobody has I made a collection and he told me, Do it yourself. Ah, so I said, well, with what I have, I could make a small collection. I try to combine it and the foundation, that is a germplasm bank because the germoplasms are DIF. Unlike other species, most of them do not They reproduce not by seed but by grafting, therefore you need to have the trees, all the trees that you have seen here in the collection are not one plant, they are actually two plants. Because citrus trees, like many other fruit trees, are grafted, then you have one, one, one. variety that is the foot that is the root system that is in contact with the ground that is the most important element for all plants the soil then you have an aerial part that is the variety that interests you the commercial variety ases allent we learn little the Human beings and we have a very short memory because history has already told us on many occasions that this tendency we have towards monoculture and large extensions of a single species only brings problems. Practically the vast majority of commercial citrus farming was based on a single foot, the part that I told you about that is in contact with the ground It was the bitter orange tree, it is the best rootstock, the best rootstock for the vast majority of citrus fruits, a virus came, which is the citrus tristeza virus ctv, which made the combination of that rootstock with the majority of varieties that were being grown at that time moment they will collapse sudden death then biodiversity is capable of fighting against this what happens is that it commands the market commands the market and the market is the one that decides what we are going to eat and what we are not going to eat seed and gene Banks around the world Like the global seed vault in Norway, new genomic techniques are becoming increasingly research tools for adapting agricultural production and achieving food security through creating new varieties, but at the same time it is also important to appreciate and enhance genetic diversity. In a tangible and visual way, chefs and high-end cuisine have found ourselves here in a place with a million possibilities for us, it is the closest paradise we have to the restaurant. We have been collaborating with the foundation for several years now, but my feeling is that we are just starting. That is to say, the road is so long and the possibilities are so many of Din forf people know losic the supermarkets Then they don't know this variety and also the celca culture No I do hope that we end up with this standardization of food because if you have many different varieties If there is a health problem with one you don't have the others to try to find solutions to what they are doing here but if they restrict everything to a few varieties This is the beginning of the end Search in this genetic biodiversity What are the genes that allow having a resistance, a tolerance against that disease against HLB but I am in favor of the production of transgenic products and of whatever is necessary so that people can live in a dignified manner and have access to food. I don't think there is anyone like Vicente Todoli in the whole world and that is What makes this project difficult to repeat is that it is true that I hope it provokes not a sensory experience. That is not the objective and cultural ah