Hot chilies a longtime favorite - Fossil evidence from an ancient Ecuadorian village suggests that people have been using chilies to spice up their food for at least 6,000 years. Scientists identified fossilized starch granules from domesticated chilies on grindstones and pottery. Chili spice became popular in Europe when Columbus introduced the pepper upon his return from the New World. The discovery is reported in Science.

Diversity in farming - a report from the United Nations titled “Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis Report” (2005) suggests that in order for farmers to keep up with increasing crop yield requirements and water demands, they may need to employ ‘complex’ farming methods, which take advantage of synergistic relationship between crops and animals to increase sustainability.

Decline of trees in desert cause for concern - A recent report suggests that charcoal production has reduced the mature tree population in the arid Egyptian desert by 50%. These trees, Acacia tortilis and Balanites aegyptiaca, are an important mainstay for desert inhabitants.

News Briefs:

Climate change: Biodiesel fuel gaining popularity; AAAS releases statement on climate change - American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has released a video stating that human activity is a major source of global warming. The AAAS is the publisher of the weekly magazine Science.

Trees: New research offers hope for Hemlocks; Firewood as vector for the deadly ash borer

Crop plants: New variety of pinto bean resists disease; Cotton may be new source of protein