Unearthing the past for future farming - A global weed database

USAgNet - 01/26/2024

A remarkable collaboration between the Universities of Sheffield and Oxford has led to the creation of the world's largest weed database, a pivotal resource in understanding both the history and future of agriculture.

Encompassing 928 species of weeds from Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, this open-access database provides critical insights for plant ecologists and archaeologists.

Developed over 30 years, the database not only chronicles weeds from traditional agricultural systems but also serves as a tool to foresee the impact of contemporary challenges like climate change on modern agriculture. The inclusion of weeds, rather than crops, offers a unique perspective on long-term environmental changes and agricultural practices.

Plant ecologist John Hodgson highlights that this database allows a novel approach to studying historical weed populations, revealing much about past environments and species adaptation. The data contributes significantly to understanding food system resilience in the face of current global challenges like drought and land degradation.

Glynis Jones, an Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at Sheffield, notes that the project challenges previous beliefs about the intensity of early agriculture. From intensive small-scale Neolithic farming to less intensive, larger-scale Iron Age and Roman agriculture, the data illustrates varied farming practices over time.

This database forms a crucial research tool, facilitating comparative studies of past and present farming. The R package 'Weed Eco', developed by Elizabeth Stroud from Oxford, extends this research's accessibility, supporting new insights into historical staple crop production.

Amy Bogaard of Oxford emphasizes that this project is a celebration of the collaborative spirit and dedication across universities. The database stands as a testament to the interconnectivity of ecology, archaeobotany, and the broader understanding of our agricultural heritage and its future trajectory.


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