Food Plants Episodes Episode guide
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Fruit
Did you know your apple and pear trees belong to the rose family?
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Rice
Over a third of the world's rice is grown in China
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Maize
"Only tobacco and Syphilis spread faster than maize"- Christopher Columbus
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Oranges
Orange, native to Southeast Asia but flourished in South America.
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Coconuts
There are more coconut palms in the world than people
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Tomato
Also known as the wolf peach, tomatoes belong to the deadly nightshade family
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Nuts
The Brazil nut has never been bred outside the Amazon rainforest
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Onion
Onions originate in Asia but are one of the most adaptable plant species in the world
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Banana
The banana isn't a tree, it's a giant herb
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Seeds
After deforestation, policy makers are finding ways to save seeds for our future
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Peas and Beans
Peas and beans "fix" nitrogen, a key ingredient for healthy soil
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Cassava
The plant with a split personality: cassava produces both tapioca and cyanide
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Potato
An eighth of all potatoes consumed in the UK are eaten as crisps
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Quinoa
High in protein, quinoa tolerates dry growing conditions
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Wheat
Wheat is a genetic accident that opportunistic early humans made use of
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Plants
Life on earth wouldn't exist without plants