Roster of losses
• US: Losses in maize, onion, lettuce, tomato, peas, beans, cabbage and radish have been reported. From about 800 varieties of maize in 1903, the figure is down to about 50 in 1994.
• China: In the 1970's, only 10 per cent of the strains of wheat in production were left out of the 100,000 that were recorded in 1949.
• Mexico: Eighty per cent of maize varieties have been lost since 1930.
• South Korea: Seventy four per cent of 14 crops grown in identified farms in 1984 had been replaced by 1993.
• Ethiopia: Local varieties of wheat are being lost and native barley is suffering serious erosion.
• Chile: Losses of local potato varieties, oats, barley, lentils, wheat, tomato and watermelon have been reported.
• Uruguay: Replacement of many landraces of wheat and vegetables have been reported.
• Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia report losses in local varieties of rice, maize and fruits.