Presentations given by experts on Latin American food and agriculture:

EXTRA SPECIAL BEANS FROM PERU AND OTHER AMERICAN PACIFIC AREAS WITH COLIN LEAKEY

Colin first encountered yellow coloured beans in Chile in 1979. These beans were special because they were known as "non-windy" beans. Since then he has bred his own kinds of yellow beans, seen the recent attempts of others to patent similar Mayocaba Mexican beans squashed by US courts, and been involved in NASA research to feed astronauts with these unusual legumes. The story of the yellow bean is certain to enlighten and amuse anyone who has a taste for frijoles.

Dr Colin Leakey Ph.D (Cantab) is an economic botanist and plant breeder with a huge diversity of interests and experiences, including a major study of Breadfruits since Bligh, which he is currently writing up. He is also an informal consultant to The Eden Project.

QUEST FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL TECHNIQUES - A JOURNEY THROUGH LATIN AMERICA WITH ANDREW ORMEROD

Andrew recently travelled through Peru, Columbia, Costa Rica and Mexico to learn more about their local agriculture, and food cultures. These ranged from traditional Andean potato production, through popping beans to naturally coloured cotton production in Peru; to farmers doing research for their communities in Columbia; the quest for traditional tortilla making in Mexico and the development of "closed loop" farming systems in Costa Rica.

Andrew Ormerod is the economic botany researcher at the Eden Project involved with exhibit research and working with local farmers in Cornwall.