Sowing the seeds of Syria: farming group rescues plant species threatened by war

The Experimental Farm Network seeks to preserve the world's biodiversity one seed at a time. The best case for a plant's survival is for people to grow it widely

Owen Taylor gently blows on tiny lettuce seeds from the Syrian region of Homs, sending fluff flying through their air and into a dust on his skin, as though he'd just emerged from a pillow fight.

"I lose my breath pretty quickly, and I'm getting little bits of lettuce in my throat," said Taylor. "It's scratchy."