Paris, 27 November 2006


EFITA newsletter / 285 / European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and the Environment


EFITA 2007 “Environmental and rural sustainability through ICT
The plans for this years conference are very exciting with a range of papers and poster sessions, short and long, and demonstrations of software both commercial and research based. As well as the stimulation of the conference itself delegates will be welcomed with a civic reception, offered the opportunity to sample Scotland’s national drink and banqueted at the famous Sterling Castle.
If you have something to say about the way that ICT can be, is, or should be used to support the farm business, protect the environment or support rural communities then send in your abstract now. The deadline for abstracts, 30th November, is fast approaching. For more information and instructions to authors go to the conference web-site at: efitaglasgow.org"
Contact: Caroline PARKER
E-mail: c.g.parker(a)gcal.ac.uk


Living Labs - learning networks in agriculture, food and the environment
30 November –Wageningen (NL)
The Dutch association for ICT in agriculture, food and the environment (EFITA-member VIAS), organises her biennial conference. Theme of the conference is Living Labs - learning networks in agriculture, food and the environment. It deals with how entrepreneurs set up networks, learn from each other and come to solutions using private-public financial support. Beside some plenary keynote presentations about the concept of Living Labs, how to ‘learn to learn’ and knowledge circulation, there are 4 parallel sessions on:

- organisation of learning networks
- public-private knowledge infrastructure
- connecting to the production chain
- geo-information supply

At the end of the day several key stakeholders from business and research organisations will express their commitment to the concept of Living Labs. The objective is to formulate several action statements for the future.
During the whole day several organisations will demonstrate their products and services in relation to the conference theme.
We expect about 200 people from different backgrounds (business, research, education, etc.). The conference language is Dutch.
More information (in Dutch): http://www.viassymposium.nl/
See http://www.openlivinglabs.eu/.
Contact: Sjaak Wolfert
E-mail: Sjaak.wolfert(a)wur.nl


SCI meeting on optimising farm inputs March 2007
20 – 21 March 2007 – Robinson College Cambridge
Deriving maximum benefit from optimised farm inputs…
See: http://www.soci.org/SCI/events/details.jsp?eventID=EV950
Contact: Kathy LEWIS
Email: k.a.lewis(a)herts.ac.uk


"Get up and Go" Mood at EuroTier 2006 exhibition
Over 118,000 visitors – Livestock farmers from Germany and abroad show high willingness to invest. Successful premiere of BioEnergyEurope – the largest exhibition in Europe on renewable energy. See: http://www.dlg.org/en/press/press_office.html?struts=publicArtikelDetail.do&artikelId=934&spracheId=2&kategorieId=1&bereich=News
Contact: Malene CONLONG
E-mail: M.Conlong(a)dlg.org


Looking for an Agricultural Technical Author Trainee
Valley Forge (UK) Ltd. is one of the leading producers of workshop literature for global automotive and agricultural manufacturers. We currently have a vacancy in our Basildon office for an Agricultural Technical Author Trainee.
The role involves writing mechanical, electrical and fault finding procedures that tell service technicians how to remove and install mechanical and electrical components in newly developed vehicles. Vehicle repair knowledge (mechanical and electrical) is expected, ideally with a City and Guilds 383/Agricultural Mechanics Certificate and/or time served apprenticeship or equivalent; as is a valid, clean driving license and willingness to travel to customer sites.
You must be motivated to develop your career in an office environment and be willing to use your technical knowledge to prepare service information for new vehicle technologies. Full training will be provided, and you will receive a competitive salary and benefits package.
Contact: Lori SITTON
E-mail: lori.sitton(a)radiodetection.spx.com


Organic Trade Association
The Organic Trade Association is the leading business association representing the organic industry in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Its more than 1200 members include growers, processors, shippers, retailers, certification organizations and others involved in the business of producing and selling certified organic products.
See: http://www.ota.com


Apply IT – or be “leapfrogged”
Developed pig industries risk being ‘technologically leapfrogged’ by new players in developing nations unless they start applying information technology (IT), warns a research fellow.
“The writing is on the wall – mature pig production markets must get on with applying IT to every aspect of their businesses if they are to survive global competition,” says Hugh Crabtree.
Presenting the 5^th Annual Fellowship in Pig Research* - managed and sponsored by the Royal Agricultural College and NATWEST Agriculture respectively – at Cirencester on 7^th November, he pointed out that production of pork, the most popular meat globally, will continue to increase resulting in a doubling of the world’s pig breeding herd by 2015.
But the location for most of this increase would shift from developed western markets to new centres in, Brazil, Russia, the Pacific Rim, India and China.
“Agriculture will change from simply growing stuff to manufacturing biologically-based, specific-attribute raw materials,” he predicted. It will be produced to a defined specification. “IT will be a necessary part of this chain and we in the developed markets must use the advantage of our superior knowledge and experience for high-quality, sustainable and traceable production.”
Just using IT to get environmental control, feeding and water delivery systems to work as intended could boost productivity on the farm by 30 per
cent, Mr Crabtree pointed out. This included an industry-wide reduction of 5-10 days in the time taken to finish pigs, 50 per cent less carcase variation, a 30 per cent cut in fossil fuel consumption and a 75 per cent reduction in water wastage.
Surveys had shown that 75 per cent of farmers had computers and 62 per cent made some use of them for business management. “Personal experience and contacts suggest that perhaps the figure for real commercial use of computers and the internet in agriculture is only 25-30 per cent,” said Mr Crabtree. “Farmers are outdoor people, not ‘screenies’ who spend their days at a desk”.
However, there was a consensus that IT would have a value in pig production but the willingness or confidence to spend money to find out was lacking. “This is something of an agricultural trait identified widely by those of us in the IT game.”
“But in the developing markets the attitude is different and a much more numbers-based approach is taken. Established markets had better beware if they are to compete longer term,” warned Mr Crabtree.
Copies of the report "Can the promise of IT become a reality in pig production?" are available.
Contact: Hugh CRABTREE, Martin LOOKER
Email: hugh(a)farmex.co.uk, mlookerbhr(a)aol.com


Country holidays in Europe (next)
>>> Wales
See: http://farmstaywales.co.uk
Contact: Jenny HUGHES
E-mail: jenhughes(a)mac.com


Jerusalem (Very old excellent joke)
In Jerusalem, a female CNN journalist heard about a very old Jewish man who had been going to the Wailing Wall to pray, twice a day, everyday, for a long, long time.
So she went to check it out. She went to the Wailing Wall and there he was! She watched him pray and after about 45 minutes, when he turned to leave, she approached him for an interview. "I'm Rebecca Smith from CNN. Sir, how long have you been coming to the Wall and praying?"

"For about 60 years."

"60 years! That's amazing! What do you pray for?"

"I pray for peace between the Christians, Jews and the Muslims. I pray for all the hatred to stop and I pray for all our children to grow up in safety and friendship."
"How do you feel after doing this for 60 years?"

"Like I'm talking to a fuckin' wall."

Contact: Bernard P AUXENFANS
Mél : auxenfansb(a)attglobal.net


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