Paris, 4 December 2006


EFITA newsletter / 286 / European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and the Environment


Seminar about agricultural data dictionaries, interoperability and traceability (in French only)
20 December – PARIS – French ministry of Agriculture
See: http://www.acta-informatique.fr?d=6561
Contact: Guy WAKSMAN
E-mail: waksman(a)acta-informatique.fr


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


Deutsche Bank and BP highlight potential for bioenergy to become a leading business of the 21st century: Dynamic growth forecast for European bioenergy sector
At a bioenergy conference held last week at EuroTier, an international livestock exhibition in Hanover, top speakers from investment banking, oil and agriculture stressed the important role of agriculture in generating bioenergy, particularly biomass.
See: http://www.dlg.org/en/press/press_office.html?struts=publicArtikelDetail.do&artikelId=945&spracheId=2&kategorieId=1&bereich=News
Contact: Malene CONLONG
E-mail: m.conlong(a)dlg.org


Call for a dialogue on implementation process of ICT-projects:
Apart from the Neuchatel initiative, who argues that any project that has to do with changing agriculture needs to be demand driven, there are few exchanges of experiences on how to implement ICT in agriculture. I believe that one of the main problems is that as long as you are in the project business (and most of us are) the need for quick results (on one-five years) results that you very often create "silos" which are not connected to the existing mode of governance (how things are run, state planning or private business approach) which results in an extremely low rate of survival of very many initiatives.
Right now I am looking for ways to twin projects with administration and market in implementing ICT in agriculture in Rwanda, Africa. Please send me your suggestions on best practice which you believe support a sustainable approach without ending up in the notion of "demand driven only"-paradigm, which I believe is a necessary but not sufficient criteria for success.
See: http://www.neuchatelinitiative.net
Contact: Thomas NORRBY
E-mail: thomas.norrby(a)sol.slu.se


Wonders

A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present "Seven Wonders of the World." Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes:


1. Egypt's Great Pyramids

2. Taj Mahal

3. Grand Canyon

4. Panama Canal

5. Empire State Building

6. St. Peter's Basilica

7. China's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not finished her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The girl replied,

"Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."

The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help.

"The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the 'Seven Wonders of the World' are:

1. To See

2. To Hear

3. To Touch

4. To Taste

5. To Feel

6. To Laugh

7. And to Love."

The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. The things we overlook as simple and ordinary and that we take for granted are truly wondrous!

A gentle reminder -- that the most precious things in life cannot be built by hand or bought by man.

Contact : Pierre JOLIVET
Email: timarcha(a)club-internet.fr


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