Paris, 22 September 2008


EFITA newsletter / 378 / European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and the Environment


Agrotourism in eight European countries (AgriMMedia seminar 16 September 2008)
See: http://www.acta-informatique.fr?d=7415
Contact: Alecos TRINGIDES
E-mail: tringos(a)logos.cy.net


ENDURE - Diversifying Crop Protection
13-15 October 2008 - LA GRANDE-MOTTE - France
This international scientific conference is organised by the ENDURE Network of Excellence to explore and evaluate crop protection strategies that respect the environment.
The ENDURE (European Network for the Durable Exploitation of Crop Protection Strategies) Network of Excellence aims to develop crop protection strategies that are more environmentally friendly, that more closely match the expectations of consumers and that are compatible with profitable agriculture. It was launched on February 21 2007. ENDURE is coordinated by INRA and is funded by the European Commission’s FP6 programme (€11.2m for four years). It involves more than 300 researchers from 18 European institutions
>>> The ecological and economic challenges, the necessary regulatory framework, essential scientific support
Modern agriculture relies extensively on the use of crop protection products. However, their proven negative effects on both human and environmental health have stimulated research into farming systems less reliant on their use.
In Europe, the implementation of stricter regulations governing the approval of crop protection products and the protection of water sources is underway. It is now a matter of filling in the legislative gaps, notably on the use of pesticides.  
To support these changes, more diverse crop protection strategies must be offered to farmers and their advisers. The solutions exist, drawn from a large range of disciplines, so how do we ensure they are adopted? It is also possible to find new solutions using new technologies and new approaches, which must be evaluated.
 
>>> Seeking solutions together
Internationally recognised scientists and representatives of various stakeholder and other interest groups will be attending the International Conference at La Grande-Motte.
The first day will be devoted to a series of plenary sessions involving key players in crop protection, who will be revealing the major challenges and issues at stake: scientists, representatives of the agrochemical industry, retailers and environmentalists.
The following days will be more technical, exploring the various means of reducing the negative impacts of pesticides: the bioecology of bioaggressors, alternative techniques, precision agriculture, agro-ecological approaches and socio-economic studies etc.
The evaluation of the economic, ecological and social impacts of these approaches will also be tackled and discussed.
See: http://www.endure-network.eu/international_conference_2008/


World Congress on Computers in Agriculture WCCA2009
21 – 25 June 2009 - RENO Nevada
See: http://www.wcca2009.org/
Contact: Fedro ZAZUETA
E-mail: fsz(a)ufl.edu


Agricultural Technologies in a Changing Climate
13 - 16 September 2009 – BRISBANE – Queensland - Australia
See: http//www.sardi.sa.au
Contact: Thomas BANHAZI
E-mail: banhazi.thomas(a)saugov.sa.gov.au


Q.: Use of mobile phones by farmers and advisory services?
I had presentations at Efita 2005 and Afita 2004 about two Danish web applications which included interfaces for mobile phones. We also run an SMS service with weather forecasts and warnings of diseases and pests, which was presented at Efita 2003.
Contact: Allan Leck JENSEN
E-mail: AllanL.Jensen(a)agrsci.dk


Remark (GW): There is a search engine on the efita web site. It is quite easy to find your papers (Allan) and papers on mobile phone usages.


Sinai
Smith climbs to the top of Mt. Sinai to get close enough to talk to God. Looking up, he asks the Lord... "God, what does a million years mean to you?"
The Lord replies: "A minute."
Smith asks: "And what does a million dollars mean to you?"
The Lord replies: "A penny."
Smith asks: "Can I have a penny?"
The Lord replies: "In a minute."


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