Paris, 8 June 2009


EFITA newsletter / 414 / European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and the Environment


Joint International Agricultural Conference 2009: ICT & Precision farming
6 - 8 July - WAGENINGEN (NL)
See: http://www.jiac2009.nl
See: http://www.efita.net?d=6463


Oenotourism in France (Wine + tourism in France)
France welcomes 80 millions visitors per year…
See: http://www.winetourisminfrance.com/an/


Collaboration@Rural Project (C@R) / RURAL LIVING LABS (RLL)
The C@R project is a large scale integrated project supported by DGINFSO of the European Commission (EC) and funded through the IST programme of the EC’s 6^th Framework programme. The C@R project has a budget of EUR 15 million and it has 33 project partners. The project started in September 2006 and will run for 3 years.
C@R aims to boost the introduction of Collaborative Working Environments (CWE) as key enablers catalyzing rural development.

A major feature of the work of the C@R project is the use of Rural Living Labs as the main vehicle for developing, testing and validating a range of technologies with the direct involvement of end users. The aim is to develop worthwhile and sustainable solutions to actual problems faced by rural people.

More information on the C@R project can be found on its web site www.c-rural.eu

This special edition of the EFITA Newsletter examines the activities of the six RLLs in the C@R project. The RLLs are in different development stages, working in very different environments and with people with diverse needs and interests.


Cudillero Living Lab, Spain
The Virgen del Carmen Guild of Fishermen are experimenting with a full traceability system for their fish (mainly hake) and are working with wholesalers and retailers. Their aim is to achieve higher margins for their hake caught by the traditional rod and line method (rather than nets).

The location of the LL is in Cudillero harbour and in the coastal area surrounding the community. The fishery is based on a fleet of 40 or so small boats (15 metres or less). Some boats do not even have generators so most of the solutions are based on mobile technology. Different technologies were shown to the various user groups and eventually, based on the users’ responses, a single application was chosen for field experimentation. This is based on GPS, access to broadband (even at sea) and mobile technology and it allows the fishermen to communicate to the harbour the amount of fish they are catching and the species and location. The fish auction managers are then able to issue a certificate of origin which authenticates the fish to the buyers. The system also provides high quality weather information as well as providing a communication channel for emergencies at sea.
See: http://www.c-rural.eu
Contact : Monica Valenzuela, TRAGSA
E-mail : mva(a)tragsatec.com


Farmscan has released a new centre pivot Variable Rate Irrigation controller to apply water only as needed
The 7000 VRI can water 6 individual zones as a standalone unit or 49 different zones by adding 7001 slave nodes. This means that low lying areas under the pivot or inclusion zones can be given less water and crop at different stages can be watered according to need.
Farmscan has a client in Spain using his VRI to apply chemicals to his corn resulting in a significant extension of the prime growing season as he does not have to stop irrigating for a week depriving the crop of water before he can drive on to the field and spray his crop.
With the worlds water resources under enormous pressure the correct use is more important than ever before, however environmentally sound does not always convince farmers to invest where as increased profit does. One Tasmanian potato farmer reports a 25% water saving and a 100t crop increase under a single pivot per year.
See: http://farmscan.net.au/default.aspx?ContentID=23
Contact: Ole HANSEN
E-mail: oleh(a)farmscan.com


You Gotta Love the Irish

Walking into the bar, Mike said to Charlie the bartender, "Pour me a stiff one - just had another fight with the little woman."

"Oh yeah?" said Charlie, "And how did this one end?"

"When it was over," Mike replied, "She came to me on her hands and knees."

"Really," said Charles, "Now that's a switch! What did she say?"

She said, "Come out from under the bed, you little chicken."


About the EFITA mailing list
You can use the efita moderated list (>4000 subscribers) to announce any event / product / web site / joke (!) related to IT in agriculture, environment, food industry and rural areas.
If you do not wish to receive our messages, please see: http://www.efita.net to remove your E-mail address from our mail list.