Paris, 27 July 2009
EFITA newsletter / 421 / European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture,
Food and the Environment
I am getting a few requests already from people who want to look at the Efita
papers digitally. Do you know when will they be online on Efita.net?
Contact: Ramon DE LOUW
E-mail: m: r.p.m.de.louw(a)minlnv.nl
My answer (GW): I hope that we will be able to start to load the Efita 2009
papers next August.
Perils of a Catholic upbringing...
See: http://www.acta-informatique.fr?d=7821
Contact: Mick HARKIN
E-mail: harkin(a)iol.ie
Agritechnica News
10 - 14 November 2009 - HANOVER
Agritechnica-organiser DLG reports that over 1,850 exhibitors from 40 countries
have already booked stands at Agritechnica, the international exhibition for
agricultural machinery to be held in Hanover from 10 to 14 November 2009 (Preview
Days on 8 and 9 November), including 300 new exhibitors. Dr. Jochen Köckler,
Managing Director of the DLG Exhibitions Department, points out that despite
the current difficult situation on most of the world’s agricultural market,
these encouraging figures have already reached the same level as those of the
record event two years ago. More.
4th International European Forum on System Dynamics and Innovation in Food
Networks also known as 'Igls-Forum')
8 - 12 February 2010 – Igls / INNSBRUCK – Austria
See: http://www.fooddynamics.org
Contact: Gerhard SCHIEFER
E-mail: schiefer(a)uni-bonn.de
Field Days to premiere in Turkey
27 - 30 May 2010
DLG-ÖÇP Tarla Günleri” in Thrace from 27 to 30 May 2010– Exhibition with trial
plots, campus site and machine demonstrations – More than 15,000 visitors expected.
(DLG-Agriservice). Following the successful model of the DLG Field Days, Turkey
is to see the premiere of its own Field Days from 27 to 30 May 2010. More.
Scientific and Technical Information and Rural Development - Highlights of
Innovative Practices (Call for papers)
26 – 29 April 2010 – MONTPELLIER (FR)
The renewed worldwide interest in agriculture and questions dealing with food
crises increase the need for quality information for actors in rural development.
Bringing their knowledge and know-how, the Scientific and Technical Information
Specialists can contribute to providing this information.
The congress organized by the International Association of Agricultural Information
Specialists (IAALD) and Agropolis International will ensure fruitful exchanges
between information specialists and actors of rural development. With this aim
in view, the Congress committees prepared a stimulating programme and attracted
an impressive list of high level keynote speakers. Through keynote presentations,
oral presentations, a poster session as well as parallel workshops, the Congress
participants will explore how scientific and technical information is playing
a key role in rural development, now at the top of the agenda of international
development.
>>> Expected contributions
Researchers, information professionals, members of farmer organizations, publishers,
stakeholders involved in the generation, management, or dissemination of knowledge
in the area of agricultural sciences and technologies are invited to submit
proposals for oral presentations or posters.
Papers must address one of the following themes:
. Innovative learning processes
. Information services, the need for a continued redefinition
. Communication and Information exchange for multiple stakeholders
. Information systems for structured and integrated information
. Information products and services as public policy enablers
See: http://iaald2010.agropolis.fr/program/program
>>> Abstract Submission
Those wishing to present a paper or a poster should register and submit their
abstract in English (maximum 300 words) to the following address:
See: http://iaald2010.agropolis.fr/conference/call-for-papers/submission
Authors may attach a French abstract to the English one. The deadline for abstract
submission is 15 October 2009.
>>> Selection of papers and posters
The Scientific Committee will select papers and posters on the basis of the
submitted abstracts. Authors will be informed of the acceptance or rejection
of their paper on 16 November 2009. The final version of accepted papers or
posters is required by 1rst February 2010.
A selection of the papers will be published in a special issue of 'Agricultural
Information Worldwide', the IAALD Journal. The remaining papers will be available
on the Congress website.
>>> Important dates
. 1 rst Call for papers: 22 June 2009
. 2 nd Call for papers: 15 September 2009
. Opening of Congress registration: 30 September 2009
. Deadline for abstract submission: 15 October 2009
. Notification of acceptance of abstracts: 16 November 2009
. Deadline for submission of full paper: 1 st February 2010
>>> Further information
Guidelines for authors, Conference programme, workshop topics, information on
registration and fees, conference venue and hotel accommodation will be posted
and regularly updated on the Congress website: http://iaald2010.agropolis.fr
The official language of the Congress will be English. Plenary sessions will
benefit of simultaneous translation (French / English and English / French).
>>> Registration fees
. From 30 September 2009 to 31 January 2010: 250 EUR
. From 1st February 2010 to 31 March 2010: 300 EUR
. End of registration: 31 March 2010
See: http://iaald2010.agropolis.fr
Contact: Christine SILVY
E-mail: iaald2010(a)agropolis.fr
Web2.0 in the Green Knowledge System. Old community norms in new environments?
An article about web2.0 in the agro sector (to be presented at European
Seminar on Extension Education)
15-19 September 2009 - ASSISI (Perugia), Italy
* Farmers, traders, experts and citizens in the US discuss agriculture between
8 and 10 pm (east coast time) every Tuesday, text messaging over Twitter.
They call it "agchat", after the tag they use to filter their
multi-directional conversation from the millions of other tweets. The debate
can be followed -and joined- by anybody with an internet connection.
* In the Netherlands, a community is forming itself around GUUS, an online
tool for aggregating and sharing web links related to rural development.
* Since May 2008, a farmers' information service in Kenya exchanges information
on agriculture and weather through mobile phones using interactive voice
response.
The world is changing and new information and communication technologies (ICTs)
are powerful contributors to this change. People acquire knowledge in radically
different ways compared to before. What are the implications for agriculture
and extension? How far have these web2.0 tools been adopted by farmers and others
in rural areas, and do they work? While several experiences from Africa have
been described (Gakuru, et al. 2009), little is documented about Europe. The
following are our own experiences, mostly from the Netherlands.
See: http://kapma.wordpress.com/2009/07/11/web2-0-in-the-green-knowledge-system/
See: http://kapma.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/esee-kapmawielinga-4.pdf
See: http://www.agraria.unipg.it/ESEE2009PERUGIA/index.html
Contact: Josien KAPMA
E-mail: jk(a)josienkapma.com
The international magazine on fruit growing for the professional fruit grower
See: http://fruitmagazine.eu/en/index.html
The Role of Mobile Phones in Sustainable Rural Poverty Reduction (from ICT
Update)
Many developing country governments and developing agencies are focusing on
extending telecommunications services into rural areas, as they seek to alleviate
poverty, encourage economic and social growth, and overcome a perceived ´digital
divide´. However, relatively little is known about how rural communities benefit
from modern telecommunications services and what impact it is having on their
lives and livelihoods.
See: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/
EXTINFORMATIONANDCOMMUNICATIONANDTECHNOLOGIES/Resources/The_Role_of_Mobile_Phones_in_Sustainable_Rural_Poverty_Reduction_June_2008.pdf
National Agricultural Information Resources Portal (from ICT Update)
Agriculture is the predominant sector of Ethiopian economy. The Ethiopian Agriculture
Portal is a platform in which relevant, timely, accurate, and appropriate information
on various aspects of Ethiopian agriculture may be found. This platform is developed
by "Improving Productivity & Market Success of Ethiopian Farmers"
or IPMS project on behalf of the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture & Rural
Development (MoARD). The portal is one of several related initiatives for information
and knowledge dissemination. The intended audience of this portal are Ethiopian
agricultural service providers at all levels including extension, research,
and educational institutions.
See: http://www.eap.gov.et/
As Ben Franklin said: In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom,
in water there is bacteria
In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated
that if we drink 1 litter of water each day, at the end of the year we would
have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli, (E. Oli) – bacteria found
in feces.
In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop.
However, we do NOT run that risk when drinking wine & beer (or tequila,
rum, whiskey or other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification
process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.
Remember: Water = Poop, Wine = Health
Therefore, it's better to drink wine and talk stupid, than to drink water and
be full of shit.
There is no need to thank me for this valuable information: I'm doing it as
a public service.
See: http://funlok.com/index.php/humor/wine-vs-water-03062008.html
Contact: Alecos TRINGIDES
E-mail: tringos(a)logos.cy.net
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