Paris, 26 April 2010


EFITA newsletter / 458 / European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and the Environment


Meeting the fertilizer demand on a changing globe: biofuels, climate change & contaminants
15th World fertilizer congress of the international scientific centre for fertilizers (CIEC)
29 August - 2 September 2010 - BUCHAREST, Romania
Fertilizers play an increasing role on a changing globe in order to satisfy the nutrient demand of crops without compromising resources for food production, to counteract adverse effects of climate change as for instance drought, floods and salinity and last but not least to avoid contamination of soils with organic and inorganic xenobiotics, or to minimize their uptake by utilizing appropriate fertilizer strategies. Special emphasis needs to be paid to nutrient losses from agriculture to water bodies as they compromise the quality of drinking water and marine environment. Prominent examples are nitrogen and phosphorus, while the input of other elements such as uranium and copper gain increasing relevance.
Next to these 'hot topics' fertilizer research must further aim at improving crop productivity for meeting the greater food demand resulting from the rapid increase in world population. At the same time food quality, soil fertility, the waste of resources and environmental impacts of low fertilizer efficiency still are important issues of fertilizer research and fertilization.
The 15th World Fertilizer Congress, jointly organized by CIEC and AAFS will provide a forum to exchange the latest detailed information and achievements on fertilizer research, development, production and application since the 14th World Fertilizer Congress of CIEC (Chiang Mai, Thailand, January 2006), and will also fully discuss future developments.
The 15th World Fertilizer Congress will address the following major subjects:

1. Sustainable fertilizer strategies for industrial crops
2. Fertilizer strategies under peak phosphorus
3. Fertilizer strategies under climate change
4. Agriculture and marine environment
5. Nutrient and heavy metal balances in fertilization
6. Fertilizer management on contaminated soils
7. Food security and food safety
8. New fertilizer development
9. Fertilization in organic farming
10. Production, markets and economics of fertilizers

>>> Objectives of the world fertilizer congress
The objective of the Congress is to bring together scientists from all over the world to discuss different aspects concerning fertilizer use in context of climatic changes, food security and safety, environmental preservation. During the Congress the delegates will share ideas, contributing to the body of knowledge concerning fertilizer use in different part of the world and will establish future relations in order to increase research cooperation.

See: http://www.icpa.ro/ciec
E-mail: ciec(a)icpa.ro


Mixed and Pure Forests in a Changing World 2010 conference
6-8 October 2010 - VILA REAL - Portugal
This conference is supported by IUFRO and it is devoted to various aspects of research on forests (pure and mixed) in a context of global changes.
See: http://www.forestchange2010.utad.pt/


The European Fruit Magazine
See: http://fruitmagazine.eu/


Talkin' Trade by Iowa Corn Growers Association President, Iowa Corn Promotion Board Chairman

Dear U.S. Farmer,

Since Earth Day began 40 years ago, we have seen a tremendous shift in the preservation of our natural resources. However, little reflection has been given to the first environmentalist, the farmer.

While farmers were busy implementing solutions for feeding and fueling the world, non-ag experts have portrayed modern agriculture as an engine of ecological disaster. Those who favor science over conjecture know this accusation to be unfair and untrue. However, these absurd arguments have now moved into the political arena and are endangering a sector of our economy that employs one out of six Americans.

We will need to feed 2.5 billion more people by 2050. The United States has the largest supply of arable land, greatest access to technology and most to gain from growing markets. Corn farmers play a significant role in modern, sustainable agriculture. This versatile crop is in the food we eat, cars we drive, packages we open, fabrics we wear and medicines we consume. The truth is farmers grow five times as much corn as they did in the 1930s on 20 percent less land and produce 70 percent more corn per pound of fertilizer than they did 35 years ago.

Farmers have a great and enviable connection with the earth. Their livelihood depends on it. Farmers, the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board ask you to celebrate this Earth Day by letting others know how your work protects the environment and maintains our standard of living. Engage in conversations with non-ag neighbors, utilize social media to establish a presence in popular culture and make sure your elected officials know your point of view.

Sincerely,

Tim Burrack, Iowa Corn Promotion Board Chairman
Don Elsbernd, Iowa Corn Growers Association President
See: http://www.iowacorn.org/aspx/Public/HotTopic/HotTopicItem.aspx?item_id=34


ATN-Q project outline: European Agrotourism Vocational Empowerment and Quality Certification
 “AgroTourNet Quality” (European Agrotourism Vocational Empowerment and Quality Certification), is a project implemented with assistance from EU Lifelong Learning Programme, Leonardo Da Vinci, Transfer of Innovation.
The project’s main aim is to exploit the functionality of the “AgroTourNet e-learning software” which was created by the LdV pilot project www.agrotour.net (CY/06/B/F/PP).
This project is set to develop a new European Agrotourism Quality Standard (EUAS) which will embrace existing regional practices, strategies and trends in the agrotourism market. EUAS in this respect acknowledges the qualification procedures developed by agrotourism stakeholders in their effort to protect and promote the integrity of the vocational standards of the infrastructure and the quality of the rendered services.
The project outcomes are addressing the vocational empowerment of agrotourism personnel with competencies for the protection, accentuation and promotion of discernible agrotourism services in Europe
The project aims are:
1. he promotion of vocational training which prejudges the common characteristics of European Agrotourism, and
2. The development of a trustworthy system for certification of infrastructure and services in agrotourism with acknowledgement of existing vocational practices which were developed in the sector and based on the philosophy for intraregional transparency of the European Qualification Framework (EQF). The system prejudges the award of the European Agrotourism Badge to qualifying enterprises

The project implementation will evolve along the following activity path:
1. National workshops in each country will bring together the main stakeholders as well as business players associated with agrotourism. They are expected to contribute to the identification of agrotourism quality standards existing at the regional fields as well as to the selection of pilot agrotourism enterprises with potential to receive award of the “European Agrotourism Badge”. 
2. The Hellenic Organisation for Standardisation (ELOT) will exploit the “AgroTourNet e-learning software” as well as the data from the national conferences in order to develop the European Agrotourism Quality Standard EUAS and the corresponding certification procedures leading to the award of the “European Agrotourism Badge”.
3. The Hellenic Organisation for Standardisation (ELOT) will approve EUAS Qualification Agents after attending training on EUAS certification procedures using the web system which will be developed in cooperation with Amalgama. These Agents will provide professional support to agrotourism entrepreneurs with potential to apply for certification in the EUAS badge.
4. Pilot implementation in the participating countries of the EUAS system in order to validate and certify a number of agrotourism enterprises with qualified personnel and adequate infrastructure, empowering them to display the European Agrotourism Badge.

The project is set to deliver the following outcomes:
1. The “AgroTourNet e-learning software” enhanced to include Italian along with the existing Greek, English, Bulgarian, Czech, French, Lithuanian and Dutch languages.
2. The European Agrotourism Quality Standard (EUAS) based on common quality characteristics of European agrotourism.
3. A trustworthy certification management system awarding the EUAS badge featuring web-based systems for (a) Web system for training EUAS qualification Agents and (b) Online validation tool testing the certification status of the potential EUAS applicant enterprise.
4. The National Conferences on Agrotourism standards, involving the main agrotourism stakeholders who are expected to act as multipliers for deepening and enlarging EUAS to other regions of the participating countries.
5. Website www.agrotournetquality.eu, displaying the project aims, activities and results.
6. AgroTourNet Quality Bulletin (3 issues)
Contact : Alecos TRINGIDES
E-mail: tringos(a)logos.cy.net


This “Tiger Wood” is beating all the Italian and French lovers …!!! But, now it’s the New Year of the Tiger … explaining it a bit …!

The Pope and Tiger Woods die on the same day and because of an administrative mix up the Pope went to Hell and Tiger Woods went to Heaven.

The Pope explains the situation to the administrative clerk in Hell, and after checking the paperwork admits that there is an error.
"However", the clerk explains, "it would be 24 hours before it can be rectified".

Next day, the Pope is called and Hell's staff bids him farewell. On the way up, the Pope meets Tiger Woods coming down from Heaven and they stop to have a chat.
"Sorry about the mix up", apologizes the Pope.
"No problem" replied Tiger Woods.

Pope: "I am really anxious to get to Heaven"
Tiger: "Why is that?"

Pope: "All my life I have wanted to meet the Virgin Mary"
Tiger: "Sorry, but you're a day late.


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