Knowledge for development

This call for expression of interest is to identify a shortlist of companies/organizations who will be invited to submit a full tender to provide services for the content management of 'Knowledge for Development.' This web portal seeks to put information on science, technology and innovation (ST&I) issues at the fingertips of ACP and EU scientists, policy makers and stakeholders and their international colleagues and provide them with a platform to dialogue on relevant issues in support of agricultural and rural development. The website is fully operational and bilingual offering content in both English and French. It includes RSS feeds and new social media (twitter, facebook). Deadline 30 September 2010 17/08/2010
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In her article, the author explores the ways that ICTs can transform agriculture in Africa. She draws attention to the current status of ICTs in Africa and the promises they hold, such as the staggering growth of mobile phone use, the halting expansion of the fixed-line telephone network and the disappointing growth of internet access. She argues that ICTs could facilitate the creation of networks locally, regionally and globally, leading to collaborative and knowledge-sharing approaches to problem solving and research diversification. Yet, the most prevalent use of ICTs in agriculture is providing farmers with information and advisory services through SMS, voice, web portals and call centres. The author highlights the bi-directional sharing of information in the value chain between farmers and retailers, e-banking and the use of GIS to secure land titles. Challenges remain, however. They entail improving the mechanisms and infrastructure for sharing and exchanging agricultural knowledge generated through research at the national and regional levels, and boosting human capital to rapidly absorb and use these new technologies. Policy makers still need to appreciate fully the far-reaching benefits of ICTs and promote the right regulatory and market structures to realise their new opportunities, especially for Africa's benefit. 17/08/2010
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In his article, the author discusses trends in ICT use in veterinary science education in Nigeria. His discourse focuses on how the web itself is changing to allow new trends in communication, information and knowledge exchange to flourish in veterinary medicine. Education resources in this field of practice are actively being promoted in Nigeria, and include comprehensive articles on the application of ICTs in veterinary medicine, veterinary training and research. Their impacts and challenges are significant; as is their role in providing improved acquisition of skills and competences in veterinary medicine and animal production. Many veterinarians in Nigeria are now active participants in online social networking communities, such as Facebook, Ning and Twitter – and more and more are getting involved. The author concludes that perhaps the most important factor for the remarkable growth of ICT use recently has been collaborative funding initiatives from a number of international organisations, and he points to the massive joint support programmes set up by international funding agencies that have resulted in a phenomenal increase of ICT use in Nigeria’s veterinary faculties. 17/08/2010
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Despite existing knowledge and, in some instances, the appropriate use of feed resources, milk production on dairy farms has remained low in the ranges of 2–5 Lcow-1day-1. In her paper, Mubiru argues that this poor performance clearly points to a gap in farmers' knowledge regarding cattle feeding. Since farmers are unable to know the quantities of feeds needed to meet the nutritional requirements of their animals, they were only able to provide 59% and 36% of the required metabolisable energy and crude protein, respectively, to their animals. A mechanism was developed by which farmers could establish adequate feed quantities for their cattle, even when they are combining a variety of feeds. ‘ENDIISA' is the web-based decision support tool that was one of the major outputs of the author’s winning research submission. Read Dr Mubiru and the other papers in the booklet of abstracts of all winning papers. 17/08/2010
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In this study, Nguiakam and her co-author evaluated the impact of the fluctuation of international raw material prices on the variability of the Ivory Coast's GDP. She used the Vector Autoregression model on an international data set of primary products and export earnings. Inflation and GDP were selected variables analysed to conform to this instability. The results show that from 1960 to 2005, fluctuations of coffee prices accounted for about 15% of the variability of the total output, and they confirm the Ivory Coast's dependence on raw materials. They also illustrate the need to continue efforts at diversifying the economy – particularly the agricultural sector – and to establish a body to better interpret the world economic environment, in order to anticipate and absorb shocks. Read the booklet with abstracts of all winning papers. 17/08/2010
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Invasive alien species (IAS) are responsible for serious ecological, economic and social problems in the world today. Indeed, the problem has been described as an “immense, insidious and usually irreversible” one by the IUCN in 2000 and as “the second biggest cause of ecological disintegration, second only to habitat loss” by Vitousek et al. in 1997. Whilst there is no universally accepted definition, it is increasingly accepted that IAS are those alien (alternatively referred to as introduced, exotic, non-indigenous, pest or non-native) species which pose a threat to or have a negative impact on environments, economies and/or human health. All major taxa contain invasive species, including microorganisms, fungi, lower and higher plants, and animals. Problems posed by IAS have come to the fore in recent years, as expanding human activities linked with trade, tourism, transport and air travel have dramatically increased their spread worldwide, either intentionally or accidentally (Mack et al., 2000). 30/06/2010
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Approximately 10,500 years ago, Man made his first attempts at agriculture and they proved successful, as it was possible to grow what he needed. However, there was a lot of trial and just about as much error. Mobility was limited, very limited by today’s standards, and thus the choice of species to experiment with was limited to those that grew or were readily available and, not every species was suitable for domestication. The implication of this is that successful domestication efforts depended on a high level of available biodiversity! As trade developed, and agricultural biodiversity started to be exchanged, societies that had greatest access proved to be the most successful. 30/06/2010
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One of the challenges confronting scientists worldwide is the development of new and sustainable ways of protecting crops from pests and diseases. Biotic stress, caused by plant pathogens, insect pests and weeds, accounts for some 30-40% of crop losses worldwide. The effects of these range from mild symptom development to major injuries and catastrophes in which large areas of planted food crops are destroyed. Annual losses from plant pathogens alone are estimated to be 12% (Cook, 2006). Controlling biotic stress and producing crops with special agronomic traits is therefore of paramount importance for reducing the threat to crop productivity, farmers’ net income, the food supply, and by extension, the economies of rural areas (Oerke, 2006). 30/06/2010
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Anthurium andraeanum (Hort) is a tropical ornamental species with enormous potential for Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. Trinidad and Tobago has had a long history of cultivation of anthuriums. The University of the West Indies has created a knowledge cluster focusing on anthurium, with the view to spawn spin-off companies that can provide value-added opportunities for the Caribbean. The recent innovation in developing the first bacterial-blight-resistant cultivars will form the backbone for other developmental efforts that are underway towards developing bacterial leaf spot resistance, nematode resistance, bioengineering novel colours, improving vase-life and creating an e-commerce platform for direct marketing of anthuriums. A nurturing environment and a strong University-Enterprise-Policy partnership is required to support the evolution of such knowledge clusters. 30/06/2010
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The concept of agroforestry encompasses trees and shrubs combined in one way or another with crops and/or livestock. The basis of these systems is to allow the tree and the shrub to play their full roles in the protection and regeneration of the environment. Pushed into the limelight by the global challenge of climate change – which is increasingly being linked to the loss of forests – or by more specific issues of managing wood resources, agroforestry constitutes, without doubt, a part of the solution for a better integration of mankind and his activities with the natural environment. Research in agroforestry is distributed amongst several actors (universities, national and international research and development centres). Agroforestry is now included in several major debates on the future of the planet’s resources. The scientific community should seize this opportunity to advance agroforestry’s potential for contributing solutions for viable plant and animal production systems especially in the context of climate change, for the fight against poverty, for food security, for economic, social and political stability, and for a greener agriculture. Moreover, it is essential that this widely dispersed scientific community finds methods of disseminating its findings to users to increase understanding of agroforestry’s importance for sustainable agricultural and rural development. (This folder was prepared by CABI and CIRAD in collaboration with CTA. Editor in chief, Judith Francis, CTA, 2010).
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Agroforestry, a scientific field that is currently in the news because of the numerous debates on environmental aspects of human development, is an ancient practice that exists on all continents. It is a result of the farmer’s desire to diversify and intensify his cropping system. This practice, widely researched as it is, must now be promoted more efficiently, primarily to governments, through an improved structuring of existing knowledge networks. 08/06/2010
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The exploitation of natural resources – land, water, biodiversity is reaching saturation point and this is compounded by expanding population growth. The degradation of the natural forests is aggravating the impact of climate change. Agroforestry systems, can contribute to the mitigation of the effects of climate change, mainly by improving the microclimate and the biodiversity and the attainment of food security goals. Peri-urban agroforestry also deserves consideration in the context of the diminution of arable lands near inhabited areas. Responding to climate change requires an unprecedented mobilization of the international scientific community who must rethink paradigms which previously guided research for development agendas. 08/06/2010
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Innovation and technological change are associated with productivity gains and economic development but have yet to yield these results in the ACP region. Achieving sustainability goals in 21st century agriculture requires supportive policies and institutions, a long-term commitment from decision makers and greater public and private investments in agricultural knowledge, science and technology (AKST). The fact that the ACP agricultural sector continues to serve as an economic foundation suggests that priority should be given to building endogenous ACP capacity for understanding innovation processes and analyzing and strengthening agricultural, science, technology and innovation (ASTI) systems. 19/05/2010
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Scientists are reviving long-ignored African rice varieties, to cut dependence on Asian varieties that may be less able to withstand the impacts of climate change on the poorest continent, a report said on 21 May. Historically, scientists have focused on breeding useful traits such as disease resistance from African rice into Asian rice. Now the focus is on the reverse – using African rice as the basic crop and improving it with Asian genes. ‘African rice was initially ignored by mainstream research’, said Koichi Futakuchi, a scientist at Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) in a statement. ‘Now, for the first time, we're reversing the gene flow.’ (Source: Reuters, 21 May 2010) 31/05/2010
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Biosciences provide powerful new ways of improving crop and livestock productivity while minimizing threats to environmental and human health. Problems that so far proved intractable to conventional agricultural research might well be solved in the future by two interrelated fields in the biosciences. These are genomics, which determines DNA sequences that make up the genetic blueprint of organisms, and bioinformatics, computer-based analyses of the vast amount of genetic information produced by genomics. 19/05/2010
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Farmers themselves also innovate and experiment with ways of coping with the difficulties of dryland agriculture. This report provides an overview of the research efforts currently underway in dryland Africa. The actors that engage in this research are very diverse; International research institutions, donor organizations, NGOs, national governments and their agricultural research systems all have their policies affecting this research. 24/05/2009
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In Africa, 43% of the land area is classified as drylands and annual water availability per capita is about 5,000m³. This includes several countries in: the Sahel, the Greater Horn and some parts of Southern Africa. 268 million people, more than 40 % of the continent’s population, live in these areas and many of them depend on farming and pastoralism for livelihoods and food. 20/04/2010
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Two professors have created a new website called Academics Review to set the record straight about the proven safety of genetically modified (GM) crops. Dr. David Tribe is a biotechnologist and microbiologist at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and Dr. Bruce Chassy works in food safety and human nutrition at the University of Illinois, USA. The website analyzes negative claims about GM crops on the basis of available evidence, the peer-reviewed scientific literature, and scientific logic. The website is designed as a platform for the critical scientific review of issues relating to food, food safety, agriculture, nutrition and GM crops. In the coming months, other issues and expert opinions will be added to the website. (Source: CBU, 31 March 2010). 26/04/2010
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Launched in November 2005, the SEARCA PhD research scholarship provides financial support to a limited number of qualified PhD students, whose research is relevant to the priority thrusts of SEARCA. This scholarship programme aims to provide PhD students with the opportunity to use the resources and facilities available at SEARCA and its network of universities for their research; produce quality research papers for publication, and; enable them to work with SEARCA's R&D personnel on mutually identified areas of concerns/interests in agriculture and rural development. Any graduate student who is a citizen of any SEAMEO member country, and is pursuing a PhD in agriculture or related sciences from any university in the world, is eligible to apply for the scholarship. Deadlines to apply: 1 April and 1 September. 21/05/2010
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Applications for IFS research grants are welcome from young scientists in developing countries to do research on the sustainable management, use or conservation of biological or water resources. This broad statement covers natural science and social science research on agriculture, soils, animal production, food science, forestry, agroforestry, aquatic resources, natural products, water resources, etc. Deadline to apply: 30 December 2010 21/05/2010
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In May 2010, a school for the future regulators of Africa's genetically modified (GM) crops is opening in Burkina Faso. The school, called the African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE), has been set up by the African Union and is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This Africa-based, Africa-owned and Africa-led initiative will enhance the debate in the agricultural community on issues of food sovereignty and genetically modified crops. "We acknowledge that sovereignty is in the hands of Africans," said Lawrence Kent, deputy director of the Agricultural Development Initiative at the Gates Foundation. "For research to move forward, African governments must move forward with biosafety capacity building." (Source: CheckBiotech, 6 April 2010) 26/04/2010
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The Advisory Committ ee on S&T for ACP Agricultural and Rural Development (AC) is a think tank of leading ACP experts who meet regularly to deliberate on critical issues concerning ACP agriculture. In 2009, the AC had at the top of its agenda the issue of ICTs transforming agricultural science and innovation: implications for ACP agriculture. The AC further explored the key scientific disciplines that would be needed for transforming ACP agriculture, the opportunities new technologies such as ICTs and nano- and biotechnology offer for improving agricultural research and innovation and the investments needed in research infrastructure to allow ACP scientists to actually use and benefit from these technologies. 19/05/2010
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