Knowledge for development

The theme of the 8th meeting of the Advisory Committee on STI was “ICT’s transforming agricultural science and innovation: implications for ACP agriculture”. The meeting comprised of plenary sessions with presentations from the different organisations represented and focussed on the use of ICT’s in different contexts and the potential it has for agricultural development. Besides, the participants worked in groups to discuss specific issues. To streamline these sessions use was made of software developed by WING in Wageningen. The issue of young professional integration was raised several times. Some presentations referred to it in the context of the development of university curricula and promotion of agricultural education, other made special reference to young agricultural entrepreneurs, the issue of interesting girls and maintaining youth in agriculture was also raised several times. 13/01/2010
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This report presents a summary of the outcomes of this e-consultation. Chapters 2 and 3 explain the methodology and discuss the response rate. Chapters 4–10 provide overviews of the contributions of the participants in the e-consultation, including the technological challenges and megatrends that are impacting on ACP agricultural science and innovation, and their suggestions as to what the ACP scientific community and ACP governments could do to address them. Chapter 11 presents some concluding comments, summarizing the main conclusions of the e-consultation. 23/12/2009
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The African Youth Forum on Science and Technology (AYFST) Steering Committee Meeting launched the Youth Innovation Challenge Programme (Y I CAN) at its 4th meeting annual meeting in Momabasa, Kenya, July 13-16, 2009. ‘Y I CAN ‘ read as ‘Why I Can’ is designed to build a culture of innovation amongst young people in Africa through targeted partnerships within the quadruple helix (Researchers, Private Sector Actors, Policy Makers and Civil Society) and through entrepreneurship incubation programmes. The activities of the Y I CAN programme will be mainstreamed under the ATPS Phase VI Strategic Plan 2008–2012. 13/01/2010
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Interested scientists can participate in three compeitions: Young Professionals in Science Award (25-40 years old) for the most promising and innovative young scientists as future African leaders and innovators; the Women in Science Award for outstanding women engaged in innovative research and communication to end-users; and the IMPPRESSA Award for Scientists contributing to impact research and science in African agriculture including human & institutional development. 23/12/2009
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Africa’s stock of human capital with secondary- and tertiary-level skills is comparatively small. Its quality is highly variable, and the accumulation of skills in some countries is dampened by mortality arising from infectious diseases and by emigration of many of the most talented. Only by raising the rate of investment in human capital can the region reach and sustain the level of economic performance it needs to generate an adequate volumeof employment for expanding populations. This report identifies and analyzes the challenges that countries in SSA face in seeking to achieve these aspirations. It underscores the role of tertiary education in meeting these challenges and, by drawing on African and international experience, it indicates the policy steps that will enable African tertiary institutions to support knowledge-intensive growth strategies. 13/01/2010
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Recent advances in genomics research and plant biotechnology provide opportunities to facilitate the development of new sorghum cultivars and hybrids for high productivity of biomass with desirable cellulose. Yinghua Huang of the United States Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service says that cellulosic biomass is becoming an attractive energy feedstock as the supplies are more abundant, and sorghum, in particular shows great potential due to its "high water-use efficiency, high biomass productivity under sustainable low-input conditions, and amenable to manipulation of its cell-well characteristics." (Source: CBU, December 11, 2009) 21/12/2009
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IHC 2010 presents a rich and diversified scientific programme covering the most significant topics related to horticultural sciences. Participants will find 8 colloquia, 18 symposia, 14 seminars, workshops and thematic sessions. Check the programme details at the congress website. The new deadline for abstract submission is 31 January 2010. Deadline for registration at reduced fee: 30 April 2010. 13/01/2010
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The 2nd ‘Euro-Africa Cooperation Forum on ICT Research’ is organised by the FP7 EuroAfrica-ICT project and supported by the African Union Commission (AUC) and EC - DG INFSO - International Relations Unit, under the Information Communication Technology (ICT) theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). This 1-day Forum is a practical, learning and interactive conference organised as a follow-up event of the 1st edition held in Brussels, Belgium in March 2009. The Forum will bring together sub-Saharan African and European organizations. 13/01/2010
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The Food Security Center (FSC) is a newly established university center of excellence in development collaboration at the University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany. FSC is one of five excellence centers of the program “exceed – Higher Education Excellence in Development Cooperation”, which is supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funds of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany. FSC’s mission is to make effective and innovative scientific contributions in research, teaching, and policy advice to eradicate hunger and achieve food security in collaboration with partner Higher Education Institutions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and national and international development and research organizations. Thematically, FSC’s activities deal with issues of sustainable food availability, food access, food use, and food utilization. More information is available from http://www.foodsecurity.de. 13/01/2010
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Recently launched, RIE Network (Caribbean Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Network) embraces a range of key stakeholders throughout the Caribbean region active in the fields, of science, technology and innovation and the practical implementation of all three to develop progressive entrepreneurial business that advance the region economically and socially. RIE Network is a new initiative and aims to become a virtual community of interest that encourages the sharing of experiences, the transfer of ‘know how’ and the provision of role models for a new generation of entrepreneurs and innovators. There is a real need to bridge the gap between research and development persons and institutions, policy makers and entrepreneurial business persons in the private sector as communications between all three groups have been ‘disconnected’ for many years. 13/01/2010
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This conference will present the following scientific sessions: Advances in managing and exploiting genetic resources; Harnessing plant diversity: from sequence to function; Harnessing plant diversity: genomics-based breeding; Germplasm improvement and new crops; Translational research: from model and wild species to crops; Genomics-assisted crop improvement for food security in developing countries; Genetic resources for nutritional quality; and the next challenges. 21/12/2009
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IFPRI seeks a qualified person to be appointed as a Research Fellow to a two year fixed term renewable appointment contract in its Knowledge, Capacity, and Innovation (KCI) division. This position will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The KCI division conducts scholarly research, capacity strengthening, and communications activities to facilitate knowledge systems and promote organizational, institutional, technological and policy innovations in developing-country food and agriculture value chains, and to support IFPRI’s wider mission of providing sustainable solutions for ending hunger and cutting poverty. Application deadline: open until filled. 21/12/2009
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The Masters Course in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management Scholarships (MESPOM) are provided by the EU. MESPOM prepares students for developing integrated solutions to environmental challenges, especially in an international context. The EC's Erasmus Mundus programme provides scholarships to outstanding students from countries outside the EU to attend MESPOM and to scholars to participate in teaching and research. The deadline for MESPOM applications is the 1st of April 2010. Please note that there are many other courses for which scholarships are offered (http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/results_compendia/selected_projects_action_1_master_courses_en.php). 21/12/2009
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