The Power of Online Communities
The latest issue of CTA’s ICT Update magazine features eight articles portraying the huge potential of communities of practice (CoPs) for leveraging learning and innovation in the agricultural sector.
The articles provide experiences of various partners in establishing CoPs along with some case studies and lessons learned.
- 'The Web2forDev story: towards a community of practice' by Anja Barth and Giacomo Rambaldi
- 'Communities of practice: a brief introduction' by Etienne Wenger
- 'Communities of practice: linking knowledge, policy and practice' by Simon Hearn and Nancy White
- 'Using a dgroup with third party online applications for a cause' by Giacomo Rambaldi
- 'Communities of practice: questions and answers' by the World Bank
- Visit the Dgroups website
- Visit the Knowledge management for development website
Action against widespread mycotoxin contamination
The panel concluded that these mycotoxins are not only a cause of acute poisoning and cancer but are also a likely contributor to the high levels of stunting in children in affected populations.The Working Group also identified effective measures to reduce exposure in developing countries. These recommendations have been published in the report Mycotoxin Control in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, which is available in English, French, and Spanish.
“The report stresses the need for a coordinated international response to the problem of mycotoxin contamination of food,” says Dr Christopher Wild, Director of IARC. “Its health impact has been neglected for too long. We have the tools to make a difference. Now we must find the political will.”An estimated 500 million of the poorest people in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Asia are exposed to the pervasive natural toxins, aflatoxins and fumonisins, on a daily basis by eating their staple diet of groundnuts, maize, and other cereals. Exposure occurs throughout life at levels far in excess of internationally accepted norms. This contrasts starkly with the situation in developed countries, where people and livestock are protected by good agricultural practices, regulation, and legislation.
Exposure to mycotoxins at these high levels substantially increases mortality and morbidity.
Aflatoxin is a cause of human liver cancer, and fatalities from outbreaks of acute aflatoxin poisoning occur in Africa and Asia. Evidence from population studies and the effects of the toxins in animals also suggest that mycotoxins contribute to stunting in young children.
“Worldwide, more than 160 million children younger than 5 years are stunted. Improving mycotoxin control could have a far-reaching health benefit,” says Dr J. David Miller, Chair of the IARC Working Group. “It is time to put the existing knowledge and technology into action to control mycotoxin food contamination in low-income countries.”The panel also evaluated 15 interventions against mycotoxins, considering the strength of the evidence as well as its completeness and transferability at an individual, community, or national
“The IARC Working Group Report’s recommendations provide a reliable foundation for investment of public, nongovernmental organization, and private funds to tackle this neglected problem,” says Dr Sindura Ganapathi of the Global Health Program at the BMGF. “What is needed now is effective translation of the vast body of science through to subsistence and smallholder farmers in order to make a difference.”Download the report:
http://www.iarc.fr/en/publications/pdfs-online/wrk/wrk9/IARC_publicationWGR9_full.pdf
Download the brief:
PRESS RELEASE N° 242 17 February 2016 New IARC report urges action against widespread mycotoxincontamination in developing countries
See the video interview with Dr Christopher Wild, Director of IARC
http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/iarcnews/2016/DIR-video-mycotoxins.php
Innovation platforms in rice value chains
International and national rice research and development partners from the public and private sectors, including representatives of national research and extension programs of about 30 African countries participated in this event.
The main objectives of the 2016 AfricaRice Science Week and GRiSP-Africa Forum were to discuss results obtained in 2015 and carry out effective and efficient planning of rice research-for-development (R4D) activities in 2016.
In addition to updates on GRiSP-Africa R4D activities and meetings of the Africa-wide Rice Task Forces and the Rice Sector Development Hubs, the Science Week’s program included among others brainstorming sessions on improved seed delivery, long-term agronomic trials related to soil fertility management, knowledge sharing and innovation platforms in rice value chains.
Related:
Published on 22 Dec 2015. A video on the improved GEM parboiling rice system, which has started to make a difference in the lives of over 450 women rice parboilers in the Glazoué rice hub in Benin, has been produced. AfricaRice has developed and established the GEM system in Glazoué using an innovation platform approach along the rice value chain thanks to the project "Support to Agricultural Research for strategic crops in Africa" (SARD-SC) with funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Appropriate training has allowed women to explore the GEM method and its advantages that include the following:
- Reduction of post-harvest losses;
- Parboiling a large quantity of rice in a limited period of time; and
- Improving the quality of rice that better meets consumer demands.
As a result, rice consumers are progressively being attracted to the locally produced parboiled rice in Glazoué, leading to increase in incomes of women parboilers. In addition to the beneficiaries from Glazoué rice hub, the training included women processors from Malanville in northern Benin and 10 young entrepreneurs.
PAEPARD: ARD funding opportunities
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A G R I C U L T U R E
The Agropolis Fondation, Fondazione Cariplo, and Fondation Daniel et Nina Carasso announce the “Thought for Food Initiative: Transdisciplinary Research towards more Sustainable Food Systems.” The program will fund research projects, including those with a capacity building component, in either of the following thematic strands or a combination of both: (i) Diverse agricultural production for more sustainable food systems and diets; and (ii) Sustainable food processing for more sustainable and healthy diets. Projects must include partners from concerned countries, especially if they involve case studies in developing countries. Funding requests should be a minimum of €200 thousand over three years. The deadline for concept notes is 29 February 2016.
Frameworks for managing natural resources, and for strengthening agriculture and food security
Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) works to promote political and economic governance that contributes towards justice and human rights in West Africa. The current call for proposals includes improved frameworks for managing natural resources, and for strengthening agriculture and food security in the context of climate change -- among other social and political objectives. OSIWA makes most of its grants to local organizations in Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Senegal. It will also fund other types of organizations in rare and limited circumstances. The deadline for concept notes (English, French) is 30 April 2016
The LEGEND Challenge Fund of DFID aims to identify and support projects to strengthen land governance in Africa by fostering alliances between private-sector investors in agriculture and natural resources with local communities. Window 1 ("Responsible Land-Based Agricultural Investments") focuses on Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Window 2 ("Open Innovation") focuses on these same countries plus Sierra Leone and Zambia. LEGEND is open to national and international non-profit organisations who are expected to establish formal partnerships with private sector businesses investing in the target countries. In addition, grantees may wish to partner with government, research, or development organisations. Most grants are expected to range from £350 thousand to £450 thousand for projects of 12-30 months. The application deadline is 26 February 2016.
The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences is the country's focal point for the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI). Qualified individuals from developing countries supported by Belgian Development Cooperation can apply for study visits in Belgium to train in taxonomic projects and biodiversity assessment projects that have strong taxonomic components. The call is restricted to trainees who benefited from the GTI support in 2014 and/or 2015. The application deadline is 27 February 2016
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF-U.S.), through its Education for Nature program, offers special grants to build capacity for conservation leadership in Mozambique and Myanmar. The Russell E. Train Fellowships provide support for conservationists in Mozambique and Myanmar to pursue graduate-level study anywhere in the world with the goal of advancing conservation in both countries. Applicants may request up to US$30 thousand per year for up to two years. The deadline to apply for the Conservation in Mozambique Fellowship is 01 March 2016.
The EC calls for proposals to strengthen the contribution of non-state actors to improving forest governance, sustainable forest management, and the contribution of forests to development. Specifically, EC aims to strengthen the role of civil society to engage in the processes about FLEGT VPA (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade - Voluntary Partnership Agreement) and REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). Funding will be allocated among the following regions: Congo Basin; Western Africa; Amazon Basin; Mesoamerican Corridor; Mekong Region; and Southeast Asia and Pacific. The program is open to nonprofit non-state organizations in the EU and in the developing countries listed in the announcement. Grants will range from €2 million to €6 million, varying by regions and cost shares. Reference EuropeAid/150699/DH/ACT/Multi. The deadline for concept notes (English, French, Spanish) is 08 March 2016
The French Global Environment Facility FFEM announced a fourth call under FISP-Climat as an innovation facility to encourage private enterprise to use green technologiesfor fighting climate change in developing countries. The FFEM will support projects in climate mitigation and adaptation for up to €500 thousand per project . Proposals must include at least one private company. Projects can be located in ACP countries and other developing countries, with preference for North Africa and the Mediterranean region. The closing date is 18 March 2016.
The Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) offers competitive grants in support of its mission to improve forest management and expand forest certification around the world. PEFC invites its members and other non-profit organizations to apply. Project partners may also include private and public-sector organizations. PEFC will consider proposals up to CHF 40 thousand for projects up to two years. Grantees must provide at least 35% co-funding. The deadline for applications is 18 March 2016
The Swiss Programme for Research on Global Issues for Development (r4d) supports research that contributes to the solution of global problems. The programme currently calls for proposals in topics that include (i) ecosystems, ecosystems management, and climate change; (ii) natural resource governance for sustainable development; and (iii) others. Eligibility for funding extends to researchers in Switzerland with partners in eligible developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The application deadline for pre-proposals is 01 April 2016
Fellowships/scholarships/grants
In partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the government of Hungary announces scholarships for MSc degrees in agriculture at participating Hungarian universities. The fields of specialization are agricultural sciences, agricultural biotechnology, horticulture, and animal nutrition and feed safety. Applicants should be residents and nationals of the developing countries listed in the announcement. The deadline for applications is 28 February 2016.
Candidates who are interested in conducting postdoctoral research at the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research in Israel are invited to apply for fellowships. Research topics include desert ecology, solar energy, environmental physics, architecture and urban planning, rainfed and irrigated agriculture, hydrology, aquaculture, environmental microbiology, desalination and water treatment, and biotechnology. Candidates should first select a topic of interest and identify a prospective supervisor. Applications are open worldwide. The application deadline is 03 March 2016
With financial support from the German Academic Exchange Services (DAAD), RUFORUM offers scholarships for doctoral studies in specific disciplines of agriculture and life sciences at participating universities in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Applications are welcomed from qualified candidates in these countries, and also regionally. The deadline for applications is 11 March 2016.
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is partnering with Aarhus University (Denmark) to address dispersal and effects of heavy metals and xenobiotic substances in Ghana's environment. The program announces the availability of seven PhD scholarships for fellows to be enrolled at KNUST, and to benefit from joint collaborative supervision between KNUST and Aarhus University. Priority for funding support will be given to researchers in Ghana and other countries of West Africa. The application deadline is 15 March 2016.
ICRA invites applications for a three-week course in October 2016 on the subject of integrating education, action-research, and community outreach related to agriculture. The course is designed for individuals working in tertiary agricultural and rural education. Candidates should be proficient in English, have at least five years professional experience, preferably in tertiary agricultural and rural education and related fields. They also need to have approval of their institution to participate. The deadline to apply for scholarships is 22 March 2016. The deadline for other applicants (with funds) is 01 August 2016.
The CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Cereals aims to increase research on barley, finger millet, pearl millet, and sorghum. In partnership with RUFORUM, the program invites PhD and MSc graduates specializing in sorghum, barley, and millet to apply for field attachments with research projects at ICARDA and ICRISAT. The call is open to RUFORUM-sponsored PhD and MSc students who have worked with millet, barley, or sorghum and who have recently graduated, or who have submitted their thesis for examination. The amount of support over six months is US$10 thousand for PhD students, and US$5 thousand for MSc students. The application deadline is 30 March 2016
The Nordic Africa Institute provides funding to social science researchers from Sub-Saharan Africa for short-term collaborative assignments at the NAI in Uppsala, Sweden. Female researchers are especially encouraged to apply. The research cluster "Agrarian Change, Property, and Resources" includes the topics of land ownership and entitlements, land grabbing, natural resource management, livestock rearing, community forestry, and environmental sustainability. The application deadline is 01 April 2016
Support for International Students 2016. Nanjing University of Science and Technology (NUST) offers full or partial scholarships for international students at graduate and undergraduate levels. Academic areas at NUST include environmental engineering, biotechnology, energy science, and many others. Application deadlines are 10 April 2016 for the Chinese Government Scholarship, and 30 May 2016 for the Jiangsu Jasmine Scholarship.
The Congo Basin Grant Program provides competitive research grants of up to US$5 thousand for African graduate students and early-career professionals working in the areas of biodiversity, conservation, and environmental sustainability in the Congo Basin. Applicants should be 35 years of age or younger, and reside in one of the following countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Dem Rep Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, or Uganda. The deadline for applications (English, French) is 01 May 2016
The Ekhaga Foundation makes grants for research in ecological agriculture and biological medicine. Universities, research institutes, etc., from all over the world are invited to apply. Ekhaga requires cooperation with a Swedish institution for applications that do not come from Europe or North America. The deadline for applications is 20 May 2016.
The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) supports female scientists in Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) with doctoral fellowships in the natural sciences. The fellowships are for the pursuit of a doctoral degree at a host institution in a developing country, but not in the applicant's home country. Applicants should be qualified young women science graduates (generally below 40 years of age), who have an M.Sc. degree or outstanding B.Sc. in the natural sciences. The eligible scientific fields include agricultural sciences; biological systems and organisms; and many others. The application deadline is 31 May 2016.
The Rotary Foundation partners with UNESCO to offer funding for masters studies in water and sanitation. Applicants for Rotary's support must be provisionally admitted to one of the three participating degree programs at UNESCO's Institute for Water Education (IHE). Students apply via their local Rotary club or district. Each award is approximately €34 thousand, paid directly to UNESCO-IHE. The application deadline is 15 June
The Ernest du Bois Prize of the King Boudouin Foundation offers €20 thousand for doctoral studies on the theme of water availability. The awards are for young engineers who are carrying out research on the theme of water and its availability -- including issues of protecting reserves, managing pollution, developing processing techniques, and others. Applications need to be submitted in French or Dutch. The application deadline is until 19 October 2016
AWARDS & O T H E R
Innovative sustainable solutions in energy, resources, and food
AWARDS & O T H E R
Innovative sustainable solutions in energy, resources, and food
Sustainia100 is an annual guide to 100 innovative sustainable solutions from around the world in sectors that include energy, resources, and food (agriculture) -- among others. Sustainia100 invites innovative solutions that present readily available projects, initiatives, and technologies at the forefront of sustainable transformation. The finalists receive publicity online, at the awards ceremony, and in a published guide. The deadline for submissions is 02 March 2016.
Social and Environmental Enterprises. Founded by the United Nations Environment Program and partner organizations, SEED supports small-scale enterprises in the developing world which integrate social and environmental benefits into their business models. The SEED Awards for 2016 are structured in three categories
· 15 SAG-SEED Awards supported by the SWITCH-Africa Green project, which is implemented by UNEP with the assistance of the European Union. Social and environmental start-up enterprise located in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa or Uganda
· 4 SEED Africa Awards supported by the Government of Flanders. Social and environmental start-up enterprise located in Malawi, Mozambique or Namibia.
· SEED Gender Equality Award in Kenya. Social and environmental enterprise run or owned by a woman or women, does it prioritise women empowerment and is it located in Kenya
Each award recipient is granted capacity building and networking opportunities. The application deadline is 21 March 2016.
MasterCard Foundation's Fund for Rural Prosperity aims to facilitate increased financial access for people living in rural and agricultural areas of Africa. The Fund for Rural Prosperity will support ideas from institutions looking to deliver a financial service, product, or process to the rural poor in eligible African countries. Projects may be proposed by a single institution or by a partnership, which could include NGOs. However, the proposal must be submitted by one company acting as the lead organization. Applications to the Innovation Competition should request support between US$250 thousand and US$1 million. For the scaling competition, applications should request between US$750 thousand and US$2.5 million. The deadline for submissions is 28 March 2016
The Global Confederation of Higher Education Associations for the Agricultural and Life Sciences (GCHERA) supports innovation and leadership in education, research, and outreach in the agricultural and life sciences. The GCHERA World Agriculture Prize will be awarded in 2016 to a faculty member from a higher education institution for lifetime achievements in agriculture, forestry, natural resources, food, bio-based products, bio-energy, rural development and the environment, and related subject areas. The amount of the prize is US$50 thousand, contributed by Nanjing Agricultural University. The closing date for nominations is 25 April 2016.
The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) makes grants to support the organization of high-level international and regional scientific activities in developing countries by offering financial assistance for conferences, workshops, symposia, and special meetings. Eligible fields include agricultural, biological, geological, and other sciences. Support is normally in the form of travel grants for principal speakers from abroad and/or participants from developing countries other than the country where the meeting is held. The amount provided normally does not exceed US$5 thousand. The next application deadline is 01 June 2016
BIOFACH 2016: organic food and the tension between safety and quality
The BIOFACH Congress – the platform for knowledge transfer, information exchange, discussion and opinion forming – is the biggest organic congress in the world and its some 100 presentations and panel discussions reach more than 7,000 participants. Join in the discussion and be inspired!
Key theme 2016: "Organic 3.0 – Acting for more organic!"
Organic 3.0 is the discussion on the organic sector of the future and stands for credible and sustainable concepts which are ground-breaking in the re-structuring of the global agriculture and food industry. The organic movement itself is called upon. But not only that: its partners in politics, the private sector and civil society must also create the conditions for the restructuring process and growth as well as actively support the organic sector. BIOFACH 2016 provides the platform for holding discussions and initiating specific measures.
Extracts of the program:
- The World of Organic Agriculture - Statistics and Emerging Trends At this session the latest data on organic agriculture worldwide were presented (area, operators, markets) and an overview of the current status of organic legislation will be given
- EU Policy Day, organised by IFOAM EU in cooperation with BIOFACH. In March 2014 the European Commission published its legislative proposal for a new organic regulation. The next and last step in this process is represented by the ‘trilogue’ negotiations between the three EU institutions to agree on a final legal text, presumably at the beginning of 2016. Taking into consideration the three institutions’ proposals, trilogue outcomes on certain regulation areas can be already foreseen and discussion can be kicked off.The policy day will bring together the EU policy makers and the organic sector to discuss the possible changes that the sector will have to be facing when the new organic regulation is adopted.
- Recent Studies in Organic Research. This session bridged the gap between science and the public by covering studies published in 2015 (and early 2016) about the human health and environmental benefits of organic agriculture.
- How much food safety can we afford? The tension between safety and quality. Manufacturers and consumers have been jolted by the discoveries of dioxin and mycotoxins in food products. Does society need to reach a new consensus on safety and quality?
Barbara Altmann, Head of Strategic Sourcing Food Ingredients / Rapunzel Naturkost AG Jutta Jaksche, Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband e.V. (vzbv)
Dr. Ulrich Mautner, SALUS Haus Dr. med. Otto Greither Nachf. GmbH and Co. KG
Andreas Swoboda, W-E-G Stiftung and Co. KG
Tom Nizet, Responsable certification / Certisys GmbH
Hubertus Doms, Hipp GmbH & Co. Produktions KG
