CGIAR institutes using RSS feeds to communicate and disseminate information

RSS feeds and content syndication was one of the conversation points at the recent CGIAR information managers meeting in Syria. Several of the centres have begun to make information on their activities available using RSS and XML tools. According to Maricopa (where you can get the code to put feeds on your own web site) an "RSS feed is a dynamically generated summary (in XML format) of information or news published on other web sites - so when the published RSS changes, your web site will be automatically changed."

IFPRI has a food policy feed announcing new publications and events; the CGIAR Secretariat has a feed announcing new postings to its web site, IPGRI has a public awareness feed on plant genetic resources; IPGRI also hosts the future harvest electronic clippings file with stories about CGIAR research activities; CIMMYT Now provides news on maize and wheat research; and the CGIAR has a feed on its Post-Tsunami activities.

Some of the libraries are also getting in on the act: The IPGRI library just launched the Genetic Grapevine with information on information resources about plant genetic resources, agrobiodiversity and conservation; the IWMI library has started a what's new in the IWMI library feed, as has the IRRI library. Story by Peter Ballantyne.

Tags: agricultural information cgiar