AgInfo Worldwide publishes papers from 13th IAALD Congress

In April 2010, the IAALD XIIIth World Congress brought together practitioners from countries around the world involved in the production, management, distribution or use of knowledge in the agricultural and rural development sectors.

Together, these practitioners and users exchanged information about new practices to support research, action and innovation for sustainable rural development.

The first of two special issues of 'Agricultural Information Worldwide' has just been published, with articles from the world congress.

View the special issue.

Contents of the special issue include:

• How Can Information Contribute to Innovative Learning Processes? Insight from A Farmer University in Brazil

• Developing a Mixed Knowledge Innovative System of Technical, Institutional and Traditional Information for Capacity Building and Empowerment of Multi-Stakeholders Networks in Rural Africa

• Targeted Information Products and Services: Balancing Stakeholder Needs, Learning, and Strategy

• Is There a Future for the Conventional Abstracting and Indexing Services?

• Incorporating Use of a Mixed-media Information Tool into the Work of Actors Involved in the Development of Livestock Production in Tanzania; Dissemination, User Training, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Impact

• Documentation for Building and Sharing Agroecological Knowledge

• L'observatoire de la recherche agronomique en Algérie. Pour une intégration des pôles scientifiques dans le processus de développement

• Knowledge Sharing on Best Practices for Managing Crop Genebanks

• Communicating Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators: Lessons Learned

• Capitalisation d’expériences et innovations institutionnelles en Afrique de l'Ouest

Presentations from the Congress are online at: www.slideshare.net/iaald/tag/aginfo10

More blog posts from the Congress are online at http://iaald.blogspot.com/search/label/aginfo10

Social reporting at IAALD 2010: How good have we done?

While the IAALD 2010 congress sessions were unfolding and information systems, services and products, communication and information exchange were discussed in Montpellier, we used some social media to capture messages from the congress.

This approach, generally known as 'social reporting', puts together and connects a series of web tools and spaces to record conversations happening in a face to face event. The content created is shared using audio, video, slideshows and photos to accompany the written record. This content is remixed and reused in different information products. Travelling on RSS feeds it passes through multiple channels to reach different online communities and users. Using a common tag, this content can be easily aggregated, tracking the outputs of several people attending a meeting.

In Montpellier, we agreed to use aginfo10 as the event tag. All the content created was tagged with this label.

We tracked 30 'blips' - video interviews recorded and published during the event. Twenty-five were published on the IAALD channel. We also blogged on this blog as well as other blogs. We uploaded 61 presentations to SlideShare – there are some 80 slide shows in total with the tag 'aginfo10'. We created an IAALD 2010 group on Flickr where different people could share their photos. We also used the IAALD Twitter channel and sourced the tweets of other users and followers.

Finally, we collected all content and published it in a consolidated event feed. All the various conference outputs we could find are also tagged ‘aginfo10’ on www.delicious.com (157 Bookmarked items).

Besides defining and sharing the conference tag, a key element was to plug and integrate the different tools and applications in a ‘system’ with several entry points and publishing channels. We didn’t just publish on social media platforms, we wanted to make sure the content was picked up by a wide range of groups and communities - on twitter, ning, facebook, blogs, and feedreaders. RSS feeds were a key mechanism to animate this content dissemination.

To date, our statistics – one month after the event - show:

- we produced 30 videos, attracting some 2,000 views, or 59 views per video. The most-viewed video is a CABI interview published on Youtube.

- in April 2010, views of the IAALD blog and website increased by a third from the previous month.

- we shared 61 powerpoint presentations, attracting 18,875 views, or 310 views per presentation. Some presentations were standouts in terms of views:

• De la numérisation à la diffusion en ligne de thèses et mémoires africains : l’expérience réussie d’une gestion de projet de bibliothèque numérique par le CAMES (1853 views)
  
• The management of indigenous knowledge with other knowledge systems for agricultural development: Challenges and opportunities for developing countries (1738 views)
  
• The LIMS Community and its collaborative Livestock Information Management System for managing livestock statistics and sharing information in the SADC region (1315 views)
• Integrated information systems for farmers and advisors as well as vertical and horizontal chain partners and its benefits (830 views)
  
• Shaping tomorrow’s agriculture today (568 views)
  
• Nigerian rural youths’ utilization of agricultural information on selected arable crops: an empirical evidence (504 views)
  
• A global information portal to facilitate and promote accessibility and rational utilization of ex situ plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (411 views)
  
• Knowledge sharing on best practices to manage crop genebanks (397 views)
  

- Items listed in the congress news feed were viewed 4200 times between April and June 2010.

- More than 300 postings with the ‘aginfo10’ hashtag were tweeted or retweeted on Twitter just before, during and after the congress. The majority were during the event itself. Some 20 different people relayed the congress on Twitter.

Not to forget the 'social' aspect of social reporting, we want to thank all the followers, friends and colleagues that contribute to this effort, by writing, commenting, circulating and signposting the snippets of conversations captured in Montpellier.

by Pier Andrea Pirani and Peter Ballantyne

IAALD 2010 Congress on Twitter

During the IAALD 2010 Congress, many of the participants used Twitter to share information on what was going on. Below, are the postings with the hashtag 'aginfo10' - downloaded 1 week after the congress (Latest posting first in the listing):

sebastiendupre: Retour sur le Congrès mondial IAALD 2010 http://bit.ly/9qA9X8 via @Agropolis

iaald: Social media and web 2.0 pathways to research uptake: How the CGIAR is leveraging social media and web 2… http://goo.gl/fb/ClyvU

simonestaiger: Great #CIARD presentation on social media at IAALD http://bit.ly/afc2Fd

e_agriculture: Top minds seek to improve impact of ICT in rural development at IAALD http://goo.gl/fb/EJenN

iaald: Live from Montpellier (well, almost) http://goo.gl/fb/pPDWk

leisasfarm: RT @iaald: : LEISA Magazine: Achievements and challenges in documenting rural agricultural experiences [video] http://goo.gl/fb/sVJeE

iaald : CIARD workshop on information systems architecture [video] http://goo.gl/fb/58fqp

iaald : Rendre la technologie au service du peuple: Le modèle VERCON [video] http://goo.gl/fb/oCnjh

iaald : LEISA Magazine: Achievements and challenges in documenting rural agricultural experiences [video] http://goo.gl/fb/sVJeE

flaureys : Top minds seek to improve impact of ICT in rural development at IAALD http://goo.gl/fb/EJenN

faonews:: RT @mongkolroek RT @petecranston: , more to follow on #unfao's 10 yr VERCON research/extension services proj: http://bit.ly/9SM9mt

ugomatic: @ageekculture hi, what is the name of the kenyan initiative you mentioned presenting at ? i'd love to know more - thanks

peterballantyne : Going through social reports from iaald congress - blogs, blips, photos, powerpoints, tweets

peterballantyne : RT @iaald: : Top minds seek to improve impact of ICT in rural development at IAALD http://goo.gl/fb/EJenN

mongkolroek: RT @petecranston: @ , more blogs to follow this on FAO's 10 yr long VERCON research/extension services program http://bit.ly/9SM9mt

iaald : LEISA Magazine: Logros y desafíos en la documentación de experiencias agrícolas rurales [video] http://goo.gl/fb/KlJI5

iaald : Using RSS feeds amongst agricultural information specialists in Southern Africa [video] http://goo.gl/fb/jtZ5D

iaald : Making technology work for the people: The VERCON model [video] http://goo.gl/fb/0S6PE

vpalmieri: RT @iaald: : Capacity building for knowledge sharing in research [video] http://goo.gl/fb/lGbX1

iaald : Strategic communication: from technologies transferred to empowered farmers http://goo.gl/fb/INfaP

iaald : Integrated systems – the sharp end of information management http://goo.gl/fb/PzLVG

iaald : Top minds seek to improve impact of ICT in rural development at IAALD http://goo.gl/fb/EJenN

iaald : Capacity building for knowledge sharing in research [video] http://goo.gl/fb/lGbX1

petecranston: great week @ , more blogs to follow this on FAO's 10 year long VERCON research/extension services programme http://bit.ly/9SM9mt

ictkm: RT @NonProfitBlogs Live from Montpellier (well, almost) http://dlvr.it/h4Zk

mongkolroek: waiving from Rome to everyone who was at the IAALD World Congress. great to see everyone

gaurisalokhe: wish i could be in that session! RT @sebastiendupre: Social Media for information specialists

gaurisalokhe: @sebastiendupre wish i could be in that session!

gaurisalokhe: @dsenmartin can you share the best example with us as well? :)

dsenmartin: Thanks! @hapeeg watch #10tactics Social media for dev session at #aginfo10: What's the best example of a devorg using Facebook?

hapeeg: watch #10tactics RT @dsenmartin: Social media for development session at #aginfo10: What's the best example of a devorg using a Facebook?

dsenmartin: Social media for development session at #aginfo10: What's the best example of a (southern) development institution using a Facebook page?

sebastiendupre: Social Media for information specialists

sebastiendupre: Planning for long term sustainability of an open access global database http://goo.gl/fb/vDpvQ

sebastiendupre: Je vis la même expérience (en tant que francophone...) à RT: @edipretoro: seul à tweeter ds 1 conf de spécialistes de l'infodoc

gaurisalokhe: new IAALD president outlines her goals for IAALD in the coming year - http://bit.ly/dfn4mO

FJ_Martin: gd Xchange & networking w/professionals #iaald International Congress. Worked on #CIARD Advocacy as part of FAO Delegation

sebastiendupre: I'm at IAALD International Congress for the "Délégation à l'IST" of Cirad

iaald : Luti Salisbury at the IAALD 2010 Congress [video] http://goo.gl/fb/4VxuT

iaald : Capturing and sharing learning from the fields http://goo.gl/fb/zSVxA

iaald : Planning for long term sustainability of an open access global database [presentation] http://goo.gl/fb/vDpvQ

iaald : VERCON and mobile devices for agricultural communication http://goo.gl/fb/QMVP6

iaald : Extension services through mobile telephony and internet in Kenya [video] http://goo.gl/fb/cpWCZ

dsenmartin: What do the future farmers need? Good discussion with Olaniyi from Ladoke University, Nigeria, on youth, agriculture and gender

FJ_Martin: ASTI Indicators - http://bit.ly/b5unOC useful tool 4 policy decision-makers . Awareness & national partnerships R crucial

sebastiendupre: Pictures from IAALD 2010 congress on Flickr http://bit.ly/dDjDc0

rsamii: @ictkm and how much of that content is quality content? and why in heaven's name we keep producing useless content!

ictkm: talking of info overload.."There is enough info published in a day to keep a researcher busy for 450 years. F. Sancho, IICA

LnArnal: Digital native or information alien? http://goo.gl/fb/0G4cb

lumiweb: RT @sebastiendupre: Digital native or information alien? http://goo.gl/fb/0G4cb

dsenmartin: Cata de vinos Languedoc al son de la viella! http://twitpic.com/1j5muz

blds_library: RT @iaald: : Can librarians, scientists and IT geeks feed the world? http://goo.gl/fb/WGuCC

elllekari: RT @ictkm: New tools for agricultural information specialists, highlights fromsession at IAALD http://bit.ly/cW8buD

sebastiendupre: Social media for research demo session at IAALD http://bit.ly/aNykZe

ictkm: New tools for agricultural information specialists, highlights fromsession at IAALD http://bit.ly/cW8buD

ictkm: Social media for research demo session at IAALD http://bit.ly/aNykZe

gaurisalokhe: congratulations to Barb for being elected president of #iaald!! @CIAT_ Edith on vice pres!

sebastiendupre: Can librarians, scientists and IT geeks feed the world? http://goo.gl/fb/WGuCC

sebastiendupre: Digital native or information alien? http://goo.gl/fb/0G4cb

iaald : Digital native or information alien? http://goo.gl/fb/0G4cb

iaald : Can librarians, scientists and IT geeks feed the world? http://goo.gl/fb/WGuCC

sandy_flor: @mongkolroek @ewenlb Bad idea. We're forgetting that it's a KM phrase that has a technical application.

e_agriculture: RT @iaald: SARNISSA - Réseaux de Recherche en Aquaculture Durable en Afrique Sub-saharienne [video] http://goo.gl/fb/ThOul

mongkolroek: RT @ictkm: Prolinnova "Partnerships do not fall from sky, need attention, facilitation, common vision" - I add they need trust!

e_agriculture: RT @sebastiendupre: "Observatoire de la recherche agronomique en Algérie" http://bit.ly/9rICrc

e_agriculture: RT @sebastiendupre "IMARK: kit de ressources pr la gestion de l'info agricole via apprentissage électronique" http://bit.ly/ddbUzu

sebastiendupre: MC Deboin "IMARK: kit de ressources pr la gestion de l'info agricole via apprentissage électronique" http://bit.ly/ddbUzu

sebastiendupre: Importance de la formation des étudiants à l'interrogation des BDD internationales en IST

sebastiendupre: "Observatoire de la recherche agronomique en Algérie" http://bit.ly/9rICrc

sebastiendupre: "Besoins en infos du secteur agronomique algérien: construction d’1 offre évolutive ds 1 partenariat Nord/Sud" Marie-Claude Deboin

Bajan_Nads: RT @ictkm Prolinnova:"Partnerships do not fall from the sky, need attention, facilitation, a common vision" -add they need trust!

ictkm: Prolinnova: "Partnerships do not fall from the sky, need attention, facilitation, a common vision" - I would add they need trust!

e_agriculture: RT @sebastiendupre: "Adéquation offre-demande en information agricole pour le dév rural: cas de Madagascar" www.cidst.mg

clobrda: matching technology with the workflows is crucial for successful applications

ictkm: Prolinnova: challenging the traditional process of agency-led documentation - let the farmers decide what and how to document

ictkm: Prolinnova: increase accountability of public funding by letting farmers decide what to invest on and manage the funds.

ictkm: Prolinnova: Piloting Local innovation support funds: farmer-led development funding to overcome institutional controlled

ictkm: Prolinnova: farmers are creative innovators. Effective R&D builds on, supports and stimulate local innovation processes.

sebastiendupre: "Adéquation offre-demande en information agricole pour le dév rural: cas de Madagascar" M. Rahaingo-Razafimbelo CIDST www.cidst.mg

mongkolroek: I like @ewenlb suggests replace "best practice" with "next practice" as in the next thing to try out or promote - trial & error

clobrda: scientists shall dedicate 5% of their time for producing datasets with metadata about their data

ictkm: Prolinnova at : exploring how more than 150 orgs over 4 continents can work together on a commons agenda...

mongkolroek: Poutthasinh: extension materials in local languages + using local facilitators essential to empower farmers in Laos

ictkm: RT @pficarelli: ICT-enabled agri-services at the farm gate Check this video out -- Sankalp 2009 http://youtu.be/m05N7aVKgls

iaald : Is there a future for conventional abstracting and indexing services? [presentation] http://goo.gl/fb/YACBk

iaald : Reseaux de recherche sur l’aquaculture durable en Afrique Sub-Saharienne [presentation]

iaald : SARNISSA - Réseaux de Recherche en Aquaculture Durable en Afrique Sub-saharienne [video] http://goo.gl/fb/ThOul

iaald : CABI experience with phone-based information services for farmers [video] http://goo.gl/fb/S55Ys

iaald : New IAALD executive installed in Montpellier http://goo.gl/fb/QLPaM

ictkm: RT @mongkolroek: Poutthasinh Phimmachanh, Lao PDR, presenting "Think before you plant, think before you print" on strategic agricultural info

FJ_Martin: Piensa antes de Plantar en Presentando experiencia de Laos basdo en estrategia de Comunicacion para Desarrollo

mongkolroek: Poutthasinh Phimmachanh, Lao PDR, presenting "Think before you plant, think before you print" on strategic agricultural info

sebastiendupre: "L'information scientifique et technique (IST) en réseau au Burkina Faso" Minata Traoré (UPB Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso)

pficarelli: ICT-enabled agri-services at the farm gate Check this video out -- Sankalp 2009 http://youtu.be/m05N7aVKgls

mongkolroek: concern expressed on use of term Best Practice at . "best" must have context, so I prefer "good" or "leading practice" with context

sebastiendupre: Z. Lire "De la numér à la diff en ligne de thèses/mémoires africains: exp réussie d'1 gestion de projet de bib num par le CAMES"

sebastiendupre: Le portail SIST (système d'information scientifique et technique) Madagascar http://bit.ly/d5t13a

sebastiendupre: "Présentation du Portail national SIST à Madagascar" par J.-M. R. Andrianiaina

sebastiendupre: En direct du Workshop francophone au Congrès IAALD 2010 présidé par @lehenaff

iaald : Biofuels Information Exchange - Innovation [presentation]s in agricultural knowledge sharing http://goo.gl/fb/uzBge

iaald : Research4Development: Managing and Sharing DFID’s Research Evidence http://goo.gl/fb/pdTRG

iaald : Phone-based information services for farmers [presentation] http://goo.gl/fb/ix8Zw

iaald : New IAALD president sketches out plans for the coming year [video] http://goo.gl/fb/OePrA

iaald : Le point sur le Congrès [video] http://goo.gl/fb/1vji4

e_agriculture: IAALD elects new board: Pres, Barbara Hutchinson, Univ. AZ; Vice Pres, Edith Hesse, CIAT; Treas, Toni Greider.

ageekculture: Very interesting presentation of rural services through mobile telephony in kenya

rdonosovegas: RT @FJ_Martin: #iaald celulares: agentes de extension del futuro. Mas alla de info. mercados, hacia resultados de investigacion calidad

vpalmieri: RT @iaald: : The CIARD initiative: Making agricultural research information truly accessible [video] http://goo.gl/fb/JUc5q

iaald : Qu'est-ce que CIARD? [video] http://goo.gl/fb/dyBjg

iaald : "Les spécialistes de l'information agricole sont des acteurs clés dans le processus d'innovation" http://goo.gl/fb/LBkYT

CIAT_DAPA: RT @mongkolroek: IAALD new board: Pres: Barbara Hutchinson; Vice Pres, Edith Hesse #CIAT; Treasurer, Toni Greider.

mongkolroek: "It's not me working for you, it's us working together" Barbara Hutchinson, new president of IAALD gives inaugural address

mongkolroek: IAALD elects new board: President, Barbara Hutchinson; Vice Pres, Edith Hesse; Treasurer, Toni Greider. Congratulations!

rsamii: RT @mongkolroek: Cabi + IKSL (India) partnership presentation "mobiles are the extension agents of the 21st century" #ict4d mongkolroek: IAALD General Assembly now underway at ... congrats to @peterballantyne on 5 innovative years as President, and to rest of Board

dsenmartin: A Esterhuysen: ICT more than a tool? Wheel invention example! Brought social changes. ICT changes people and social processes

dsenmartin: F Laureys, #IICD, M Riggs, FAO: need to identify gaps in models for ICT impact in Rural Livelihoods, effort to link concepts

dsenmartin: S Rudgard: to enhance the Impact of ICT in Rural Development, how to avoid parachuting ICT? #itc4d http://twitpic.com/1iuoud

FJ_Martin: #iaald celulares: agentes de extension del futuro. Mas alla de info. mercados, hacia resultados de investigacion calidad

mongkolroek: Cabi + IKSL (India) partnership presentation "mobiles are the extension agents of the 21st century"

FJ_Martin: Elizabeth Dodsworth - CABI presenta Biofuel Information Xchange basado en plataforma Ning, originalmente destinado a academicos.

ictkm: good story of tech and agriculture: fun + tech + women empowered community to form farmers association

ictkm: m-agriculture session @ iaald: knwldge cafe' on how mobile devices transform info and comms'

LisaCespedes: Thanks @SebastienDupre! I wished I was in Montpellier too! Say hi to my boss & friends @mongkolroek & @FJ_Martin for me! :)

e_agriculture: IAALD elects new board: Pres, Barbara Hutchinson, Univ. AZ; Vice Pres, Edith Hesse, CIAT; Treas, Toni Greider

ageekculture: Very interesting presentation of rural services through mobile telephony in kenya

rdonosovegas: RT @FJ_Martin: #iaald celulares: agentes de extension del futuro. Mas alla de info. mercados, hacia resultados de investigacion calidad

vpalmieri: RT @iaald: : The CIARD initiative: Making agricultural research information truly accessible [video] http://goo.gl/fb/JUc5q

iaald : Qu'est-ce que CIARD? [video] http://goo.gl/fb/dyBjg

iaald : "Les spécialistes de l'information agricole sont des acteurs clés dans le processus d'innovation" http://goo.gl/fb/LBkYT

CIAT_DAPA: RT @mongkolroek: IAALD new board: Pres: Barbara Hutchinson; Vice Pres, Edith Hesse #CIAT; Treasurer, Toni Greider.

mongkolroek: "It's not me working for you, it's us working together" Barbara Hutchinson, new president of IAALD gives inaugural address

mongkolroek: IAALD elects new board: President, Barbara Hutchinson; Vice Pres, Edith Hesse; Treasurer, Toni Greider. Congratulations!

rsamii: RT @mongkolroek: Cabi + IKSL (India) partnership presentation "mobiles are the extension agents of the 21st century" #ict4d mongkolroek: IAALD General Assembly now underway at ... congrats to @peterballantyne on 5 innovative years as President, and to rest of Board

dsenmartin: A Esterhuysen: ICT more than a tool? Wheel invention example! Brought social changes. ICT changes people and social processes

dsenmartin: F Laureys, #IICD, M Riggs, FAO: need to identify gaps in models for ICT impact in Rural Livelihoods, effort to link concepts

dsenmartin: S Rudgard: to enhance the Impact of ICT in Rural Development, how to avoid parachuting ICT? #itc4d http://twitpic.com/1iuoud

FJ_Martin: #iaald celulares: agentes de extension del futuro. Mas alla de info. mercados, hacia resultados de investigacion calidad

mongkolroek: Cabi + IKSL (India) partnership presentation "mobiles are the extension agents of the 21st century"

FJ_Martin: Elizabeth Dodsworth - CABI presenta Biofuel Information Xchange basado en plataforma Ning, originalmente destinado a academicos.

ictkm: good story of tech and agriculture: fun + tech + women empowered community to form farmers association

ictkm: m-agriculture session @ iaald: knwldge cafe' on how mobile devices transform info and comms’

LisaCespedes: Thanks @SebastienDupre! I wished I was in Montpellier too! Say hi to my boss & friends @mongkolroek & @FJ_Martin for me! :)

FJ_Martin: RT @mongkolroek: @LisaCespedes Sesion e-Agriculture @ IAALD . Participantes empujan conceptos p/mejorar impacto Des. Rural

FJ_Martin: RT @dsenmartin: Rudgard: ampliar el impacto de TIC en Desarrollo Agrario, evitar paracaidismo de TICS

mongkolroek: @LisaCespedes e-Agriculture session at IAALD went well. Participants push concepts to improve ICT impact in rural devel.

FJ_Martin: Presentacion de DFID R4D en #iaald - Que financia la agencia? Visite su sitio http://bit.ly/aoPOeT (Archivo Abierto)

e_agriculture: RT @dsenmartin: F Laureys IICD, M Riggs FAO: need to identify gaps in models for ICT impact in Rural Livelihoods, to link concepts

e_agriculture: RT @dsenmartin: S Rudgard: to enhance Impact of ICT in Rural Development, how to avoid parachuting ICT?

FJ_Martin: RT @iaald: : Repensando la forma en que miramos la investigacion agraria [video] en ingles http://bit.ly/cN8Zkg

ictkm: Mark Holderness at the #IAALD congress Rethinking the way we look at agricultural research http://bit.ly/aY8jvc

GCARD2010: Mark Holderness at the #IAALD congress Rethinking the way we look at agricultural research http://bit.ly/aY8jvc

paulamonse: RT @ictkm: : Rethinking the way we look at agricultural research [video] http://goo.gl/fb/lJiuE

ictkm: : Rethinking the way we look at agricultural research [video] http://goo.gl/fb/lJiuE

iaald : Rethinking the way we look at agricultural research [video] http://goo.gl/fb/lJiuE

iaald : InfoAccess Marketplace: How to make agricultural research information available and accessible http://goo.gl/fb/ocmA4

ictkm: discussion in New Tools session at iaald: tech like GIS, web video and RSS shld target intermediaries in SSA, not farmers

LisaCespedes: @mongkolroek How did the e-Ag session go today?

LisaCespedes: "InfoAccess Marketplace: How to make agricultural research info available & accessible" http://ow.ly/1DBYh

rvidal: RT @sebastiendupre: How #Mendeley is changing the way to manage research papers and references [video] http://goo.gl/fb/CKwzA

rdonosovegas: RT @FJ_Martin: RT @peterballantyne: - Entrevistas en video del Congreso IAALD en http://bit.ly/cg2oBi / Blog en http://bit.ly/aRnwNh

ictkm: "ICT tools all have to fit in a social process to influence development"

FJ_Martin: RT @mongkolroek: @LisaCespedes Sesion e-Agriculture @ IAALD . Participantes empujan conceptos p/mejorar impacto Des. Rural

FJ_Martin: RT @dsenmartin: Rudgard: ampliar el impacto de TIC en Desarrollo Agrario, evitar paracaidismo de TICS http://twitpic.com/1iuoud

mongkolroek: @LisaCespedes e-Agriculture session at IAALD went well. Participants push concepts to improve ICT impact in rural devel.

FJ_Martin: Presentacion de DFID R4D en #iaald - Que financia la agencia? Visite su sitio http://bit.ly/aoPOeT

e_agriculture: RT @dsenmartin: F Laureys IICD, M Riggs FAO: need to identify gaps in models for ICT impact in Rural Livelihoods, to link concepts

e_agriculture: RT @dsenmartin: S Rudgard: to enhance Impact of ICT in Rural Development, how to avoid parachuting ICT? http://twitpic.com/1iuoud

FJ_Martin: RT @iaald: : Repensando la forma en que miramos la investigacion agraria [video] en ingles http://bit.ly/cN8Zkg

ictkm: Mark Holderness at the #IAALD congress Rethinking the way we look at agricultural research http://bit.ly/aY8jvc

GCARD2010: Mark Holderness at the #IAALD congress Rethinking the way we look at agricultural research http://bit.ly/aY8jvc

paulamonse: RT @ictkm: : Rethinking the way we look at agricultural research [video] http://goo.gl/fb/lJiuE

ictkm: : Rethinking the way we look at agricultural research [video] http://goo.gl/fb/lJiuE

iaald : Rethinking the way we look at agricultural research [video] http://goo.gl/fb/lJiuE

iaald : InfoAccess Marketplace: How to make agricultural research information available and accessible http://goo.gl/fb/ocmA4

ictkm: discussion in New Tools session at iaald: tech like GIS, web video and RSS shld target intermediaries in SSA, not farmers directly

LisaCespedes: @mongkolroek How did the e-Ag session go today?

LisaCespedes: "InfoAccess Marketplace: How to make agricultural research info available & accessible" http://ow.ly/1DBYh

rvidal: RT @sebastiendupre: How #Mendeley is changing the way to manage research papers and references [video] http://goo.gl/fb/CKwzA

rdonosovegas: RT @FJ_Martin: RT @peterballantyne: - Entrevistas en video del Congreso IAALD en http://bit.ly/cg2oBi / . Blog en http://bit.ly/aRnwNh

ictkm: "ICT tools all have to fit in a social process to influence development"

FJ_Martin: RT @mongkolroek: @LisaCespedes Sesion e-Agriculture @ IAALD . Participantes empujan conceptos p/mejorar impacto Des. Rural

FJ_Martin: RT @dsenmartin: Rudgard: ampliar el impacto de TIC en Desarrollo Agrario, evitar paracaidismo de TICS http://twitpic.com/1iuoud

mongkolroek: @LisaCespedes e-Agriculture session at IAALD went well. Participants push concepts to improve ICT impact in rural devel.

FJ_Martin: Presentacion de DFID R4D en #iaald - Que financia la agencia? Visite su sitio http://bit.ly/aoPOeT (Archivo Abierto)

e_agriculture: RT @dsenmartin: F Laureys IICD, M Riggs FAO: need to identify gaps in models for ICT impact in Rural Livelihoods, to link concepts

e_agriculture: RT @dsenmartin: S Rudgard: to enhance Impact of ICT in Rural Development, how to avoid parachuting ICT?

FJ_Martin: RT @iaald: : Repensando la forma en que miramos la investigacion agraria [video] en ingles http://bit.ly/cN8Zkg

ictkm: Mark Holderness at the #IAALD congress Rethinking the way we look at agricultural research http://bit.ly/aY8jvc

GCARD2010: Mark Holderness at the #IAALD congress Rethinking the way we look at agricultural research http://bit.ly/aY8jvc

paulamonse: RT @ictkm: : Rethinking the way we look at agricultural research [video] http://goo.gl/fb/lJiuE

ictkm: : Rethinking the way we look at agricultural research [video] http://goo.gl/fb/lJiuE

iaald : Rethinking the way we look at agricultural research [video] http://goo.gl/fb/lJiuE

iaald : InfoAccess Marketplace: How to make agricultural research information available and accessible http://goo.gl/fb/ocmA4

ictkm: discussion in New Tools session at iaald: tech like GIS, web video and RSS shld target intermediaries in SSA, not farmers directly

LisaCespedes: @mongkolroek How did the e-Ag session go today? @e_agriculture

LisaCespedes: "InfoAccess Marketplace: How to make agricultural research info available & accessible" http://ow.ly/1DBYh

rvidal: RT @sebastiendupre: How #Mendeley is changing the way to manage research papers and references [video] http://goo.gl/fb/CKwzA

rdonosovegas: RT @FJ_Martin: RT @peterballantyne: - Entrevistas en video del Congreso IAALD en http://bit.ly/cg2oBi / . Blog en http://bit.ly/aRnwNh

ictkm: "ICT tools all have to fit in a social process to influence development"

CABI_News: CABI at IAALD 2010: we're hosting a session on innovations in agricultural knowledge sharing. http://bit.ly/cn91r9

sebastiendupre: RT @peterballantyne Video interviews from IAALD congress at http://iaald.blip.tv / blogging at http://iaald.blogspot.com

sebastiendupre: @mongkolroek At least, there's no tweets in french in my rss reader with #aginfo10 or #IAALD but I'll maybe come tomorrow and thursday ;-)

sebastiendupre: Je crois que non/I don't think so :-( RT: @mongkolroek: is there anyone at IAALD 2010 tweeting in French? pls. let me know.

dsenmartin: @peterballantyne video interviews from IAALD congress at http://iaald.blip.tv / blogging at http://iaald.blogspot.com

ictkm: RT @peterballantyne: #aginfo10 - video interviews from IAALD congress at http://iaald.blip.tv / blogging at http://iaald.blogspot.com

ictkm: RT @peterballantyne: RT @iaald #aginfo10: The CIARD initiative: Making agricultural research information truly accessible [video] http://goo.gl/fb/JUc5q

e_agriculture: #aginfo10 Entrevistas en video del Congreso IAALD en http://bit.ly/cg2oBi Blog en http://bit.ly/aRnwNh (via @FJ_Martin @peterballantyne)

FJ_Martin: RT @peterballantyne: #aginfo10 - Entrevistas en video del Congreso IAALD en http://bit.ly/cg2oBi / . Blog en http://bit.ly/aRnwNh

peterballantyne: #aginfo10 - video interviews from IAALD congress at http://iaald.blip.tv / blogging at http://iaald.blogspot.com

mongkolroek: is there anyone at IAALD 2010 tweeting in French? pls. let me know

dsenmartin: RT @ewenlb @petecranston refreshing to hear that concept of co-creation of knowledge, integrating local+global, is so mainstream

ewenlb: @petecranston Is Valerie Brown from #IKM-E presenting her collective inquiry approach building upon multiple knowledges at #aginfo10?

dsenmartin: RT @peterballantyne: Holderness: message from GCARD is that we need farmers to be put "dead central"

peterballantyne: RT @iaald: The CIARD initiative: Making agricultural research information truly accessible [video] http://goo.gl/fb/JUc5q

petecranston: scientific K: reductionist, trusted & validated by its method: local k:holistic, trusted & validated by experience & culture

mongkolroek: Holderness confirms this, just now saying we are "brokers" of innovation and information

mongkolroek: who better to advocate a holistic info/knowledge paradigm in agriculture/rural development than IKM people???

ictkm: Information is passive, becomes knowledge through use Holderness of GFAR

peterballantyne: Holderness: message from GCARD is that we need farmers to be put "dead central".

mongkolroek: Mark Holderness: research literature links show agri not connected to edu, econ + other fields critical to farmer's livelihoods

peterballantyne: Holderness: "all knowledge has value" scientific and local knowledge has to be linked and reconciled...

ictkm: @petecranston add an ethnographic approach to learning processes? usability - context - environment - people=central to learning

ictkm: RT @Knowledge4Dev: iaald #aginfo10: How Menedeley is changing the way to manage reserch papers and references [video] http://goo.gl/fb/CKwzA

peterballantyne: Mark Holderness of GFAR: "shaping tomorrow's agriculture today"

ictkm: Agriculture is a knowledge-based industry:we need to make this knowledge available and accessible and put it into use - Holderness

ictkm: Takes 15- 30 yrs for research results to get to the farm! so need to find new ways to get knowledge into action now! Holderness

gervis: Co-creation of knowledge, integrating local and global, are mainstream at #aginfo10 says @petecranston http://iaald2010.agropolis.fr/

ewenlb: RT: @petecranston: refreshing to hear that the concept of co-creation of knowledge, integrating local+global, is so mainstream at #aginfo10

mongkolroek: RT @petecranston: refreshing to hear that concept of co-creation of knowledge, integrating local + global, is so mainstream at #aginfo10

petecranston: refreshing to hear that the concept of co-creation of knowledge, integrating local and global, is so mainstream here at #aginfo10

sebastiendupre: How #Mendeley is changing the way to manage research papers and references [video] http://goo.gl/fb/CKwzA #aginfo10 from @Knowledge4Dev

sebastiendupre: @petecranston : Hope to see you there. Have a nice sunny day.

sebastiendupre: @petecranston Hi Pete, I will come for the "Francophone workshop" on Wednesday. Maybe on thursday too if I can

Knowledge4Dev: iaald iaald #aginfo10: CGIAR centers join with Google Books to extend reach http://goo.gl/fb/HwYPt

Knowledge4Dev: iaald #aginfo10: Organic Edunet: Opening access on organic agriculture and agroecology [video] http://goo.gl/fb/JkbFv

Knowledge4Dev: iaald #aginfo10: How Menedeley is changing the way to manage research papers and references [video] http://goo.gl/fb/CKwzA

ictkm: RT @mongkolroek: CIARD Marketplace at #aginfo10 organized exhibitors by pathways to improve access to agri research information http://bit.ly/9T9UE9

mongkolroek: CIARD Marketplace at #aginfo10 organized exhibitors by pathways to improve access to agri research information http://bit.ly/9T9UE9

clobrda: follow #aginfo10 for IAALD13th World Congress -P.Ballantyne inviting participants to report through social media for those who couldn't come

haskinsjeff: RT @ictkm: Cgbooks launched at #aginfo10 http://books.cgiar.org/cgiar over 2000 books and growing! Making research truly accessible

mongkolroek: @peterballantyne officially opens the 13th IAALD World Congress: scientific + technical info and rural development

rsamii: @peterballantyne I miss you guys too.... Maybe @mongkolroek had too much wine and cafe au lait, that is why he's advocating 4 ppt

FJ_Martin: RT @iaald: #aginfo10: How Menedeley is changing the way to manage reserch papers and references [video] http://goo.gl/fb/CKwzA

FJ_Martin: RT @iaald: #aginfo10: The CIARD initiative: Making agricultural research information truly accessible [video] http://goo.gl/fb/JUc5q

iaald: #aginfo10: The CIARD initiative: Making agricultural research information truly accessible [video] http://goo.gl/fb/JUc5q

iaald: #aginfo10: How Menedeley is changing the way to manage reserch papers and references [video] http://goo.gl/fb/CKwzA

iaald: #aginfo10: Organic Edunet: Opening access on organic agriculture and agroecology [video] http://goo.gl/fb/JkbFv

iaald: #aginfo10: CGIAR centers join with Google Books to extend reach http://goo.gl/fb/HwYPt

iaald: #aginfo10: La mise en œuvre du projet RAILS en Afrique [video] http://goo.gl/fb/ms6bF

FJ_Martin: RT @e_agriculture: #aginfo10: M-agriculture session at IAALD Congress http://goo.gl/fb/z88OI

FJ_Martin: RT @peterballantyne: Really excellent first day at IAALD congress. CIARD marketplace attracted many people. Excellent local logostics as well.

FJ_Martin: RT @e_agriculture: RT @ictkm: Cgbooks launched at #aginfo10 http://books.cgiar.org/cgiar over 2000 books and growing! Making research truly accessible

e_agriculture: RT @iaald: Implementing the RAILS project in Africa [video] http://goo.gl/fb/83PnW

mongkolroek: nice to meet new colleagues today, including: RT @benhack: new www.icarda.org showcased in CIARD social media session at #iaald

e_agriculture: RT @ictkm: Cgbooks launched at #aginfo10 http://books.cgiar.org/cgiar over 2000 books and growing! Making research truly accessible

mongkolroek: @peterballantyne @rsamii there are always exceptions! Tuesday's e-Agriculture workshop may be a grand one. come to find out

peterballantyne: #aginfo10: looking forward to the Tuesday e-agriculture workshop.Seems that @mongkolroek is advocating use of a PPT ! Missing @rsamii

peterballantyne: #aginfo10 - hashtag for IAALD 2010 congress on twitter

peterballantyne: Really excellent first day at IAALD congress. CIARD marketplace attracted many people. Excellent local logostics as well.

geneticmaize: RT @ictkm: Cgbooks launched at #aginfo10 http://books.cgiar.org/cgiar over 2000 books and growing! Making research truly accessible

CIMMYT: RT @ictkm: Cgbooks launched at #aginfo10 http://books.cgiar.org/cgiar over 2000 books and growing! Making research truly accessible

rsamii: @mongkolroek Look forward to hearing from you tomorrow. Enjoy a nice glass of red wine for me!

mongkolroek: Vive La CIARD says @mongkolroek #aginfo10 http://yfrog.com/5dupcyjj (thanks to @ictkm)

mongkolroek: @rsamii I have been so busy introducing people to CIARD concepts http://bit.ly/d85Y4i and e-Agriculture no time to tweet!

ifpri: RT @ictkm: Cgbooks launched at #aginfo10 http://books.cgiar.org/cgiar over 2000 books and growing! Making research truly accessible #cgiar

ictkm: Cgbooks launched at #aginfo10 http://books.cgiar.org/cgiar over 2000 books and growing! Making research truly accessible #cgiar

rsamii: @ictkm @mongkolroek has not been tweeting..... I guess he's busy visiting the various stands!

ictkm: Vive La CIARD says @mongkolroek #aginfo10 http://yfrog.com/5dupcyjj

ictkm: CG Books being launched now at IAALD #aginfo10

ictkm: just out of demo session on CIARD web2 and #socialmedia pathways at IAALD, interesting feedback and participation

benhack: new www.icarda.org showcased in CIARD social media session at #iaald #aginfo10

agcommons: RT @ictkm: CIARD Marketplace starting now #aginfo10 join us at 2pm for web2 and socialmedia demos, if u r here

rsamii: RT @ictkm: Blogtips.org presented as a great resource for bloggers

ictkm: IMARK resources. A go-to resource for good practice use of web 2.0 tools

ictkm: Who uses blogs in the CGIAR and for what? And how do you promote them? #aginfo10 http://yfrog.com/4rejvj

ictkm: Social media and web 2.0 - how to increase impact seminar at IAALD #aginfo10 http://yfrog.com/64fz9cj

ewenlb: RT: @gaurisalokhe: @peterballantyne @Bajan_Nads @vpalmieri @mongkolroek looking forward to your tweets!

ictkm: CIARD Marketplace starting now #aginfo10 join us at 2pm for web2 and socialmedia demos, if u r here

LisaCespedes: and Hi from me too :) to @peterballantyne @mongkolroek @FJ_Martin in Montpellier for IAALD congress

iaald: #aginfo10: Présentation du Congrès mondial de l'IAALD 2010 [video] http://goo.gl/fb/oShDC

e_agriculture: Hi to @peterballantyne @mongkolroek @FJ_Martin in Montpellier for IAALD congress

petecranston: Mmmm, sunny Montpelier, fresh strawbs, preparing for #aginfo10

gaurisalokhe: @peterballantyne @Bajan_Nads @vpalmieri @mongkolroek looking forward to your tweets!

peterballantyne: In Montpellier for IAALD congress. CIARD marketplace to start soon. Glorious weather.

Bajan_Nads RT @sebastiendupre RT @LisaCespedes: RT @iaald: #aginfo10: M-agriculture session at IAALD Congress http://goo.gl/fb/z88OI

sebastiendupre: RT @ictkm: IAALD World Congress starting today with Marketplace. Follow events at #aginfo10

sebastiendupre: Le Congrès IAALD débute aujourd'hui à Montpellier http://iaald2010.agropolis.fr

LisaCespedes: RT @iaald: #aginfo10: M-agriculture session at IAALD Congress http://goo.gl/fb/z88OI

vpalmieri: RT @ictkm: IAALD Worrd Congress starting today with Marketplace. Follow events at #aginfo10

ictkm: IAALD World Congress starting today with Marketplace. Follow events at #aginfo10

Mobile devices, telecenters and policy regulation

At the recent IAALD congress, Paul Barera from the Rwanda Telecentre Network described at the CTA workshop on m-agriculture how mobile devices can provide another communications and information channel for rural communities, one that can also support telecentre revenue models.

Koda Traore of CTA, interviewed at the IAALD Congress 2010, takes this further and describes how mobile devices extend the definition of telecentres beyond being simply a geographical point to an "IT service centre". In this concept, mobile phones are a value adding channel for teleservice operators and rural communities, taking information directly into homes. This is well demonstrated in the Grameen Foundation programme, whose positive evaluation was reported earlier in IAALD blog.

Surprisingly, perhaps, there is no mention of policy issues in the Grameen evaluation. Koda Traore's emphasis on the importance of policy regulation to ensure equity in the spread of m-services is echoed by Anju Manjal in talking about the very different geographical context of the Pacific region.

CTA is continuing its m-agriculture research programme and plans a second Observatory on the subject later this year, probably in Southern Africa. For more details contact K.Painting at CTA.

The mobile decade for agriculture?

Wall Street has called the end of an era and the beginning of the next one: The most important technology product no longer sits on your desk but rather fits in your hand." This excited introduction comes from a recent article in the New York Times celebrating the point last month when Apple computers overtook Microsoft as the No 1 technology company by value. From the rural development point of view, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, this has been evident for some time which is why CTA is focusing on researching and sharing experiences on how mobile digital devices can support rural communities.

Antonella Pastore of the CGIAR ICT/KM programme recently blogged a report about the CTA workshop during IAALD Congress 2010. The report includes examples of the stories that participants exchanged on how these devices are impacting communities and summarises the outcomes of the Knowledge Cafe discussions.

CTA also interviewed a number of people at the Congress to get their views about the potential and challenges posed by mobile devices.

Annriette Esterhuysen had engaged the workshop with a story of how mobile phones have enriched a long-standing rural radio project.

Interviewed at the IAALD Congress 2010, Anriette Esterhuysen, Executive Director of APC (Association of Progressive Communications) reflects on the characteristics of mobile devices, their impact and the need to maintain a balanced view of their potential.

Michael Riggs, of FAO, reminded us that mobiles are in no way a new technology.

Interviewed at the IAALD Congress 2010, Michael Riggs of FAO gives some background to the work of FAO, CTA, IICD and others in developing a new conceptual framework for ICT4D. He also gives a measured view of what he sees as the role and importance of mobile devices.

Story by Pete Cranston

Una nueva plataforma para promover el acceso a las ciencias agrarias : lanzamiento del nuevo sitio web de CIARD

El nuevo sitio web de la iniciativa global Coherencia en la información para la investigación agraria para el desarrollo (CIARD) fue lanzado por sus principales socios durante el XIII Congreso Mundial de IAALD en Montpellier.

CIARD es un movimiento que busca la coherencia y colaboración en la información y comunicación de la investigación agraria y reúne a instituciones y personas que desean hacer que los productos de la investigación agraria de dominio público sean verdaderamente accesibles a todos. El Manifiesto de CIARD y otras herramientas proporcionan un marco de políticas y prácticas para que quienes poseen y producen información y conocimientos puedan compartir sus productos mundialmente y de modo más eficaz.

El sitio web ofrece una plataforma virtual para la participación de instituciones en las actividades de CIARD, para que evalúen sus prácticas de gestión de información en función de una Lista de verificación de buenas prácticas, compartan y cumplan con las Vías focalizadas de acceso a objeto de mejorar la accesibilidad de la información y contribuyan con estudios de caso, y permite registrar sus servicios de información en el CIARD RING.

La iniciativa CIARD acaparó la atención en el Congreso IAALD y sirvió de eje central de la "Feria de Acceso a la Información" dirigida a aquellos participantes interesados en hacer que los productos de la investigación de sus instituciones sean verdaderamente accesibles, en base a un conjunto de valores comunes. El nuevo sitio web de CIARD está disponible en tres idiomas y es coordinado por la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación (FAO) y el Foro Global de Investigación Agropecuaria (GFAR).

Para más información sobre CIARD, visite el sitio web: www.ciard.net, y sobre el Congreso: http://iaald2010.agropolis.fr/

Une plateforme pour promouvoir l'accès à la science agricole : lancement du nouveau site web de l'initiative CIARD

Le nouveau site web de l'initiative mondiale « Cohérence de l'information sur la recherche agricole pour le développement » (CIARD)a été lancé lors du XIIIème Congrès mondial de l'IAALD à Montpellier.

CIARD est un mouvement pour la cohérence et le partage d'informations issues de la recherche agricole publique. Le Manifeste CIARD et les outils qui l'accompagnent offrent aux institutions qui détiennent et produisent des connaissances un cadre de politiques et de pratiques pour le partage efficace des résultats de recherche agricole au niveau mondial.

Le site web est une plateforme virtuelle qui permet aux individus et aux institutions de participer aux activités CIARD, d'évaluer leurs pratiques de gestion de l'information selon des recommandations, de partager des itinéraires techniques pour un meilleur accès à l'information, de faire part de retours d'expérience, et de donner accès à leurs propres produits ou services d'information à travers le CIARD RING.

L'initiative CIARD a été l'un des pôles d'attraction du Congrès de l'IAALD. CIARD a servi de point d'ancrage au « Forum de l'accès à l'information » dont l'objectif était d'encourager les participants à rendre les résultats de la recherche accessibles à tous par l'adoption de principes communs. Le nouveau site web CIARD est disponible en trois langues, sa coordination est assurée par l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture (FAO) et par le Forum mondial de la recherche agricole(GFAR).

Pour de plus amples informations sur l'initiative CIARD, consulter: www.ciard.net, ou le site du XIIIème Congrès IAALD: http://iaald2010.agropolis.fr

CIARD website a new platform to promote access to agricultural science

At the XIIIth World Congress of IAALD held in Montpellier, the new website of the global initiative on Coherence in Information for Agricultural Research for Development (CIARD)was launched by the principal partners. CIARD is a movement for coherence and collaboration in agricultural research information and communication that brings together institutions and people who want to make agricultural research outputs in the public domain truly accessible to all.

The CIARD Manifesto www.ciard.net/ciard-manifesto and other tools provide a framework of policy and practices for those holding and creating information and knowledge to share their outputs globally and more efficiently.

The web site provides a virtual platform for institutions to participate in CIARD activities, evaluate their information management practices against a Checklist of good practices, share and follow Pathways towards better accessibility of information, and contribute case studies. It also registers their information services in the CIARD RING.

The CIARD initiative provided a major attraction at the IAALD Congress, also acting as the central anchor for the "Information Access Marketplace" aimed at engaging participants interested in making their institutions' research outputs truly accessible, based on a common set of values. The new CIARD website is in three languages and is coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Global Forum for Agricultural Research (GFAR).

For more information on CIARD, please visit: www.ciard.net.

For the Congress visit: http://iaald2010.agropolis.fr.

Session report: Social media for information specialists at the IAALD 2010 Congress

After the closing session of the IAALD 2010 Congress, over 30 information managers shared questions and experiences about how to make the most of web2.0 and social media tools. The specific issues discussed comprise:

• How to measure impact, monitor and evaluate usage of social media so as to select the right mix?
• How to use social bookmarking tools as a channel to mobilise content across different web platforms, networks and communities?
• How to work with low-bandwidth social media solutions?

In this blog story Vanessa Meadu (World Agroforestry Centre) reports on the session and draws some lessons and conclusions.

Integrating agricultural information : Issues and challenges

At the IAALD 2010 Congress, Ajit Maru from GFAR chaired the discussions around the theme of Integrated Information Systems. On the iNARS discussion list and IAALD blog, he shares some thoughts after the event:

'Integration' is a very loaded word. We have to consider what we mean by 'integration' and 'integrated information systems' around agriculture very carefully.

At the 'hard' ware level, we already have very integrated systems in computing and communicating devices but for the agricultural information specialist it could also mean integrating sensors, for example on moisture or solar radiation, with agricultural and farm databases for automated data collection and collation.

At the software level, it could mean integrating tools and applications, as was amply demonstrated by examples presented at the Congress. At the Congress we did hear about many ICTs, especially mobile, wireless and cellular, that hold new promises. However, we did not hear too much about how we integrate across media or offer useable information through mixed media, for example through internet radio using 2/3G devices which will allow us on demand audio that could provide guides to step wise process for extension workers or farmers. Or even how, we can connect postcards with farming queries to radio stations that are connected to the Internet to find answers and can broadcast them over radio.

We all know that the web helps integrate 'information' or more specifically 'data' sets of different formats. However, to me, integration of agricultural information goes beyond bringing information from different sources together. To me this integration should also contribute in some ways to make the information more available, accessible, applicable, especially to other applications, affordable, useable and relevant. Integration is about adding more value and 'integrated information systems' about making information more useable for a targeted group of users who may be diverse even across countries and cultures but have common needs.

There are many challenges when we use the above understanding of 'integration' as related to agricultural information. To me, a major issue is how we integrate work processes in agricultural research and innovation systems so that they are integrated with information and communication management in these systems at an organizational level.

A further challenge in the same lines is of integrating information and communication flows across organizations, many who may not belong to the same research and innovation system. We need to change many structures that define information flows in these organizations, so other collaborations and partnerships that are essential for integrating information systems emerge more rapidly and with vigour.

For example, we will need to change reward systems that equally recognize publishing papers in scientific journals with producing a radio, video, a blog or contributing to a database. We need to change how we institutionally recognize belonging to social networks and our contributions to them as they lead to 'learning'. We need to look at issues of accountability and hierarchy in how information is today generated and communicated in agricultural organizations. We need Institutional change where rules, regulations and norms enable rather than obstruct information flows, coherence and what follows both, integration.

Another major issue that we need to consider is that of ownership or in more straight to the point way, intellectual property rights (IPR) issues, when we consider integration of agricultural information. This becomes very complex when we consider our experiences around the IPR issues in agricultural technologies and products such as seeds.

To me the seed was something more tangible and thus more easily understood when IPR was considered but a genomics database with associated data of the environment in which the gene expresses itself can be very complex in this respect. We must remember that the environment data may be generated, collected or collated by someone who may not have the wherewithal to analyse and interpret genomics data and can easily loose out to those who have these capacities.

And maybe, this is the cause already now being echoed in reluctance to share information globally. But then how do we solve, without tackling this issue head on, global challenges such as of adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change, managing trans-boundary disease or even trade in agricultural commodities?

Similarly, we have the issue of sustainability and security of integrated information systems. If they are of use to agricultural communities across geographic, economic, political and social boundaries, the core issue emerges, who pays for them both for generating the systems and maintaining them. We need a more global understanding of this issue. And, as someone at the Congress pointed out, what happened if a constituent of an integrated system turns itself off or moves out of the collaboration. How secure will such an information system be? We have seen many such initiatives die and its contents, developed with huge costs, lost.

We also need to consider the issue of capacities, building and nurturing them. Even within the agricultural information specialists community, the capacities to develop and manage these systems are inadequate. We need to develop capacities in many more actors not only in those who specialize information management but all in agricultural communities.

I hope we solve these issues as we progress in future in information and communications management related to agriculture.

IAALD 2010 World Congress: Notes from the closing session

The Montpellier Congress closed on Thursday 29 April 2010 with an informative and interactive sessions facilitated by outgoing IAALD president Peter Ballantyne of ILRI. The session aimed at review in plenary what it has been discussed, what it has we learned and what challenges were identified.

Chairs and rapporteurs presented the main messages that emerged from the different sessions - see the summary presentations.

Following the reporting back, participants clustered in small buzz groups and had the opportunity to discuss the summary reports, compare notes on their personal learning points and share general feedback they had for the Congress organisers.

The buzz group format was really appreciated by participants, who engaged in deep conversations and were anxious to get hold of the microphone and share their thoughts with the rest of the audience.

Some of the points arising from these very lively groups were:

• the policy dimension of some of the issues discussed was sometimes missing; this would deserve more attention in the future;
• the Congress could have been more participatory and less based on a traditional powerpoint format for the sessions;
• different formats are required for people to engage and participate: for example, some discussions could take place before the event;
  
• the social aspect of the IAALD Community emerged stronger and now needs to be fostered, also by using social media tools to build engagement and a sense of belonging to the community by the different members;
  
• the profile of participants was already very much different from the 2008 Congress and the traditional IAALD audience; nevertherless, there's a need to invite other types of professionals and seek more diversity in the group;
• the marketplace on the first day of the Congress was a great opportunity to talk, share and learn;
• particular attention needs to be devoted to issues of knowledge sharing and knowledge management, and how to connect 'global' and 'local' knowledge, bringing this to the surface and building on it;
• there's a need to create better links and synergies of information management between grassroots level and institutional level;
• there's a need to bring and disseminate all the learning done in Montpellier to other people.

From his side, Jean-François Giovannetti, chairman of the Programme Committee for the 2010 IAALD Congress, shared with us his take home messages and highlighted the main points that he saw emerging from the event.

Besides the richness of the content discussed and presented, the useful information exchange that took place especially in the marketplace, and the focus on the local challenges, Giovannetti underlined 2 main elements.

On the one hand, he underlines the diversity among the participants, with information specialists, researchers and other practitioners discussing, exchanging ideas and enriching the conversations with their different specialisations and cultural backgrounds.

On the other, he appreciated how the congress discussed less about tools for the sake of tools, and more about how the tools can work for the people.

See the video interview with Jean-François Giovannetti

Strategic communication: from technologies transferred to empowered farmers

According to Phouttasin Phimmachanh of the Laos NAFES, adoption of strategic communication approaches has helped transform the effectiveness of research and extension in Laos.

He started by explaining how agriculture in Laos is generally moving from a subsistence to a market led environment, and that this poses information and decision making challenges for everyone involved in the sector - farmers, extension and research, and policy makers.

The main focus of his presentation was on strategic communication processes they recently adopted.

Two of the key reasons they adopted this approach:

First, communictaion materials were often developed in a top down way - "to meet the needs of the boss or the needs of the project", rather than to meet the needs of farmers. Second, these materials were often promotionsal rather that educational.

He characterized this past experience as "just producing without knowing where it goes and whats the impact of it."

He characterized the new approach: "so now we try to produce differently and to better communicate with farmers." This new approach is systematic, strategic, it draws in multidisciplinary research-extension-farmer teams, is designed and tested with target users, and involves better M&E.

One of the key lessons: "the communications process is not any more about transferring technologies, it is about empowering farmers to make their own choices"

See his presentation:

VERCON and mobile devices for agricultural communication

VERCON is a ground breaking programme from the Knowledge Management team at FAO. It is based on a model which aims to enhance interaction among agricultural research, extension, farmers and the other stakeholders of agriculture and rural development using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and creating opportunities for collaborative work.

Sophie Treinen has been managing the programme since its inception in 2000. Over the past 18 months, FAO has been reviewing the work and synthesising lessons learnt. At the 2010 IAALD Congress in Montpelier, Sophie gave a well attended presentation about the programme, the underlying model and how it has progressed in that time.

FAO has worked with local partners across the globe. I reviewed the programme in 2007, and it is striking to see the basic approach has been adapted in a wide range variety of locations. The FAO team are excited about the recent collaboration between the programme in Costa Rica and Bhutan, which has enabled the partners in Bhutan to learn directly from another Southern programme while the Costa Rican partners have taken back an especially good rice strain for experimentation locally.

Recently, CTA has explored how mobile devices can impact agriculture (see the 2009 Mobile Observatory. VERCON has yet to successfully integrate mobiles use into any current programmes. In this interview Sophie talks about some of the plans they have for later phases.

Pete Cranston, Euforic Services

Read an article on VERCON

Capturing and sharing learning from the fields

Speaking today in the IAALD world congress, Jorge Jorge Chavez-Tapur explained why and how ILEIA promotes better documentation of agricultural practices and learning.

His starting points: despite the recognition of the importance of agriculture and calls for us to avoid 'business as usual' - most of the 'unusual' and innovative practices already happening are hardly visible.

"If we go to the field, we see millions of these interesting learning experiences, but hardly any of them are captured and shared"

Hence, ILEIA promotes and supports efforts to identify, document and share these experiences. (More ...)

A key issue, one that is not usually acknowledged, is the issue of ownership - 'too much' ownership by an individual or an organization is one of the many reasons why these experiences are not openly shared.

New IAALD executive installed in Montpellier

On Tuesday 27 April, IAALD held its general assembly of members.

Peter Ballantyne and Toni Greider reported on activities and progress 2005-2010. Thereafter, members elected a new committee to lead the association.

View the presentation.

Barbara Hutchinson of the University of Arizona was elected as the new President, under the new governance system, to serve for a one year term (2010-2011). See the list of IAALD officers elected as part of this transition period between the previous and new governance systems.

Barbarah Hutchinson introduces her plans:

Agricultural Information Worldwide – Online and Open

In 2008, IAALD re-launched its professional journal under the title ‘Agricultural Information Worldwide’ – Aginfo Worldwide.

From April 2010, AgInfo Worldwide is published ‘web-only’ using the open journals system (OJS).

http://journals.sfu.ca/iaald/

The web-only edition allows IAALD to continue providing a high-quality professional journal, with lower cost and greater accessibility.

We also aim to make the full-text archive of the IAALD Quarterly Bulletin available on the web.

The April 2010 issue contains the following articles:

Agricultural Information and Knowledge Sharing: Promising Opportunities for Agricultural Information Specialists

La información agrícola y el intercambio de conocimientos: Oportunidades promisorias para los especialistas en información agraria

Benchmarking CGIAR research outputs for availability and accessibility

Learning to Swim: How IFPRI Uses Multiple Web Channels to Communicate Research Outputs

AGRIS - From a bibliographic database to a semantic data service on agricultural research information

Disponibilidad, accesibilidad y aplicabilidad de los resultados de investigación de los Centros del Grupo Consultivo para la Investigación Agrícola Internacional (CGIAR)

VERCON – the Virtual Extension and Research Communication Network

Mobile Services in a Wireless World: The CTA 2009 ICT Observatory Meeting