Call for Proposals: 14th World Congress of the International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists (IAALD)

The 14th IAALD World Congress programming committee is seeking proposals for papers, posters and interactive workshops. This year’s conference, Emerging Priorities for Scientific and Agricultural Information," will be held July 22-24, 2013 at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Submissions are due by December 1st, 2012.

Papers and Posters: Those wishing to present a paper or a poster should submit an abstract in English (maximum 300 words) online at https://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=iaald13 (new users of the EasyChair software program will need to sign up for a free account).

Proposals should be tagged with at least two and up to five keywords from the provided tags. At least three additional author keywords are also required.

Interactive Workshops: The programming committee is also interested in hearing proposals for 2 hour hands-on workshops to be given at the conference. If you have expertise on a topic you think would benefit conference attendees and would like to lead a workshop, please submit a description in English (maximum 300 words) online at https://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=iaald13 (new users of the EasyChair software program will need to sign up for a free account).

Authors will be informed of decisions on their proposals by January 15, 2013. All authors will be expected to give their papers, posters, and workshops in person at the IAALD World Congress. Scholarship information will be forthcoming.

Questions? Please email Jim Morris-Knower at iaald@cornell.edu

ICTs: Enabling innovation for enhancing rural livelihoods

December 3-7, 2012 will see India host an international conference on ways to that information and communication technologies are enhancing rural livelihoods.

Further details on the event website

Preparing for the XIV IAALD World Congress in 2013 at Cornell University

Video Interview: Jaron Porciello is chairing the Organizing Committee of the XIV IAALD World Congress, to be held at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, July 25-28, 2013. Mark it on your calendar!

14th IAALD World Congress to be held at Cornell in 2013

The 14th IAALD World Congress to be held July 22-25, 2013 at Cornell University. The theme will be “Emerging Priorities for Scientific Information Research and Discovery”. Plans are already being made for innovative and diverse programming as well as opportunities for learning and networking with agricultural information professionals from around the world. A conference website will be made available in the coming months to provide many more details.

World Conference on Sustainable Value Chain Agriculture for Food Security and Economic Development: Call for papers

On behalf of the four partner organizations of the World Conference (to be held in Namibia 3-8 July 2011), AIAEE is requesting proposals for refereed abstracts of professional papers to be presented at the 2011 World Conference in Windhoek, Namibia. Topics relating to the 2011 conference theme “Sustainable Value Chain Agriculture for Food Security and Economic Development” are encouraged, but all submissions will be given full consideration. Research, theoretical, philosophical, or application focused papers will be considered.

IAALD will sponsor an “Agricultural Information Technology” track as part of the contributed papers and poster sessions. We are inviting abstracts for papers and posters on the following or related themes: Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4Dev), Knowledge Sharing, Web 2.0 and Social Media, and agricultural information dissemination and access. IAALD members will participate as reviewers of the abstracts submitted for the Agricultural Information Technology track. IAALD will also sponsor pre-conference workshops on these and other professional development topics. These workshops will be announced at a later date.

More information

IAALD World Congress: Call for proposals

The IAALD Executive Committee invites expressions of interest from IAALD partners, members and associated groups to host the 14th World Congress, to be held in 2013, 2014 or 2015.

Please send your well-thought out and brief proposals by email to Toni.Greider@iaald.org to reach the Committee on or before 27 February 2010.

The Executive Committee will review proposals received and make a decision regarding the location of the next World Congress by April 15, 2010 to be announced in Montpellier, France at the 13th World Congress.

In making its decision, the Executive Committee will consider at least the following criteria:
• estimated costs to hold the congress, and for participants to attend; including likelihood of sponsorships and income generation for IAALD;
• meeting facilities, logistics and accommodation options, including international access
• IAALD actual and potential membership base in the country/region and opportunities to strengthen this
• organisational commitment and capacities of the host institution(s)
• co-organising opportunities with IAALD partners and allies.

Please include the conference year you are applying for; name and complete address of the bidding organisation (including the name of a contact person); the proposed theme and dates of the Congress; a brief description of the local organizing committee; a brief description of the proposed meeting site; potential sources of financial and sponsorship support for the Congress ,including the ability to sufficiently underwrite any losses that may be incurred during the Congress; translation services and language policy if needed; any special considerations deemed relevant to the local context.

Note: Recent World Congresses have been held in:

• 2010: France (website: http: //iaald2010.agropolis.fr)
• 2008: Japan (website: http://iaald-afita-wcca2008.org/)
• 2005: USA (website: http://www.ca.uky.edu/AIC/conf_home.htm)
• 2000: Senegal
• 1995: Australia
• 1990: Hungary
• 1985: Canada
• 1980: Philippines

For additional information contact Toni.Greider@iaald.org

IFLA 2010 AgLibraries group: Current Trends in Agricultural Information Services for Farmers

The IFLA Agricultural Libraries Special Interest Group in association with IAALD (International Association of Agricultural information Specialists) invites papers to be presented at a two-hour session to be held at the World Library and Information Congress: 76th IFLA General Conference at Gothenburg, Sweden, 10-15 August 2010.

Information needs of farmers center around the problems such as seeds, soil fertility, soil erosion, climatic conditions, fertilizers, pest hazards, weed control, water management, farm credit, post-harvesting, transportation, marketing and so forth. Timely provision of information is essential in solving these problems. However, the impact of agricultural research and innovations on farmers is not much either because they have no access to such vital information or it is poorly disseminated. Information provided is mainly focused on policy makers and researchers with little attention paid to the information needs of farmers. It is more so in developing countries and particularly small-scale farmers.

This session is aimed at discussing current trends in providing farmer-oriented information services in developed and developing countries. The issues to be addressed include:

· How do agricultural research institutes and universities in the country cater to the information needs of farmers

· What strategies are being adopted by extension service providers to meet the information needs of farmers

· How do private firms/agencies disseminate product based information to farmers

· What are the barriers and constraints in utilization of agricultural information by farmers in the country or region

· How the social networking tools, mobile phones, internet, and other information communication technologies are used by farmers

· How digital diagnostic services are provided to farmers

· Recent developments in providing open access to agricultural extension bulletins

· What role is being played by international organizations such as USDA, FAO, CGIAR, DFID, CTA in facilitating transfer of agricultural information to farmers

Papers should be based on facts rather than theoretical aspects focusing on any of the facets.

Submissions

Interested authors are encouraged to submit their proposal on any of these aspects for consideration. The deadline for submitting a detailed abstract (max 500 words) along with full author details is 31 December 2009. Full paper is due not later than 30 April 2010 and must be original not published elsewhere

· Abstracts and full papers should be submitted by email

· Papers should be of 10 pages maximum, single spaced

· Papers should be in English with a one-page abstract

· Each presenter would be allowed 15 minutes for a summary delivery of the paper followed by clarifications and discussion

· The presenter should not read the paper

· The author(s) should indicate personal full contact details and include summary curriculum vitae with the paper

Please note that all fees, including registration to the conference, travel, accommodation etc. are the responsibility of the authors.
On review of the abstracts, selected presenters will be notified by 15 February 2010.

Please submit your proposal by 31 December 2009 to :

Deva Eswara Reddy, PhD
Convener, IFLA Agricultural Libraries SIG
Associate Professor of Library Science
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX, USA
E-mail: dereddy@tamu.edu

e-Knowledge about biodiversity and agriculture

From 9-13 November 2009, Montpellier hosts the annual TDWG conference. Co-organized with Agropolis International and Bioversity International, it will gather experts in biodiversity informatics from leading museums of natural history, botanical gardens and major agricultural research institutions and universities.

The conference is open to anyone working with biodiversity information and informatics wishing to discuss and define the most recent informatics tools and standards applying to taxonomy, imaging, biodiversity data exchange, specimen observations, and diversity analysis.

TDWG - Biodiversity Information Standards - is an international not-for-profit group that develops standards and protocols for sharing biodiversity data.

IAALD Africa congress to discuss open access to agricultural knowledge

The IAALD Africa conference will be held in Ghana later in July 2009. After the pre-conference events, the main sessions include the following:

• Access and Dissemination of Knowledge in Agricultural Sciences and Technology – Mapping the Landscape and Major Challenges.

• Open Access to Publicly Funded Research – Views from Research Scientists, Policy Makers, Development Partners/Funders of Research, Users & Information Professionals
  

• WEBAGRIS tools for agricultural metadata management

• Intellectual Property Rights and Open Access to Knowledge in Agricultural Sciences and Technology

• Opening Access to Knowledge in Agricultural Sciences and Technology: International, Regional, National and Institutional Initiatives

• Advocating for Opening Access to Knowledge in Agricultural Sciences and Technology in Africa: the Way Forward

• Public private partnership in m-agriculture: roles and incentives of stakeholders

There are still spaces so register quickly!

Download the Programme (PDF).

Information scientifique et technique et développement rural : Eclairages sur des pratiques innovantes

Le regain d'intérêt pour l'agriculture et les questions soulevées par les crises alimentaires accentuent les besoins en information de qualité pour tous les acteurs du développement rural. En apportant leurs connaissances et leur savoir-faire, les professionnels de l'information scientifique et technique contribuent à répondre à ces besoins.

Le 2010 congrès organisé par l'IAALD et Agropolis International favorisera un dialogue constructif entre les professionnels de l'information et ceux du développement rural pour faire face aux grands enjeux agricoles.

Les chercheurs sont les bienvenus, ainsi que les professionnels de l'information, les membres des organisations paysannes, les éditeurs, et tous les partenaires impliqués dans la production, la gestion et la diffusion des connaissances dans le domaine des sciences et des technologies agricoles.

Nous espérons vous accueillir bientôt à Montpellier !

Scientific and technical information and rural development: Highlights of innovative practices

The renewed worldwide interest in agriculture and questions dealing with food crises increase the need for quality information for actors in rural development. Bringing their knowledge and know-how, the Scientific and Technical Information Specialists can contribute to providing this information.

The 2010 congress organised by IAALD and Agropolis International will ensure fruitful exchanges between information specialists and actors of rural development facing these key challenges in agriculture.

Researchers are welcome, as well as information professionnals, members of farmer organizations, publishers, and stakeholders involved in the generation, management, or dissemination of knowledge in the area of agricultural sciences and technologies.
We hope to greet you soon in Montpellier!

PROGIS Conference: ICTs for Rural Areas

The PROGIS Conference 2009 will be held in Prague from 12 - 13 May, 2009.

The topic of the PROGIS conference is the request for concerted actions to ensure that agriculture will be able to feed worldwide the ongoing growing population.

Climate change, the reduction of natural resources, a stronger demand for bio-energy, urbanization and environmental protection are additional mega-trends that have to be considered by this so important economic sector. Hence, globally there is a strong demand for technologies and practical instruments for improving the planning, development and management of agriculture and forestry or in general, natural resources.

The PROGIS conference deals with IT Solutions and their practical implementations in a flourishing agriculture.

Gain a head start in knowledge!

XV RIBDA: Innovation in open access to agricultural information

In October (27-29), the XV RIBDA will be held in Lima, Peru. RIBDA is the Inter-American Meeting of Librarians, Documentalists and Specialists on Agricultural Information.

The goals of XV RIBDA are:

1. To debate the technological innovations currently in the area of Open Access (OA) including their implications for improved transmission of knowledge, exchange of experiences, and agricultural and natural resources usage and planning.
   
2. To present to the American community the advances of the OA movement for the free transference and diffusion of knowledge in agricultural and related areas.
   
3. To propose actions, applicable to the conditions and realities of the countries of AIBDA members, that will benefit professional practices and Latin American society.

The conference is open to researchers, academics, information brokers and specialists in agricultural and environmental information. It will be of interest to computer scientists, librarians, documentalists, archivists, economists, agricultural engineers, environmental planners, professional associations of information and college students, among others.

The organisers have issued a call for presentations. More information (in Spanish)

Acceso abierto a la información agrícola

La Asociación Interamericana de Bibliotecarios, Documentalistas y Especialistas en Información Agrícola, tiene el agrado de convocar a los Bibliotecarios y Documentalistas Agrícolas, así como a profesionales vinculados a la producción y gestión de información agrícola y de medio mbiente, a participar de la Décimo Quinta edición de la Reunión Interamericana de Bibliotecariosy Documentalistas Agrícolas – RIBDA 2009 ‐, que tendrá lugar en la Biblioteca Nacional de Perú, Lima del 27, 28 al 29 de Octubre de 2009.

En calidad de país anfitrión, AIBDA Perú organiza la RIBDA 2009, por lo cual anima a la Comunidad Bibliotecológica y Documentalista Interamericana y de otras regiones, que desarrolla Investigación y Análisis, a presentar a debate Trabajos en materia de Innovación Tecnológica y Contenidos en el acceso Abierto a la Información Agrícola bajo el modelo Open Access (OA) para libre transferencia y difusión del conocimiento agrícola y medio ambiental. En la temática central se incluyen Lineamientos y Políticas de Acción, Estudios Comparativos, Impacto Económico, Seguimiento Estadístico y Rescate de Experiencias y Redes según las condiciones y realidades de los países conformantes de las Américas. El Movimiento del Acceso Abierto (OA), es la respuesta para canalizar la producción, disponibilidad, acceso y uso de la información y conocimiento científico, dando a los autores el derecho a la cita y al reconocimiento de su obra. Se orienta a reducir y superar las tradicionales barreras de acceso a la información y, por tanto, al conocimiento de las personas.

Presentación de trabajos ...

Agricultural knowledge exchange in Russian language

Planning has begun for a conference in Moscow with the working title: "Agricultural Knowledge Exchange in Russian Language". The proposed days are 1-2 October 2009.

As well as FAO and IAALD, the partners include the Russian State Agrarian University - K.A. Timiryazev Moscow Agricultural Academy and the Central Scientific Agricultural Library of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Interested? contact Michal Demes at FAO (Michal.Demes AT fao.org)

2009 World Congress of Computers in Agriculture and Natural Resources

The call for papers is available for the 2009 World Congress of Computers in Agriculture and Natural Resources to be held at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada concurrently with the 2009 ASABE Annual International Meeting, June 21-24. Deadline for proposal submission is January 16, 2009.

Topics include but are not limited to:

• Adoption, Extension and Rural Development
  
• Data Mining and Pattern Recognition
  
• Decision support Systems
  
• e-AgBusiness and Production Chain Management
  
• Education/Training, Distance Learning and Professional Accreditation
  
• eLearning and eJournals
  
• Emerging ICT Technologies
  
• Farm Management
  
• Field Data Acquisition and Recording
  
• Food Safety Control/Tracking-Tracing
  
• GIS
  
• Grid Computing Applications
  
• Information Systems and Databases
  
• Instrumentation and Control /Data Acquisition, Monitoring and Sensing
  
• Knowledge Management, Ontologies, Semantics and Text Mining
  
• Web Services, Portals, Internet and Web 2.0 Applications
  
• Library Science and Knowledge Representation
  
• Modeling and Simulation; Packaging Science and Technology
  
• Portable and Nomadic Computing; Precision Agriculture
  
• Rural and Environmental Development and Policy
  
• Traceability, Food Safety and Marketing
  
• Wireless and Sensor Network

To submit a paper proposal, please visit www.asabe.org/meetings/cfp/call.cfm?mtg_code=wcca2009.

WCCA is a collaborative effort among agricultural information technology associations worldwide. This congress provides a forum for agriculture related professionals to exchange information on applications and developments in the use of Information Technologies.

Sixth International Conference of Animal Health Information Specialists

The 6th International Conference of Animal Health Information Specialists (ICAHIS), which will be part of the 10th International Congress on Medical Librarianship (ICML), will be held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, August 31- September 4, 2009.

The organisers welcome proposals to present papers or posters (see the call for abstracts and submission form). Be sure to indicate one of the ICAHIS themes:

• Advancing Communication in Animal Health Practice: For example: coping with web content; preserving content by digitization; sharing copyrighted materials legally; using specialized databases; creating and/or maintaining repositories; accessing veterinary archives; assessing the impact of e-journals
  
• Improving Information transfer from Research to Clinical Veterinary Practice: For example: evidence based veterinary medicine; translational medicine; one medicine/one health; public health & zoonotics
  
• Partnerships and Collaborations that Make a Difference in Animal Health: For example: consortial agreements; collective collection development; web portal projects

ABSTRACT DEADLINE Friday, 19 September 2008

Questions? Contact one of the 6ICAHIS Planning Committee members:

Trenton Boyd boydt AT missouri.edu
Greg Youngen Youngen AT uiuc.edu
Vicki Croft croft AT wsu.edu

La seconde édition de Tech For Food est lancée

La seconde édition de Tech For Food est lancée ! Carrefour de rencontres autour de l’'utilisation des nouvelles technologies pour le développement agricole et la sécurité alimentaire dans le monde, le Forum se tiendra cette année le mardi 26 février 2008, au Salon International de l'Agriculture (Parc des Expositions de la porte de Versailles, Paris).

Le comité de pilotage scientifique de Tech For Food a validé les thématiques de l’édition 2008. Elle rassemblera détenteurs de projets des quatre coins du monde (Sahel, Tanzanie, Colombie, Philippines), experts du développement et des technologies, ONG, chercheurs, …

Tech For Food 2008 se focalisera sur les applications possibles d'internet, et du téléphone portable, de plus en plus accessibles dans les pays du Sud. Saviez-vous qu’en Afrique le nombre d’abonnés au téléphone portable croît de 50 % chaque année depuis 5 ans alors qu’en Amérique du Sud, l’internet haut-débit gagne constamment du terrain avec, par exemple, 6 abonnements pour 100 habitants au Chili ?

Couplés à des plate-formes Web, le téléphone portable est déjà un fabuleux tremplin pour un accéder à l'information (cours et marchés de produits agricoles de base au Cameroun), ou à la formation (espions de marchés en Tanzanie). Il donne aussi des possibilités d'échanges et de ventes en ligne (argent électronique aux Philippines), ou permet une meilleure adaptation aux marchés (diversification de la production en Colombie), etc.

Vous pourrez vous inscrire en ligne dans la limite des places disponibles sur notre site www.techforfood.com à partir du 8 janvier 2008.

Tags: agricultural information france

Tech For Food’ second edition to be held in Paris

Tech For Food’ second edition is launched! It will focus on technologies at the service of agricultural development and food security. The symposium will take place on: Tuesday, February 26th, 2008 at the International Agriculture Show (Parc des Expositions at the porte de Versailles, Paris, France).

The scientific piloting committee has confirmed the 2008 edition’s topics. It will gather project holders from all around the world (Sahel, Tanzania, Colombia, Philippines), technology and development experts, NGOs, researchers,…

Tech For Food 2008 will partly focus on the possible applications of internet and the mobile phone, both of which become more and more accessible in developing countries.

You will be able to register online (registration is free and subject to availability) on our website www.techforfood.com from the 8th of January.

Tags: agricultural information france

Increasing access to Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences Information

The Food Agriculture and Nutrition Division (FAN) of the Special Libraries Association holds a session at the 2008 SLA Annual Conference to be held in Seattle, Monday, June 16, 2008, 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Contact: Anita Ezzo (ezzoa@msu.edu) or Luti Salisbury (lsalisbu@uark.edu)

Tags: agricultural information conference