AgInfo News

IT, internet and extension

2012-01-04T15:01:00.001Z

The December 2011 issue of JOE - the Journal of Extension takes a look at information technology and extension.

Content includes:

Extension Is Unpopular—On the Internet

Is Extension Ready to Adopt Technology for Delivering Programs and Reaching New Audiences?

Land-Grant University Employee Perceptions of eXtension: A Baseline Descriptive Study

Leveraging New Media in the Scholarship of Engagement: Opportunities and Incentives

Using Information Technology to Forge Connections in an Extension Service Project

Promoting Healthy Eating and Exercise Through Online Messages: A Pilot Study

Revising an Extension Education Website for Limited Resource Audiences Using Social Marketing Theory

Mapping Extension's Networks: Using Social Network Analysis to Explore Extension's Outreach

An Analysis of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service's Role in Bridging the Digital Divide

Social Media Use of Cooperative Extension Family Economics Educators: Online Survey Results and Implications

An Examination of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats Associated with the Adoption of Moodle™ by eXtension

Positive Examples and Lessons Learned from Rural Small Business Adoption of E-Commerce Strategies

Online Nutrition Education: Enhancing Opportunities for Limited-Resource Learners

Social Network Analysis: A Tool to Improve Understanding of Collaborative Management Groups

Virtual Training for Virtual Success: Michigan State University Extension's Virtual Conference

A Successful Multi-Institutional Blog for Transferring Garden and Landscape Information to the Public

Entrepreneurial Extension Conducted via Social Media

Strengthening 4-H Program Communication Through Technology

Working in a Wiki: A Tool for Collaboration Among Virtual Teams

Web-Based Family Life Education: Spotlight on User Experience

An Automated Data Analysis Tool for Livestock Market Data

A State-Specific Online Cover Crop Decision Tool for Midwest Farmers

Recorded version of IAALD NING Webinar

2011-12-02T21:16:00.009Z

The webinar presented by Peter Fernandez on December 1 was very well attended with over 20 people participating online and many others inquiring whether they could listen to a recorded version later on. Fortunately, Blackboard Collaborate (formerly Elluminate) allows for the recording and sharing of these webinars and Federico Sancho from IICA has kindly provided the link. IAALD's Executive Committee has decided to make these webinars openly accessible for anyone, however we might want start charging non-members later on.

Click here to listen to the webinar.

A similar seminar in Spanish will be held on December 6, 15:00 GMT-UTC by Miguel Hidalgo, Information Specialist, IICA.

Don't miss the IAALD Webinar on NING!

2011-11-29T16:26:00.009Z

Here is the link for the IAALD Webinar on NING, Thursday, December 1, 16:00 UTC-GMT.

Participants are invited to log in at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the webinar, type their name, download Java 6, define connection speed, and check the audio. Once admitted to the Blackboard Collaborate (previously Elluminate) platform, use the CHAT to send us a short message with your name, institution and country.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn and to better connect with like-minded colleagues!

Presenter: Peter Fernandez, Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources Librarian, University of Tenessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

Date: Thursday, December 1, 2011

Time: 11:00 AM EST (16:00 UTC-GMT) check your time zone here

System Requirements
Pc-based attendees
Required: Windnows 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

MacIntosh-based attendees
Required: Mac OS X 10.4.11 (Tiger) or newer

IAALD Webinar: NING to Connect Information Specialists Worldwide

2011-11-16T18:36:00.011Z

In its continuous effort to connect people to people, IAALD is offering yet another webinar on December 1, entitled "NING to Connect Information Specialists Worldwide".

NING is a customizable social media platform used by IAALD - and many other communities - to facilitate communications among agricultural information specialists and their stakeholders.

Presenter: Peter Fernandez, Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources Librarian, University of Tenessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

Date: Thursday, December 1, 2011

Time: 11:00 AM EST (16:00 UTC-GMT) check your time zone here

System Requirements
Pc-based attendees
Required: Windnows 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

MacIntosh-based attendees
Required: Mac OS X 10.4.11 (Tiger) or newer

Up to now all IAALD webinars have been free for everyone, but in the future non-IAALD members will most likely be asked to pay a small fee for attending.

Prospective IAALD member, Jaqueline Nnam, Ghana

2011-11-10T21:10:00.005Z

Video Interview: Jaqueline Nnam works at the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), based in Accra, Ghana. She is attached to the Africa Adapt project and promotes Knowledge Sharing for climate change adaption. Her work involves the gathering, packaging and dissemination of information, as well as the brokering of relationships among practicioners in the field. She considers that associations like IAALD provide a very useful forum for sharing problems and for discussing strategies and ideas.

Prospective IAALD member Ann Mureithi, Kenya

2011-11-10T20:41:00.007Z

Video Interview: Ann Mureithi works at AGRA the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa and at the same time is enrolled in a Masters Degree on Agricultural Information and Communication Management (AICM) at University of Nairobi. While attending the Share Fair in Rome she discovered IAALD and decided to sign up as a member. She believes that the Association provides an ideal platform to connect with people around the world and to jointly discuss diverse agriculture related issues. Welcome Ann!

IAALD members working behind the scene

2011-11-09T20:43:00.010Z

Video Interview: Marie José Jehl former CTA Information Manager and member of IAALD since 1990, is pleased with the Association's progress. The fact that the Association's journal Agricultural Information Worldwide has been moved to an open access platform four years ago, thus making its content accessible to anyone, and at the same time reducing printing and mailing costs, has been a big accomplishment. Marie José is translating all journal abstracts into French and has done so for the past 11 years. Many thanks Marie José!

Connected agriculture: Mobiles help drive efficiency and sustainability in food and agriculture

2011-10-13T04:38:00.003Z

A new report from Vodacom and Accenture argues that mobile communications can help to meet the challenge of feeding an estimated 9.2 billion people by 2050.

The study identifies 12 specific opportunities that could increase agricultural income by around US$138 billion by 2020. These are:

Improving access to financial services

Mobile payment system
Micro-insurance system
Micro-lending platform

Provision of agricultural information

Mobile information platform
Farmer helpline

Improving data visibility for supply chain efficiency

Smart logistics
Traceability and tracking system
Mobile management of supplier networks
Mobile management of distribution networks

Enhancing access to markets

Agricultural trading platform
Agricultural tendering platform
Agricultural bartering platform

The report aims to stimulate engagement between mobile operators, governments, NGOs and businesses to realise these opportunities and explore others.

Press release

Download full report

New web resources for rangeland management

2011-08-31T03:28:00.011Z

A new article in the journal Rangelands introduces new web resources for rangeland management around the world including Rangelands West/Global Rangelands, eXtension Rangelands, and the Range Science Information System.

http://www.srmjournals.org/doi/full/10.2111/1551-501X-33.4.55

Magdalena Marenga looks forward to IAALD-Africa 2012 Conference

2011-08-27T16:41:00.004Z

Magdalena Marenga is the Senior Librarian at the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Namibia. She is interested in attending the IAALD Africa 2012 conference in Johannesburg to learn more about rural development and food security.

View the video

Dady Demby on CIARD in Africa

2011-08-24T16:40:00.013Z

Dady Demby (Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa) speaking in Beijing on new directions forward for FARA and CIARD. Structures are in place, but there needs to be a focus on grassroots activity in Africa.

View the video

Fedro Zazueta on INFITA, IAALD and ICTs in Africa

2011-08-24T16:40:00.006Z

Fedro Zazueta with INFITA speaks about working toward a Pan-African Federation of ICT in Agriculture, in collaboration with IAALD and others, which would bring together professionals working in ICTs.

View the video

Marie-Claude Deboin explains CIARD for French-speaking countries

2011-08-24T16:38:00.004Z

Marie-Claude Deboin, head of the Scientific and Technical Information Delegation at CIRAD, comments on sharing ideas with colleagues in Asia and from around the world at the CIARD Expert Consultation in Beijing, and on making plans to promote the initiative in French speaking countries.

View the video

Dady Demby on CIARD next steps

2011-08-24T16:36:00.004Z

Dady Demby from FARA talks about CIARD open access initiative and discussions about next steps and actions held at the CIARD Expert Consultation in Beijing. He pointed out that good progress is being made.

View the video

Justin Chisenga announces the 2012 IAALD-Africa Conference

2011-08-23T16:31:00.000Z

Justin Chisenga from FAO's regional office in Ghana, speaking from Windhoek, Namibia during the AIAEE-IAALD-INFITA international conference discusses ICTS and the upcoming 2012 IAALD Africa conference on e-agriculture.

View the video

Hugo Besemer discusses new CIARD directions

2011-08-22T16:39:00.000Z

Hugo Besemer from Wageningen, Netherlands, speaking from Beijing CIARD Expert Consultation outlines CIARD framework and plans to expand beyond open source documents to include data and other resources.

View the video

ALIN knowledge centers recognized by Gates Foundation award

2011-08-17T07:07:00.003Z

The Arid Lands Information Network in East Africa has been awarded the 2011 Access to Learning Award of the Bill anhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifd Melinda Gates Foundation.

The award recognizes the work of ALIN to bring agricultural knowledge to farmers through 12 Maarifa—or Knowledge—Centers.

ALIN website: http://www.alin.or.ke

IAALD Webinar on Mendeley

2011-08-13T12:03:00.011Z

Video Interview: Luz Marina Alvaré from IFPRI Washington D.C. (one of the CGIAR centers) shares her experiences in using and promoting Mendeley with researchers.

Almost Famous Boost your research profile, collaborate and share using Mendeley

View more presentations from IAALD Community

IAALD Webinar sobre Mendeley

2011-08-13T11:04:00.013Z

Entrevista por video: Luz Marina Alvaré del IFPRI en Washington D.C. (uno de los centros del CGIAR) comparte sus experiencias con el uso y la promoción de Mendeley.

Plataforma de inteligencia competitiva en el agro chileno

2011-08-05T16:02:00.004Z

LANZAN PLATAFORMA DE INTELIGENCIA PARA LA COMPETITIVIDAD
AGRICOLA DE CHILE

Como un eficaz portal de información que permitirá enfrentar
de mejor forma los desafíos de competitividad en materia agrícola, definió el
Ministro de Agricultura, José Antonio Galilea, el lanzamiento de la plataforma
digital "Agrimundo", en una ceremonia encabezada por el Secretario de
Estado y que contó además con la presencia de autoridades del Programa de
Innovación y Competitividad Unión Europea - Chile, de Fundación Chile y de la
Agencia de Cooperación Internacional de Chile, AGCI.

Más información (Fuente MINAGRI, Chile)

http://www.minagri.gob.cl/noticias.php?idnoticia=01671

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

2011-08-02T10:47:00.005Z

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!

Third IAALD Africa Chapter Conference - May 21-23, 2012

2011-07-30T02:12:00.016Z

Video Interview: Justin Chisenga, President of the IAALD Africa Chapter working at the FAO Regional Office in Ghana invites to the Third IAALD Africa Chapter Conference, taking place from May 21-23, 2012 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The conference theme is e-Agriculture for Improved Livelihoods and Food Security in Africa. More information is available from the web site www.iaald-africa.org. Abstracts should be submitted by September 30, 2011.

En auge las Ferias del Conocimiento

2011-07-29T12:54:00.013Z

Una publicación nueva presenta ocho estudios de caso de gestión del conocimiento que fueron presentados durante la Feria del Conocimiento América Latina y el Caribe llevado a cabo entre el 25 y 27 de mayo de 2010. En dicha feria se reunieron experiencias relacionadas con el desarrollo rural, principalmente agropecuario que pueden ser consideradas como una muestra de lo que viene ocurriendo en gestión de conocimiento en América Latina.

La sede del evento fue el Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). El evento fue organizdo por el Programa de Tecnologías de Información y Comunicación y Gestión del Conocimiento (ICT-KM) del Grupo Consultivo para la InvestigaciónAgrícola Internacional (CGIAR), la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación (FAO), el Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura (IICA) y la Comunidad de Gestión de Concocimeinto para el Desarrollo (KM4Dev).

Una feria regional similar fue realizado en Ethiopia en Octubre pasado y está por celebrarse una feria global del 27 al 29 de septiembre de 2011 en la sede del FIDA (Fondo Internacional para el Desarrollo Agrícola) en Roma.

India launches rice knowledge management portal

2011-07-18T04:39:00.001Z

On 16 July, the Indian Prime Minister launch a new rice portal. The portal will help stakeholders to get information on all aspects of rice.

The Rice Knowledge Management Portal (RKMP), funded by National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP), would use various ICT (information technology and communication) tools to provide info even on mobile phones.

The portal is built on web 2.0 standards and caters to the location specific information needs of many stakeholders throughout India.

There seem to be 2 different versions:

http://www.rkmp.co.in/ or http://rkmp.iari.res.in/.

The CIARD Fair - a new online facility to improve research communication

2011-07-15T16:48:00.000Z

The latest development of the CIARD (Coherence in Information for Agricultural Research for Development) initiative has been launched on its website – namely the CIARD virtual Fair. For those who are involved in the capture, management and communication of research information and knowledge, the Fair provides a rich environment for discovery, learning and sharing.

The CIARD initiative works to make public domain outputs of agricultural research information and knowledge truly publicly available and accessible to all. The initiative, started in 2008, is led by a group of major international organizations, all with a long-standing role in enhancing the sharing of information and knowledge arising from agricultural research.

The CIARD Fair is an innovative resource that allows visitors to navigate through three routes: the ‘Pathways’ – describing in detail ways to share research outputs more effectively; ‘Services’ – which are standards, tools, systems and training for achieving the Pathways; and ‘Enablers’ - the organizations that provide Services for achieving the Pathways. Visitors can explore the different routes through the Fair according to their specific interests. Each Pathway, Service and Enabler is linked to further more detailed information and shows ways to explore other resources on the Internet. Navigation through the interconnected elements of the Fair is intuitive and is designed to provide an information-rich environment for the visitor.

Organizations can show services and products in the Fair which will be useful to those investigating and learning about the opening up and sharing of research information and knowledge, and there are currently 18 Enablers and 27 Services included in the current Fair. The CIARD partners are eager to develop the Fair by encouraging new enabling organizations and services to get involved.

You can explore the Fair at the CIARD site