Providing readers with information resources about PGR, agrobiodiversity, conservation and livelihoods.

The Nature Publishing Group (NPG) announced today that it would be publishing a new title: Nature Climate Change. The first issue will be published in October of this year; and the journal will cover not only the natural sciences but also extends into the socio-economic research as well for this important subject area.
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Applicants are invited to send their proposals for the Bioversity International Vavilov-Frankel Fellowships for 2009.
The Vavilov-Frankel FellowshipsFund aims to encourage the conservation and use of plant genetic resources in developing countries by awarding Fellowships to outstanding young researchers to carry out relevant innovative research at an advanced research institute [...]

A recent report published by Oxfam International outlines that pastoralists like the Maasai can provide the modern world with many skills and techniques on how to adapt to harsher climates.
The report argues that the Maasai, along with other pastorialist societies have been living in semi-arid to arid environments for centuries, they are the traditional caretakers [...]

Thanks to funding from FAO and government support, Uganda has announced that it has had success in effectively controlling, and in some cases eradicating banana wilt disease. The disease was first reported in 2001.
A major component of this success has been the participation of banana farmers in farmer field schools. Field schools provide [...]

A new regional seed association has recently been established by 10 member countries of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) region comprising of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
This new association came about thanks to the close collaboration of FAO, ICARDA and ECO. It primary aims include: [...]

Here’s a positive story of a poor community in Mexico City who in response to high food prices have established community vegetable gardens. The citizens find an appropriate place to start a garden and the local government authorities provide the tools, seeds and experts to assist them. Twenty community gardens [...]

Here’s a positive story of a poor community in Mexico City who in response to high food prices have established community vegetable gardens. The citizens find an appropriate place to start a garden and the local government authorities provide the tools, seeds and experts to assist them. Twenty community gardens [...]

AuthorAID is a program based at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP). It is supported by the Swedish International Development Corporation Agency (Sida) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
AuthorAid’s focus is about assisting researchers (particularly those in developing countries) in getting their research work “out there” - be it [...]

AuthorAID is a program based at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP). It is supported by the Swedish International Development Corporation Agency (Sida) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
AuthorAid’s focus is about assisting researchers (particularly those in developing countries) in getting their research work “out there” - be it [...]

Here’s a listing of some more new additions to our library:

Badstue, L.B. 2006. Smallholder seed practices: maize seed management in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, Mexico. Wageningen (The Netherlands): Wageningen Univ.. xiv, 327 p., ill. ISBN: 90-8504-502-9.
Notes: Wageningen Univ. thesis. Contains summary in Dutch. 2 copies..
Call No: 631.53(72) B14
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Rios Labrada, H. [...]

The Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) has launched a new on-line, full-text journal titled The Plant Genome.

It is an international, open access scientific journal that will publish research on all aspects of plant genomics.
Have a look at the first issue’s content page.
Interested in knowing of other scientific journals published by CSSA and partners? Have [...]

From today through to August 30, 2008, all CGIAR Center staff can read from their desktop the full text of 140 e-books in all subject suites of CAB’s e-book collection. The subject collections included are:
* Animal and Veterinary Sciences
* Human, Food and Nutrition Sciences
* Plant Sciences
* Leisure and Tourism
* Environmental Sciences
The e-books may [...]

Farmers’ Rights website - this website’s aim is to be an on-line tool and information resource for practitioners, policy makers and individuals who work, or are interested in this field. The website was launched in May of this year, and is the official website of the Farmers’ Rights Project of the Fridtjof Nansen Institute [...]

Farmers in South Africa are being encouraged to buy and use GM seeds rather than their own.
“Because small-scale farmers in rural Africa often have little or no formal education, they are generally unable to make informed choices around GMO farming. “We encourage them to attend portfolio committees that discuss GMO regulations, but the farmers’ knowledge [...]

Scientists from the UK, USA and Australia have published a study in Science that outlines that many endangered species will not adapt quickly enough to the rapid changes that climate change will bring.
In an effort to save these species, they discuss the possible solution that policy-makers must contemplate moving species to sites where they do [...]

It is widely acknowledged that women have an essential role in African agriculture; however much still needs to be done to improve their position and role.
This is also highlighted in a recent article in the New Agriculturist where it argues that empowerment of women is increasingly being seen as crucial to the success of [...]

In need of some summer reading? Take a look at the interesting new books now available at the Bioversity Library.

5571
Sahai, S.; Mahanta, B.; Ahmed, W. 2005. Farmers’ perception of agrobiodiversity: a study in
North India. New Delhi (India): Gene Campaign. 41 p., graphs.

Call No: 631.14(540) Sa1
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5542
Nazarea, V.D. 1998. Cultural memory and biodiversity. [...]

An article from the New York Times outlines the consequences that will be felt as more countries begin restricting their food exports in order to ensure that their own people will have enough to eat.
This is closer to home that many of us would think… just the other week when I was grocery shopping [...]

After a short time away we are back on-line, and are happy to be back with a positive story about the comeback of indigenous vegetables in Eastern Africa. 
The African Science News Sevice reports on a study that was recently undertaken in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda; it discusses that urban consumers are actively seeking out and requesting indigenous vegetables over other vegetables.  [...]

Very much in line with the high level conference being currently held at FAO, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has recently published a report entitled “Impact of Climate Change and Bioenergy on Nutrition” / Marc J. Cohen, Cristina Tirado, Noora-Lisa Aberman, and Brian Thompson
“Food security has deteriorated since 1995 and reductions in child [...]