Announcements
Are you producing a newsletter, holding a meeting, running an organization or rearing a natural enemy that you want other biocontrol workers to know about? Send us the details and we will announce it in BNI. DBM Biocontrol SymposiumAn international workshop on improving biological control of diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella, DBM) will be held in Montpellier, France in the autumn of 2002. Organized by CIRAD (Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement), EBCL (US Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service European Biological Control Laboratory) and CABI in association with the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) Plutella Working Group, it will look at the status of DBM biological control around the world, the taxonomy and role of natural enemies, and the importance to biological control of variability of populations. To register for further
information, contact: Secrétariat Entotrop, European Whitefly Studies NetworkThe success and growth of the European Whitefly Studies Network (EWSN) during its 2-year European Community (EC) FAIR 6 Concerted Action Grant (CT98-4303) has assured a future for the network. The concerted action programme ended in March 2001 with a workshop and an international whitefly symposium. Over the 2 years of the programme, EWSN steadily attracted additional support from organizations, industries and individuals concerned with whiteflies and their control. This enabled a rapid expansion of membership, activities and outputs, which raised EWSN's profile worldwide. The network will now continue as an independent organization, principally supported by Syngenta and Koppert Biological Systems, with the additional support from a number of other commercial associates. EWSN comprises a highly motivated team of whitefly researchers and industrialists, providing, collating and disseminating information on all aspects of whiteflies and associated crop problems. In the near future, for example, a complete database of whitefly parasitoids will be compiled and made available through EWSN. The network has already created a Resource Pack, distributes the EWSN newsletter and has developed a website. [See also Conference Reports, this issue.] The network has also recently announced its affiliation with the Bemisia Newsletter, which will be published in future as part of the EWSN newsletter. The next meeting to review developments in research and crop protection will be held in Agadir, Morocco on 19-20 March 2002. For more information about
publications, activities and membership contact: Pacific Entomology ConferenceThe 10th Pacific Entomology Conference, sponsored by the Hawaiian Entomological Society will be held in Honolulu on 25-26 February 2002. Contact: Thomas W. Culliney, Latin-American Weed Biocontrol CourseThe 'First Latin-American Short Course on Biological Control of Weeds' is being organized by the University of Florida and the Universidad Nacional Agraria de Nicaragua. It will be held at the Hotel Barcelo in Montelimar, Nicaragua on 24-28 June 2002. For more information and
registration, African Sustainable Agriculture CourseThe Sustainable Agriculture Centre for Research, Extension and Development in Africa (Sacred Africa) is an NGO that works with rural farmers to improve their lives through increased agricultural production and income while protecting and enhancing the environment. In collaboration with partners, SACRED has organized a Regional Course in Sustainable Agriculture to be held in Western Kenya on 29 October-2 November 2001. The course, which will be facilitated in a participatory and lively way, targets project managers, extensionists and researchers from East and southern Africa. It will be limited to 30 participants and will cost Ksh 15,000 per participant from Kenya and US$ 500 for those from elsewhere in East and southern Africa. Fees will cover food, accommodation, tuition and educational materials. The course will include: an introduction to sustainable agriculture (principles and practices); agriculture and natural resource management problems and opportunities in the region; the role of participatory community development in agricultural development; sustainable soil fertility management; gender issues in agriculture and natural resource management; working with communities to facilitate development; agricultural marketing and home-based processing for rural development; researching with farmers; using farmers as extensionists; focusing on poverty in our work; and collaboration, networking and team work. Contact: Coffee FuturesThis sourcebook*, which deals with some of the critical issues confronting the coffee industry, was published to coincide with the 2001 World Coffee Conference in London in May. The book was not intended to provide a comprehensive treatment of each topic, but rather to inform and stimulate discussion. It features 20 contributors from the full spectrum of the industry. Technical developments such as mechanical harvesting and GM coffee are assessed. Coffee diseases and health implications for human consumers are outlined, together with measures farmers/producers can take to minimize the contaminants. Of particular interest to BNI readers, there is a strong emphasis on the future prospects for coffee smallholders. Economic problems and gaps in knowledge are identified. The roles of a variety of measures from participatory research to telecentres in plugging the gaps are examined. What is meant by 'sustainable' is explained in the context of coffee production, and illustrated by describing some of the methods used for raising healthy coffee and managing pests and diseases. Coffee diseases are seen as a particular threat, and these are dealt with in detail. Some possible ways forward are considered for those who hope to continue making a living from coffee, including speciality, organic and bio-diversity friendly production. Finally, the role of smallholder coffee in biodiversity conservation is highlighted. *Baker, P.S. (ed)
(2001) Coffee futures: a sourcebook of some critical issues confronting
the coffee industry. Cenicafé, Colombia/CAB International, UK; ❑ |
