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Liveblog Service Test Page for IWMW 2008

The Scribblelive live blog service will be used to provide a commentary on the plenary talks at the IWMW 2008 event. A test Scribblelive blog page has been set up to allow users to familirise themselves with the service. [4 July 2008]




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New blog posts on the Seesmic Blog Page

A number of new blog posts including a 'Welcome to Aberdeen' message have been added to the video blog page. [16 July 2008]




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Michael Wilson (1999)

Michael Wilson, CLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, gave a talk entitled "SMIL: Multimedia on the Web".




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Michael Webb (2006)

Michael Webb is Head of IT and Media Services at the University of Wales, Newport. He joined Newport in 2003, and has worked in Higher Education for 15 years. A substantial part of Michael's career has been focussed on making innovative use of Internet technologies to support and improve the student experience, both in a technical and strategic role. Michael gave a plenary talk on "Developing a Web 2.0 Strategy". Michael can be contacted at michael.webb@newport.ac.uk.




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Michael Smethurst (2009)

Michael Smethurst is a Senior Information Architect at BBC Audio and Music interested in building highly linked data driven websites that are accessible for people, machines and search engines. Michael gave a plenary talk entitled "How the BBC make Web sites" with Matthew Wood.




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Joe Nicholls (2009)

Joe Nicholls is a Principal Consultant in the Strategy and Enablement Group; part of the Information Services Directorate at Cardiff University. He has over 20 years experience in Higher Education, with a background in Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, Learning Technologies and Web related services. His current work focuses on identifying technologies and methodologies that can be employed to improve the awareness, access to, and use of University services. He is particularly interested in the process of gathering and managing service requirements, the educational role of service providers and the potential of enterprise architecture as an approach to enabling organisational change. Joe gave a plenary talk entitled "Servicing 'Core' and 'Chore': A framework for understanding a Modern IT Working Environment" with David Harrison.




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Debbie Nicholsone (2009)

Debbie Nicholson has worked in Web and Learning Technology (WaLT) at the University of Essex for 8 years as a Web Developer, and more recently as WaLT Project Manager. Debbie is currently project managing the relocation of all the University Professional Service web content from individual office based sites, to audience based content incorporated in to the corporate site and design. Debbie chaired the day 2 morning session.




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Patrick Lauke (2010)

Patrick Lauke works as Web Evangelist in the Developer Relations team at Opera Software ASA. In a previous life he worked as Web Editor for the University of Salford, where in 2003 he implemented one of the first thoroughly web standards based sites in the sector. Patrick has been engaged in the discourse on standards and accessibility since early 2001 - regularly speaking at conferences and contributing to a variety of web development and accessibility related mailing lists and initiatives such as the Web Standards Project. Published works include a chapter in Web Accessibility: Web Standards and Regulatory Compliance, released by Friends of Ed in 2006, as well as various articles for .net magazine, where he sits on the advisory panel. An outspoken accessibility and standards advocate, Patrick favours a pragmatic hands-on approach over purely theoretical, high-level discussions. "I'm an idealist by nature, but a pragmatist by trade. I'd never class myself as an expert and I certainly don't have all the answers...I'm just an opinionated guy eager to find real world solutions 'where the rubber meets the road'." His personal corner of the web can be found at http://www.splintered.co.uk. Patrick will be giving a plenary talk entitled "HTML5 (and friends)".




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Richard Brierton (2010)

Richard Brierton has been working in the Web team at the University of Sheffield since 2003 - initially as a Web Developer, and since 2007 as head of the web team. Since graduating with a degree in Multimedia Technology (video, animation, web etc), he has run through a wide-range of activities at the university - web development, design, usability, server setup and administration, improving resilience of systems, video streaming, collaboration tools plus a whole host of other things he cares not to mention. The team also spend a lot of time working with their Web Marketing team on cross-cutting work! Current fads are creating an editor community; training up the web editor community; upgrading/replacing their CMS; increasing user support and buy-in, most of which he'll be talking about at the conference. Richard will be giving a plenary talk entitled "Replacement CMS - Getting it right and getting the buy-in", part of the Doing the Day Job session.




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Nicholas Watson (2008)

Nicholas Watson is the media account manager for Corporate Projects for Learning and Teaching Solutions (LTS) - the media production arm of the Open University (OU). He is responsible for production of Open Educational Resources such as OpenLearn, iTunes U and YouTube. Nicholas facilitated a workshop on "Podcasting and iTunes U: Institutional Approaches to Scaleable Service" with Jeremy Speller. Nicholas can be contacted at n.watson@open.ac.uk




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Debbie Nicholson (2008)

Debbie Nicholson has worked in the Web Support Unit (WSU) at the University of Essex for 6 years. As well as working as part of the Web Design Team, responsible for the maintenance and development of the University corporate pages, Web site design and Web related support and training for staff, Debbie is currently working as a project manager for the Unit. Debbie has just project managed the rebuild of the new University Web site, and is busy planning phase 2 which will look at delivery of web information from departments and sections and the introduction of new Faculties. Debbie facilitated a workshop on "Hands Up if You Haven't done Yours Yet..." with Keith Brooke.




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Web 2.0 and Brand: Theory and Practice

Helen Aspell, Head of Digital Marketing, University of Southampton and James Souttar, Precedent give a plenary talk on Web 2.0 and Brand: Theory and Practice. There are thousands of Web 2.0 technologies available online right now, from Twitter to Second Life, all with tangible marketing benefits but not necessarily to every organisation or audience. In the current climate of Web 2.0, marketers are being expected to prove their understanding of new technologies and demonstrate how their brand is using and responding to the changing environment by incorporating social media into their digital strategies. This challenge is particularly acute in large, devolved organisations such as universities where technology decisions are often made at arms' length from the marketing function by IT teams or individual departments, neither of whom may consider the implications that building an online presence in Web 2.0 may have on an audience's perception of the organisation's brand. During the talk, Aspell and Souttar will outline how the changing landscape of digital technologies will shape the agenda of brand development in the future. This will include the principles of branding in the modern age with its application and embracing of Web 2.0 technologies. Moving from theory into practice, the reference will be the re-brand of University of Southampton with isoton used to demonstrate how Web 2.0 technologies can reflect and enhance an institution's brand.




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A Majority of Alaskans Appear to Have Approved a Paid Sick Leave Ballot Measure

  • New statewide paid sick leave law would take effect on July 1, 2025.
  • Although there is no designated carryover or balance caps, the law would allow employers to limit annual accrual and use to either 40 or 56 hours, depending on employer size.
  • Employees are entitled to use paid sick leave as it is accrued.




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Global investment management firm T Rowe Price sets up in Melbourne

US-based global investment management firm, T Rowe Price (TRP), has opened a new office in Melbourne. Head of Australian business for TRP, Murray Brewer, said TRP in Australia is going from strength to strength.




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Victorian base enables American yoghurt company’s export to Singapore

Chobani Australia is exporting yoghurt to Singapore less than 18 months after the American company set up in Victoria. Within 18 months, Chobani has grown production at its A$30 million yoghurt factory in Victoria from 25,000 cases a week to 25,000 cases a day, and become one of the biggest yoghurt manufacturers in Australia.




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Victorian Government develops a new medical technology strategy

A new Victorian Government medical technology strategy will position Victoria as an internationally competitive developer of medical technology. Victoria’s Medical Technology Industry Strategy will create more high value jobs and attract investment for the state’s advanced manufacturing sector.




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Australia moves up on Scientific American’s biotech innovation ranking

Australia’s world ranking for biotechnology innovation jumped from seventh to fourth on Scientific American’s latest ‘Worldview’ scorecard. The publication’s scorecard provides a balanced assessment of biotechnology innovation around the world and indicated that Australia’s biotech market is undergoing a resurgence.




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Economic Partnership Agreement to boost Japan’s investment in Australia

The new Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA), signed on 8 July 2014, will strengthen economic ties between the two nations. Japan is Australia’s third largest direct foreign investor with A$130 million worth of investment stock in Australia in 2013.




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US defence manufacturer Wilcox Industries to set up in Victoria

Wilcox Industries’ manufacturing and assembly facility in Victoria will be a joint venture with its Melbourne-based distributor and partner, Aquaterro – a leading supplier of law enforcement and defence equipment in Victoria.




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Victoria generates 20,000 jobs since 2010

The Victorian Government’s investment agency has created 20,000 jobs since December 2010 reaching its target six months earlier than predicted. The jobs were created as a result of the Office of State Development attracting A$8 billion worth of assisted investment.




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S&P confirms Australia’s AAA rating and stable economic outlook

Ratings agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) has reaffirmed Australia's triple-A credit rating and stable economic outlook, stating that the sovereign credit ratings on Australia benefit from the country's strong institutional settings, its wealthy and resilient economy, and a high degree of monetary and fiscal policy flexibility. “These factors provide Australia with a strong ability to absorb large economic and financial shocks, as was demonstrated during the global recession in 2009,” S&P said.




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NZ company Transport Hydraulic Solutions sets up in Melbourne

New Zealand-based hydraulic equipment specialist, Transport Hydraulic Solutions (THS), has opened a large manufacturing facility in the Melbourne northern suburb of Campbellfield (26.5 km north of the city centre). “A growing number of Melbourne clients are located around this area, and for those who are based further away, our office is right near the freeway where the Western Ring Road and Hume Highway intersect,” said Managing Director of THS, Brenden Lyons.




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UK-based fleet management specialist TR Fleet opens office in Melbourne

Fleet management service provider, TR Fleet, recently launched TR Fleet Australia – the parent company’s first venture outside the UK. The Melbourne-based manufacturing business will offer a range of services in Australia and New Zealand, including a risk management tool to help employers comply with 2015 changes to workplace health and safety regulations.




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Coca-Cola Amatil investment secures 500 jobs in Victoria




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French tech giant Capgemini opens cloud services and global delivery centre in Melbourne

Leading global consulting, technology and professional services company, Capgemini, has opened its new Melbourne Global Delivery Centre and Social, Mobile, Analytics and Cloud services Lab. The French multinational operates in 44 countries around the world and offers a range of integrated services in the business sector.




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Rohlig Australia to set up new logistics site in Melbourne

Rohlig Australia will open a new branch office in the Melbourne western suburb of Truganina in mid 2015. The new Melbourne base for the international logistics company will be a modern 8,730sqm facility that includes space for a large warehouse and an open plan office.




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Victoria the only Australian state with a stable AAA rating from both S&P and Moody’s




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Bio blog: Melbourne cancer research partnership led by Australian icons

La Trobe University in Melbourne will bring its world-class scientific expertise to the newly launched Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI).




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Aegis Services Australia expansion to create 550 new jobs in Melbourne

Aegis Services Australia has announced it will expand its business processing outsourcing operations in Victoria, creating 550 new jobs over the next two years. Aegis is a global outsourcing and technology company. The expansion will mean a doubling of the company’s existing local workforce and a substantial investment in training and up-skilling of employees. The company’s announcement underscores Victoria's strong reputation as a destination for global investment and business services centre.




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New Victorian mining and exploration online map

The Victorian Government has launched Australia's first web tool specifically designed to help Victorian communities locate mining and exploration activities in their regions quickly and easily. The Mining Licences Near Me web tool ensures greater transparency for communities regarding industry activity in their region, both onshore and offshore, including minerals, gas and quarries.




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Significant Investor Visa (SIV) reforms to attract foreign direct investment

The Australian Government has advised that it will expand and improve the Significant Investor Visa (SIV) program to leverage and better direct foreign investment. The program will be reformed to encourage more high net worth individuals to make Australia home and will contribute to a strong and competitive economic environment.




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Bio blog: Victorian Postdoctoral Research Fellowships – second round

Applications are now open for the second round of the prestigious A$1.8 million Victorian Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Program, being delivered by veski. The fellowships aim to strengthening Victoria’s innovation capabilities by enabling talented young researchers to work at world leading research centres before returning to Victoria. The Victorian Government offered six fellowships in 2013 and is again offering up to six fellowships to begin in 2015.




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Kaiteki Fresh grows in regional Victoria

Japanese food production company, Kaiteki Fresh has announced a new state-of-the-art hydroponic facility in Bunyip, one hour east of Melbourne. The multi-million dollar investment will be the first facility of its kind outside of Asia, and will create 40 new local jobs. Kaiteki Fresh Australia, a subsidiary of Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation, is a global leader in food production and technology.




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Finmeccania – Selex ES to set up Australian Naval ICT Communications HQ in Melbourne

Global technology supplier Finmeccanica – Selex ES will establish its Australian Naval Communications headquarters in Melbourne, creating 80 manufacturing jobs by 2019. Finmeccanica - Selex ES works across the international defence, security, aerospace, naval and transport sectors.




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Bio blog: Victoria to attract more world leading women in science and innovation with additional round of veski innovation fellowships

An additional round of veski innovation fellowships – a prestigious Victorian program to attract outstanding global leaders in science and research to Victoria – is actively seeking applications from outstanding women in science and research.




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Victorian Government calls for EOIs for New Schools PPP

The Victorian Government has this week invited Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the delivery of 13 new schools under the $223 million New Schools Public Private Partnership (PPP) project. The PPP will see the selected consortium finance, design and construct 13 new schools and maintain them over a 25 year period. The schools will be built in two tranches, with the first tranche opening to students in 2017 and the second in 2018. The Victorian Government will retain responsibility for teaching and curriculum, with the Government stating that the structure will allow teaching staff to focus wholly on educational outcomes.




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Australia and China sign historic free trade agreement

Australia and China have signed an historic free-trade agreement (FTA) which will increase opportunities for foreign direct investment in Victoria. The deal, which is suggested to be worth A$18 billion to Australia’s economy, was announced after almost a decade of negotiations between the nations. The agreement will increase the threshold at which private companies attract scrutiny by the Foreign Investment Review Board from A$247 million to A$1 billion. This will allow corporations to more easily take advantage of the competitive and dynamic business environment that Melbourne has to offer.




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RMIT University and NICTA collaborate to open a new data analytics lab in Melbourne

The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), in collaboration with NICTA (National ICT Australia) have announced the opening of a joint data analytics lab in Victoria. The lab will be based at RMIT University’s School of Computer Science & Information (CSIT) in Melbourne. NICTA is Australia’s largest ICT organisation, and its Machine Learning Research Group has been independently rated amongst the top five groups of its kind in the world. In a collaboration valued at over A$1 million, NICTA will combine its expertise with RMIT University’s CSIT, which is widely recognised as a leader in data and information management.




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HotelQuickly expands into Australia with a new Melbourne office

Hotel and accommodation booking app, HotelQuickly, has opened an office in Melbourne as part of its plans to expand its operations in the Australian market. The Hong-Kong headquartered company, which was launched in March 2013, has more than 600,000 users globally and offers last-minute discounted hotel and accommodation booking options for travellers.




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Victorian wind farms bring power to Canberra

Two Victorian wind farms have won 20-year deals with the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), to supply a third of Canberra's electricity needs. In a deal worth A$68 million a year each, the alternative power venture is set to increase Canberra household power bills by A$93, however with 200 megawatts of capacity, the wind farms are expected to create a 580,000-tonne reduction to the city's yearly carbon emission each year (the equivalent of removing 157,000 cars).




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Melbourne’s Metro Rail Project to transform its public transport system

The Victorian Government has announced it will begin work on one of Australia’s largest infrastructure projects, the Melbourne Metro Rail Project. The new Melbourne Metro Rail line includes a nine-kilometre twin rail tunnel from Melbourne's south, under the CBD, through to the university and health precinct in the city's north. It will include five new and expanded underground stations.




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Moving Victoria – Australia’s number one destination for inter-state migration

Melbourne has reinforced its great reputation as the world’s most liveable city with new statistics showing Victoria as the number one destination for Australians moving inter-state.




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Leading Victorian and US regenerative medicine institutes announce partnership

Regenerative medicine research efforts are set to strengthen in Australia with the recent announcement between Melbourne’s Monash University and leading US biomedical institution, MDI Biological Laboratory.




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International buyers travel to Victoria to meet the winemakers

More than 150 international buyers and investors from Europe, the Middle East and Asia will travel to Victoria as part of a major inbound trade mission that showcases its diverse wine industry. Meet the Winemaker, will introduce international buyers to over 100 key winemakers from 21 diverse winemaking regions around Victoria, allowing the industry to develop new export opportunities and giving the world an insight into Victoria’s unique winemaking capabilities.




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Taking stock of national agricultural R&D capacity in Africa South of the Sahara

This report is a timely input into the ongoing development agenda for Africa South of the Sahara (SSA). The 2013 report on agriculture and food systems by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network released a set of post–2015 development goals, including recommendations that low- and middle-income countries increase their spending on agricultural research and development (R&D) by a minimum of 5 percent per year during 2015–2025, and that they allocate at least 1 percent of their agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) to public agricultural R&D. More recently, the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa was adopted at the African Heads of State Summit, necessitating the development of a continent-wide implementation plan. This report, which summarizes SSA’s recent progress in developing its national agricultural R&D systems, is intended to serve as an important input into, and potential benchmark for, the implementation of the science agenda in SSA and the broader development agenda for the region. The analysis is based on comprehensive primary datasets by Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI), the most recent of which was compiled during 2012–2013.

PDF file: 




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Botswana: Agricultural R&D Indicators Factsheet

Botswana: ASTI Agricultural R&D Indicators Factsheet

Overall, the number of researchers holding PhD degrees doubled in Botswana during 2000–2011, and the number of researchers qualified to the BSc-degree level tripled.

Agricultural R&D in Botswana is almost entirely funded by the government. Spending on operating and program costs increased significantly during 2005–2007, but contracted again from 2008, when government funding to many public-sector agencies was cut due to spiraling inflation.

Botswana invests a relatively high share of its agricultural GDP in agricultural research. Nevertheless, such a high intensity ratio is not uncommon in countries with small populations and relatively high per capita incomes. Small countries are not able to benefit from economies of scale to the degree that larger countries can, so basic research infrastructure and staffing constitute greater shares of investment.

PDF file: 




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Democratic Republic of Congo: Agricultural R&D Indicators Factsheet

Democratic Republic of Congo: ASTI Agricultural R&D Indicators Factsheet

Despite rapid growth in recent years, DR Congo’s agricultural R&D spending remains well below the levels required to sustain its needs; in fact, spending levels as a share of AgGDP are among the lowest in Africa.

Agricultural researcher numbers also grew rapidly in recent years, particularly at INERA and CRAA, although most of this growth occurred among researchers trained to the BSc or MSc levels.

Accounting for just 9 percent of total researchers, women are severely underrepresented in agricultural R&D in DR Congo, especially given that the country’s agricultural labor force is predominantly female.

PDF file: 



  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • English
  • Environment and Production Technology
  • Policies
  • Institutions and Markets
  • Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI)
  • Agricultural Science
  • Technology
  • and Innovation Policy
  • ASTI Country Note
  • Science & Technology

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République démocratique du Congo: Fiche d’information sur les indicateurs de la R&D agricole

République démocratique du Congo: Fiche d’information sur les indicateurs de la R&D agricole

Malgré la forte croissance au cours des dernières années, les dépenses de R&D agricole de la RDC sont encore en deçà des niveaux requises pour subvenir aux besoins du pays. Le ratio dépenses/PIB agricole est parmi les plus bas en Afrique.

Les effectifs de chercheurs agricoles connaissent également une croissance rapide depuis quelques années, notamment à l’INERA et au CRAA. Cette croissance est due à l’augmentation des chercheurs de niveau licence/ BSc ou master/MSc.

En RDC, les femmes ne représentent que 9 % de l’effectif total des chercheurs travaillant dans la R&D agricole : elles sont donc gravement sous-représentées, d’autant plus que la main-d’oeuvre agricole du pays est caractérisée par une prédominance féminine.

PDF file: 



  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Français
  • Environment and Production Technology
  • Policies
  • Institutions and Markets
  • Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI)
  • Agricultural Science
  • Technology
  • and Innovation Policy
  • ASTI Country Note
  • Science & Technology

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Achieving Food Security in Africa South of the Sahara Through Food Value Chains

Time: 
12:15 pm to 1:45 pm EDT (Please join us for lunch beginning at 11:45 am); Live webcast coming up at the scheduled time.

Presenter(s): 
Moderator: Rajul Pandya-Lorch, IFPRI | Welcome: Astrid Jakobs de Pádua, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany | Paul Mwafongo, Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania | Speakers: Khamaldin Mutabazi, Sokoine University of Agriculture SUA in Morogoro, Tanzania | Ephraim Nkonya, IFPRI | Stefan Sieber, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research ZALF
Contact/RSVP: 

RSVP to Simone Hill-Lee - s.hill-lee@cgiar.org, 202-862-8107.

Location: 

International Food Policy Research Institute
2033 K Street, NW, Washington, DC
Fourth Floor Conference Facility

This seminar will present findings of food and nutrition security research projects in Africa south of the Sahara (SSA) funded by German federal ministries. The presentations will highlight results of the projects, share success stories of food value chains, and outline key policies required to achieve food and nutrition security through the value chain approach.

Stefan Sieber will present an overview of German research programs and related projects conducted in SSA. Khamaldin Mutabazi and Ephraim Nkonya will present empirical evidence of both success stories and challenges of the value chain approach in Tanzania, as well as discuss policies that enhance or pose challenges for market development in SSA.




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Agriculture in Africa -- Telling Facts from Myths

Time: 
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT
Presenter(s): 
Keynote Speakers: Chris Barrett, Cornell University | Gero Carletto, World Bank, Living Standards Measurement Study | Luc Christiaensen, World Bank | Klaus Deininger, World Bank | Makhtar Diop, World Bank Africa Region | Shenggen Fan, IFPRI | Francisco Ferreira, World Bank | Ethel Sennhauser, World Bank | Stan Wood, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Contact/RSVP: 

Simone Hill-Lee, s.hill-lee@cgiar.org; 202-862-8107

Location: 

International Food Policy Research Institute
2033 K Street, NW, Washington, DC
Fourth Floor Conference Facility

• Are women in Africa doing all the farming?
• Can Africa’s postharvest loss really be that high?
• Is input use still dismally low? Is land still abundantly available and land rental non-existent?
• Are Africa’s youth exiting agriculture en masse?

More information

For presentations, video and other related materials please visit the World Bank project page

Come and join us at an IFPRI-World Bank conference featuring 15 revealing Ignite-style presentations. The panel discussions are based on research conducted by an international consortium of universities and international organizations led by the Chief Economist Office of the Africa Region of the World Bank, and are intended to scrutinize conventional wisdom about African agriculture. Co-hosts Shenggen Fan, Director General of IFPRI, and Makhtar Diop, Vice President of the Africa Region of the World Bank, will make opening remarks, and the expert panels will reflect on the research findings and their implications.

Registration for this event is now closed. Conference will be streamed in its entirety on this page.

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