Announcements and short news items about activities at the Center or elsewhere
Board Chairman Yu-Tsai Huang officially handed over the leadership of the World Vegetable Center from outgoing Director General Dyno Keatinge to new DG Marco Wopereis in a ceremony on Wednesday, 20 April 2016 at headquarters. Board members and observers, invited guests, and staff filled the auditorium to witness this transition in the Center’s history.
A webinar to be hosted by Catholic Relief Services on 14 April 2016 will feature Thomas Dubois, Regional Director, AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center Eastern and Southern Africa, and Pepijn Schreinemachers, AVRDC Lead Specialist - Impact Evaluation, who will present a strategy for rural household gardens in Africa and Asia using locally adapted and nutrition-dense vegetables as a core element.
Hone your skills and learn new approaches to all aspects of vegetable production in this comprehensive course that can be tailored to your needs.
On 9 February 2016, Carol Durieux, Head of the Belgian Fund for Food Security of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation took some time from her busy schedule in Tanzania to visit AVRDC Eastern and Southern Africa in Arusha. Carol was immersed for a whole morning in the world of vegetables; she learned about AVRDC’s activities in the region, and had some thought-provoking discussions with Center scientists.
STRENGTHENING A LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP: AVRDC and Kasetsart University (KU) in Thailand signed their first Memorandum of Understanding back in 1992 to set out guidelines for research collaboration, development initiatives, and training. The International Vegetable Training Course (now in its 35th year), an intensive cucurbit breeding program in Thailand, and increased international interaction for KU scientists and students are among the many benefits realized from this most enduring and fruitful partnership, which is now set to continue: The MOU was renewed for another 25 years on 15 February 2015 by Achiraya Nunes Galante of the KU International Affairs Division and Fenton Beed, AVRDC East and Southeast Asia Regional Director. Thanks, KU!
New Mexico State University graduate student Derek Barchenger has been selected as the first ever New Mexico State University (NMSU) student to be awarded with a U.S. Borlaug Fellowship and a trip to Taiwan. Barchenger is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Plant and Environmental Sciences at NMSU. He received his bachelor’s of science in horticulture from Oklahoma State University and his master’s of science in horticulture from the University of Arkansas. The Borlaug Fellowship is a prestigious award named after the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Norman Borlaug. The purpose of this fellowship is to provide United States graduate students with the opportunity to study with a researcher at a world agricultural center. Barchenger is among 23 awardees. As a part of the application process, Barchenger was tasked with finding an international mentor to work with. Barchenger found Sanjeet Kumar, pepper breeder at AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center. Barchenger will travel to AVRDC in Taiwan in May to begin his fellowship.
Los Baños, Philippines - The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has appointed Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes, current AVRDC Deputy Director General - Research, as its eighth deputy director general for research. She will assume her duties on 30 March 2016. Jackie brings to IRRI a combination of agricultural research leadership and management expertise, with a career spanning more than three decades in Asia, Africa, and Europe. At IRRI, she will oversee the institute’s global research agenda in plant breeding, genetics, crop and environmental sciences, and the social sciences.
AGRILINKS WEBINAR: 12 November 2015, 9:30-11 am EDT. Many smallholder farmers rely on local seed varieties to produce staple food crops. Distributed through informal systems, farmers select varieties based on a number of factors including environmental considerations, socioeconomic factors, access and taste preferences. These systems may contribute to the food security of a region, but farmers may also encounter barriers to accessing good quality seed including quality controls and storage issues. In this Ag Sector Council webinar, geographer and environmental scientist Karl Zimmerer from the Pennsylvania State University will describe his research in mapping local land races and highlight some of the lessons learned from this body of work. He will also introduce a promising new methodology for gathering a robust census of local seed varieties in a given region. We will also be joined by expert Victor Afari-Sefa of The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC), who will discuss methods for improving the quality of informal sector seeds and introducing and integrating improved varieties into local networks. To register: http://agrilinks.org/events/informal-seed-sector-behind-seeds-look
For the first time, the Association of International Research and Development Centres (AIRCA) is an implementing partner of this year's Global Landscapes Forum (GLF). AIRCA will host a discussion forum focusing on the topic Climate Smart Agriculture for healthy landscapes and livelihoods. In this session we will present examples of how AIRCA members have developed different aspects of climate smart agriculture (CSA) and how this has contributed to achieving healthy landscapes and improved livelihoods. The session will start with a keynote address explaining the concept of healthy landscapes and the role of CSA in achieving them. This will be followed by a panel discussion on different approaches to CSA and healthy landscapes as implemented by AIRCA members in different continents. AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center is one of the nine founding members of AIRCA.
AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center initiated the Cambodia component of the five-country USAID-funded project “Deploying vegetable seed kits to tackle malnutrition” through a Consultation Workshop in Siem Reap, Cambodia on 10-11 August 2015. Representatives from USAID, internationally funded agricultural projects, Cambodian national and provincial agricultural institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector participated in the workshop, providing guidance, perspective and recommendations for implementation.