The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is providing financial support to organize the international DAAD-Alumni Seminar “Recording, Monitoring and Managing Biodiversity”. It will take place at Kassel University from 28th September to 05th October 2009 in Witzenhausen, Germany.

The main topic of this Summer School is the demonstration and discussion of classical morphological-systematic field methods and of molecular methods for recording and characterization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA). The role of ex situ and in situ agrobiodiversity conservation concepts will be discussed as well as conservation measures in governmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions. The seminar will address the question how recording and documentation of biodiversity in the home countries of the applicants can contribute to the international concepts.

Please visit the Website http://www.agrar.uni-kassel.de/ink/?c=164 for more information on the Summer School and on how to apply. If there are any further question write to email hidden; JavaScript is required.

23-28 August 2009, Nairobi, Kenya

The 2nd World Congress on Agroforestry will assess opportunities to leverage scientific agroforestry in promoting sustainable land use worldwide. The Congress will serve as a forum for agroforestry researchers, educators, practitioners and policy makers from around the world to:

• Share new research findings, lessons, experiences, and ideas that will help influence decisions that impact on livelihoods and the global environment.
• Explore new opportunities and strengthen existing partnerships in agroforestry research, education, training, and development.
• Form new networks and communities of practice, and nurture old ones.

The overall Congress theme is “Agroforestry – The Future of Global Land Use”. Plenary, symposia, concurrent sessions, and poster sessions will be organized around different major topics, based on the following:

• Food Security and Livelihoods
• Conservation and Rehabilitation of Natural resources
• Policies and institutions

For more information, visit the Congress website.

The next Annual Meeting of the European SAVE Foundation and the SAVE Network will take place August 20-23, 2009 in Ghent, Belgium. This location is, of course, very far for some people to travel too. However, we are able to offer you – in collaboration with our Belgian partner organisation Steunpunt Levend Erfgoed, SLE – an attractive programme, which we hope will make the journey worthwhile. We would be glad if you could tell us, as soon as possible, if you intend to travel to Belgium to the Annual Meeting.

As in the last years at Guastalla and Kozard, the Meeting will be combined with an International Agrobiodiversity Seminar. The topic in Ghent will be: “Innovative Aspects for In-Situ Conservation”.
If you like to contribute to this topic, please mention it in the registration form and send your abstract until mid of July.

Attached you receive the provisional programme and the registration form. Please return the registration form by 26th of June.

Registration_SAVE_09.doc – SAVE_meeting_2009.pdf

Elli Broxham (programme coordinator)
SAVE Foundation, Head Office
Josef-Belli-Weg 5, D-78467 Konstanz, Germany
Fon: +49-7531/802 73 74
Fax: +49-7531/819 98 07
SAVE Website: www.save-foundation.net
Ark Network:  www.arca-net.info
ELBARN Net: www.elbarn.net
Agrobiodiversity.Net: www.agrobiodiversity.net

First announcement: Invitation to the SEAsia2009 Symposium in Thailand and call for papers

King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) will organize the Asia-Pacific Symposium on Quality and Safety of Fresh and Fresh Cut Produce (SEAsia2009) to be held in Bangkok, Thailand during 3-5 August 2009, under the auspices of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS).

The organizing committee of the SEAsia2009 would like to invite you to submit an abstract of a paper for an oral or poster presentation at the Symposium.

The goal of the SEAsia2009 is to highlight the most recent and exciting developments and innovations in the area with an emphasis on preharvest conditions on quality, safety and longevity of fresh and fresh cut produce, postharvest physiology, pest management, physical treatments, storage and transport technology, innovation packaging, managing food safety risks, all quality aspects throughout the supply chain, market and distribution system.

Abstracts should be sent directly to the symposium secretariat (Dr. Chairat Techavuthiporn) e-mail address (email hidden; JavaScript is required) by 30 May 2009.

Dr. Sirichai Kanlayanarat (convener)
King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thonburi
Division of Postharvest Technology
Thungkru, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
Phone: (66)2 470 7720, Fax: (66)2 452 3750,
E-mail: email hidden; JavaScript is required
E-mail symposium: email hidden; JavaScript is required
Web: www.kmutt.ac.th/SEAsia2009

African horticulturists attending ISHS international events have often agreed on the need for a specific African event on horticulture: the need for validating experiences and achievements through research projects and case studies, the need for expressing constraints and expectations, the need for coordinating efforts and prospective strategies. That time has now come! August 31 – September 3, 2009, Nairobi (Kenya): I All Africa Horticultural Congress: Grown Under the Sun.

Web: www.globalhort.org/news-events/all-africa-horticulture-congress/

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