PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 6:02 PM by Luigi

Coconut Forum

From UQ News Online.

An international coconut forum in Cairns later this month will explore the potential of coconut oil as “biofuel” for isolated South Pacific islands and seek commercial backing to establish a tourist theme park. The forum will bring together specialists from research directors, managers of international agencies, entrepreneurs dealing with product development in Australia, and small business “denutters” who harvest palms in north Queensland cities and market the fresh fruit.

University of Queensland researchers Dr Yohannes Samosir and Associate Professor Steve Adkins will take part in the forum, to be held from November 22 to 24 in Cairns. Dr Samosir and Associate Professor Adkins from UQ's School of Land and Food Sciences are researching coconut tissue culture with funding from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). Dr Samosir will speak on Australia's involvement in coconut research and development, and discuss the possibility of developing a Coconut World theme park in Queensland.

The Federal Government has supported research into the sustainability of coconut production, survey and evaluation of genetic material particularly in the South Pacific. The forum is also expected to discuss current developments in coconut production, virgin coconut oil, and consider the future for coconut oil as biofuel in the isolated outposts of the South Pacific.

Sponsors include ACIAR, AusAID, Asia Pacific Coconut Community (APCC), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Coconet, and Kokonut Pacific Pty Ltd, and CSIRO Fellow Mike Foale.

For further information, contact Dr. Yohannes Samosir on + 61 7 3365 9750, email mailto:y.samosir@uq.edu.au



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This weblog documents the activities of Pacific Agricultural Genetic Resources Network (PAPGREN), along with other information on plant genetic resources (PGR) in the Pacific. The myriad varieties found within cultivated plants are fundamental to the present and future productivity of agriculture. PAPGREN, which is coordinated by the Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), helps Pacific countries and territories to conserve their crop genetic diversity sustainably, with technical assistance from the Bioversity International (BI) and support from NZAID and ACIAR. SPC also hosts the Centre of Pacific Crops and Trees (CEPaCT). The CEPaCT maintains regional in vitro collections of crops important to the Pacific and carries out research on tissue culture technology. The CEPaCT Adviser is Dr Mary Taylor (MaryT@spc.int), the CEPaCT Curator is Ms Valerie Tuia (ValerieT@spc.int). 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Box 14 Nuku'alofa Tonga Tel: (676) 23038 Fax: (676) 24271 Email: thaangana@hotmail.com Mr Frazer Bule Lehi Head of Research Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Private Mail Bag 040 Port Vila Vanuatu Tel: (678) 22525 Fax: (678) 25265 Email: flehi@hotmail.com Other links Other CROP agencies Forum Secretariat University of the South Pacific SPREP Pacific biodiversity Biodiversity hotspots Breadfruit Institute Hawaiian native plants Intellectual property rights Nature Conservancy PBIF PestNet SIDS WWF South Pacific Program Other Pacific organizations Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific Micronesian Seminar Te Puna web directory Pacific news Cafe Pacific CocoNET Wireless Island Directory Pacific Islands News Pacific Islands Report Pacific Islands Travel Pacific Time South Pacific travel Time Pacific Interested in GIS? DIVA-GIS	Thursday, November 10, 2005 Posted 6:02 PM by Luigi Coconut Forum From UQ News Online. An international coconut forum in Cairns later this month will explore the potential of coconut oil as “biofuel” for isolated South Pacific islands and seek commercial backing to establish a tourist theme park. The forum will bring together specialists from research directors, managers of international agencies, entrepreneurs dealing with product development in Australia, and small business “denutters” who harvest palms in north Queensland cities and market the fresh fruit. University of Queensland researchers Dr Yohannes Samosir and Associate Professor Steve Adkins will take part in the forum, to be held from November 22 to 24 in Cairns. Dr Samosir and Associate Professor Adkins from UQ's School of Land and Food Sciences are researching coconut tissue culture with funding from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). Dr Samosir will speak on Australia's involvement in coconut research and development, and discuss the possibility of developing a Coconut World theme park in Queensland. The Federal Government has supported research into the sustainability of coconut production, survey and evaluation of genetic material particularly in the South Pacific. The forum is also expected to discuss current developments in coconut production, virgin coconut oil, and consider the future for coconut oil as biofuel in the isolated outposts of the South Pacific. Sponsors include ACIAR, AusAID, Asia Pacific Coconut Community (APCC), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Coconet, and Kokonut Pacific Pty Ltd, and CSIRO Fellow Mike Foale. For further information, contact Dr. Yohannes Samosir on + 61 7 3365 9750, email mailto:y.samosir@uq.edu.au * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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