A blog maintained by Tevita Kete, PGR Officer Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji Islands
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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).
PAPGREN coordination and support
PAPGREN partners Mr William Wigmore Mr Adelino S. Lorens Dr Lois Englberger Mr Apisai Ucuboi Dr Maurice Wong Mr Tianeti Beenna Ioane Mr Frederick Muller Mr Herman Francisco Ms Rosa Kambuou Ms Laisene Samuelu Mr Jimi Saelea Mr Tony Jansen Mr Finao Pole Mr Frazer Bule Lehi Other CROP agencies Pacific biodiversity Other Pacific organizations Pacific news Interested in GIS?
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Sunday, May 06, 2007 Posted 1:20 PM by Tevita
Philippines launches biofuel From: Zeenews Manila, May 06: The Philippines` biofuels law came into effect on Sunday with little fanfare or information and only a partial rollout of the much-vaunted 1 percent coconut blend diesel. Motorists were surprised to hear use of the cleaner fuel was now mandatory. "I would like to try it but I have some questions first," said Gonzalo Bondad, 44, as he waited for his SUV to be filled up at a Petron gas station in Manila`s financial district. "Is it necessary to convert the car beforehand?" The Philippine government is pushing biofuels to cut the country`s annual $6 billion plus oil import bill and rely more on locally-produced crops such as coconut, sugar, jathropa, palm oil and soybeans. The Southeast Asian country is the world`s largest exporter of coconut oil. But despite hailing the new legislation as an economic and environmental breakthrough, the government has yet to explain how it will implement and police the change. A forecourt supervisor at Petron, the country`s largest fuel supplier, said his station had yet to receive the new blend. "We were advised to expect it this week," said Rommel Andres. "They told us that we will be giving out leaflets about it." Chemrez Technologies, the country`s largest coco-biodiesel producer, has produced its own free comic about the fuel to increase consumer awareness. The Southeast Asian country is the world`s largest exporter of coconut oil. But despite hailing the new legislation as an economic and environmental breakthrough, the government has yet to explain how it will implement and police the change. A forecourt supervisor at Petron, the country`s largest fuel supplier, said his station had yet to receive the new blend. "We were advised to expect it this week," said Rommel Andres. "They told us that we will be giving out leaflets about it." Chemrez Technologies, the country`s largest coco-biodiesel producer, has produced its own free comic about the fuel to increase consumer awareness.The new fuel initially comes at no extra expense, but industry officials say it will eventually cost drivers at least 30 centavos extra per liter, nearly 1 percent higher than the average retail price of 33.45 ($0.70) per barrel in the capital. Motorists said they would be willing to shell out extra if it meant less pollution. "If it will serve the environment, why not?" said Jimmy Gochang, 70. "The air here is really terrible." The law envisages that gasoline will contain a 5-percent mix of ethanol by 2009. Bureau Report |
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Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives.
PestNet: For on-line
information, advice and pest identification for the Pacific and beyond.
Contact: Grahame Jackson.
Pacific Mapper: For on-line
mapping of point data over satellite images of the Pacific provided by Google Maps.
DIVA-GIS: For free, easy-to-use
software for the spatial analysis of biodiversity data.
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