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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Tuesday, May 01, 2007 Posted 4:12 PM by Tevita
Supporting the emerging organic agriculture sector in the Pacific From: Ariko Toda, Country Country Programme Manager IFAD In the Pacific region, IFAD is promoting the adoption of organic agriculture. Through a US$200,000 grant project titled Building Capacities on Certification of Organic Agriculture, IFAD is looking for feasible ways to reduce the high cost to farmers of certification, thus contributing to reducing their poverty. Through this assistance, IFAD will work with institutional systems to make access by farmers to organic agriculture easier. One year of grant implementation has shown positive results that have been recognized by the governments of the Pacific countries. Based on these findings, IFAD decided to engage in promoting organic agriculture in the Pacific. In partnership with the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), IFAD developed a grant-supported project titled Building Capacities on Certification of Organic Agriculture. The two-year project covers all IFAD member countries in the Pacific. The project objectives are to:
The first year of project implementation focused on building networks with stakeholders and training them in raising awareness on organic agriculture. The fact that local stakeholders now understand the potential of organic agriculture is one of the project achievements. During the second Head of Agriculture and Forestry Services Meeting organized by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in September 2006, government representatives requested the Secretariat to take a lead in the region to promote organic agriculture in partnership with IFOAM and IFAD. Based on this request, IFAD approved another grant to support the Secretariat in establishing a local consultative process to finalize the regional standard for organic agriculture and to develop a strategic plan for promoting this sector in the Pacific. IFOAM will complete the study on the current situation of organic agriculture and fair trade production in the Pacific Island Countries by mid 2007. Based on this study, IFAD will explore directions for further support in promoting organic agriculture in the region. |
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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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