Andy
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 17:54:00 +0100
From: Krell, Rainer (REUS) <Rainer.Krell@fao.org>
To: "DOCEA disc. list" <docea-l@nic.wau.nl>,
"Organic Farming CEE list mess." <ecol-agric-cee@mailbase.ac.uk>,
"OF disc. list; Ecol.-Agric." <ecol-agric@mailbase.ac.uk>
Cc: "Gabrielli, Adrianna (REUD)" <Adrianna.Gabrielli@fao.org>
Subject: European workshop on Research Methodologies in Organic Farming
Dear list members,
Below I am copying an invitation letter the FAO Regional Office for
Europe is currently sending out to interested researchers. If you are
interested in participating in a working group on the above theme,
please feel yourself personally addressed by this message and give us a
positive feedback.
With best regards
Rainer Krell, FAO/REUS
Email: rainer.krell@fao.org
-------------------------------------------
Dear Colleague,
Re.: European Workshop on "Research Methodologies in Organic Farming"
In June 1997, FAO sponsored a small meeting of researchers with
expertise in organic farming. The meeting was intended to discuss a
report on Biological farming research in Europe and help FAO decide on
future support in this research field through its European System of
Cooperative Research Networks in Agriculture (ESCORENA). The outcome of
this meeting and its recommendations are now available in the REU
Technical Series No. 54 and an electronic version is also available on
the FAO Website: http://www.fao.org/regional/Europe/public-e/rts54.
One of the recommendations resulting from the meeting was to
create a working group within the Sustainable Rural Environment and
Energy Network (SREN) of ESCORENA on the topic of "Research
Methodologies in Organic Farming" and to organize a first technical
workshop in 1998 on this topic.
The FAO Regional Office for Europe (REU) obtained your name
through the recommendations of other experts in organic farming research
and would like to receive your comments on the creation of such a
working group and learn of your interest in a first technical and
organizational workshop during which future collaboration, coordination
and programmes would be discussed.
The workshop would last three to four days; the venue has still
to be decided. The programme details will depend on your suggestions; a
tentative agenda is attached. The expected outcome would be the
formation of well focused working groups which will elaborate
standardisation of research methodologies for organic farming to improve
standardisation and comparability of results and reporting. For further
information on the objectives of the ESCORENA network system I am
enclosing a short annex.
Dr R. Zanoli has kindly agreed to act as a coordinator for the
preparation of this workshop and your responses should be directed to
him (with a copy to REU): Dr R. Zanoli, DIBIAGA, Faculty of Agriculture,
University of Ancona, Via Brecce Bianche, I-61031 Ancona, Italy; Tel.:
39 71 2204929; Fax.: 39 71 2204858; Email: zanoli@agrecon.unian.it
Following the collection of responses, a first announcement will
be made including the dates and venue of the workshop, which will
hopefully be held in late summer or autumn of 1998. You may wish to
indicate your preferred time period. Financial support from FAO/REU for
participation in the workshop is limited and is intended primarily to
allow the participation of researchers from non-EU countries. If you
know of other interested financial sponsors, REU and the organizers
would welcome any further contribution and collaboration.
The coordinator and I hope that this initiative will be useful
for your research efforts and we look forward to receiving your
suggestions/comments. We hope that you will be interested in future
collaboration and that you will be available to participate in the
forthcoming activities of the working group. Please feel free to pass
this information to interested colleagues.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Rainer Krell
Environment and Sustainable Development Officer
------------------
PROVISIONAL AGENDA
Day 1
Registration
Introduction to ESCORENA/SREN and the Working Group on "Research
Methodologies in Organic Farming"
Reviews, strategic and technical papers on methodologies with
specific focus on technical problems in organic farming
Day 2
Reviews, strategic and technical papers on methodologies with
specific focus on the interdisciplinary, holistic approach of research
in organic farming
Open discussion forum
Day 3
Small working groups for programme and activity/strategy
discussions in specific common technical areas (e.g.: soils, crops,
horticulture, livestock, evaluation, economics, etc.).
Presentation of summaries of discussions, programmes, proposals
Discussions, programme decisions, conclusions
----------------------
ANNEX
EUROPEAN SYSTEM OF COOPERATIVE RESEARCH
NETWORKS IN AGRICULTURE (ESCORENA)
I. Main Objectives
The main objectives of the European System of Cooperative
Research Networks in Agriculture (ESCORENA), comprising thirteen
networks and several ad hoc research groups, with the involvement of
over 400 scientific institutions from more than 50 countries are:
- promotion of voluntary exchange of information and
experimental data in the selected subject matters;
- joint applied research on selected subject matters of
common interest according to an accepted methodology, agreed division of
tasks and timetable;
- exchange of germplasm and transfer of technology;
- establishment of close links between European
researchers working on the same subject and the fostering of a spirit of
cooperation to stimulate interaction.
The establishment in 1974 of the European System of Cooperative
Research Networks in Agriculture (ESCORENA) was based on the principle
that in a period of rapid technological and scientific development, it
is difficult, if not impossible, for any one institution or country to
undertake all the necessary scientific research on any subject matter.
Therefore, well-defined cooperation among interested national
institutions would have a multiplying effect on the work of each one
since each cooperating institution would rely not only on its own
activities but would benefit from the results achieved and the
experience gained by all.
Accordingly, ESCORENA+s main purpose is to facilitate joint
applied research on different selected subject matters of common
interest and to establish a multilateral exchange of information on the
latest scientific experience and achievements among the interested
institutions.
The activities of ESCORENA consist of (a) collaborative research
projects, (b) documentation and publication of a network bulletin, (c)
meetings and workshops of working groups and sub-networks and (d)
network consultations. Whenever a need arises and financial resources
are available, other cooperative activities such as training courses,
study tours and exchange of material or experts, could be undertaken
through mutual agreement.
An important feature of ESCORENA network cooperation is the
gradual extension of activities to an increasing number of national
institutions in countries outside the European Region (mainly in the
Mediterranean basin).
II. Organization
Cooperation in the ESCORENA research networks is voluntary and
each network develops its own programme and the manner of its
implementation, draws up its own applied research programme, organizes
the exchange of information on the latest scientific experience,
prepares methods of work best suited to its specific requirements and
divides the tasks among cooperating institutions in accordance with
their interests, capabilities and fields of specialisation. Cooperating
institutions are free to choose the subject matter in which they
cooperate and exchange information.
The networks have a simple and flexible organizational set-up
and their activities are basically self-regulated. Their decisions are
generally taken by consensus. Each network carries out research on a few
well-defined subjects and not on a complete inventory of topics drawn
from the respective fields of activity. For each topic, in which a
sufficient number of countries have expressed interest, a sub-network
and/or working group is established. The working groups with specific
tasks and life span are easier to convene and to terminate upon
completion of their tasks. The actual cooperation takes place in the
sub-networks or working groups.
The coordinators and the coordination centres of the networks,
the liaison officers and the chairmen of the working groups are
nominated and elected at the network meeting, generally for a renewable
period of four years. The network coordinators are responsible for the
implementation of the agreed work programme and collaborate with FAO in
convening workshops, technical meetings and network consultations and in
organizing coordination board meetings. The liaison officers and the
working group chairmen follow-up the implementation of the adopted
programmes and organize workshops, as well as publication of reports,
proceedings, studies and guidelines. The Coordination Board, consisting
of the coordination of the network and the liaison officers, meets every
two years to review the progress achieved, problems encountered and
future programme of activities and discusses appropriate means of
expansion and improvement of cooperation.
Recently, the European Research Networks Advisory Committee
(ERNAC) was established to conduct periodical analysis of current
activities in order to improve the organization and operation of the
system and to advise on the feasibility and interest of topics suggested
for new networks and/or working groups.
FAO sponsors and promotes the establishment and development of
the networks, in close cooperation with the national institutions. It
systematically informs member governments of the results achieved by the
networks. FAO also provides some basic financial resources from Regular
Programme funds reserved for European regional activities, for the
organization of network meetings, printing and distribution of workshop
documents, reports and network bulletins.
III. SREN
The European Cooperative Research Network on Sustainable Rural
Environment and Energy (SREN) is one of the thirteen ESCORENA networks.
Originally concerned with renewable energy resources, it has expanded
its scope to include other environmental matters. Currently it consists
of six working groups:
· WG1 - Decentralized Energy Sources
· WG2 - Environmental Aspects of Anaerobic Treatments
· WG3 - Biomass for Energy and the Environment
· WG4 - Pollination and Pollinator Diversity Management
· WG5 - Animal Traction
· WG6 - Research Methodologies in Organic Farming
Further information may be found on the REU web page:
http://www.fao.org/regional/europe/activ-e.htm or contact Rainer Krell,
Environment and Sustainable Development Officer, FAO, Regional Office
for Europe, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy; Tel.:
39-6-570 52419; Fax.: 39-6-570 55634; email: rainer.krell@fao.org
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