Official Newsletter of the WANA Seed Network
No. 36, January 2009
PDF File (1 MB)
----------------------
Subscribe
----------------------
E-mail & Address
----------------------
Back Issues
----------------------
Seed Home
----------------------
ICARDA Home
----------------------
Subscribe
----------------------
E-mail & Address
----------------------
Back Issues
----------------------
Seed Home
----------------------
ICARDA Home
Books and journal articles and other literature of interest to readers are presented here. Please send information on seed and other agriculture related publications on policy, regulation, and technology to the Editor for inclusion in Seed Info.
Books
Thijssen, Marja H., Zewdie Bishaw, Abdurahman Beshir, Walter S. de Boef. 2008. Farmers, Seeds and Varieties: Supporting Informal Seed Supply in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is characterized by an enormous diversity in agro-ecology, farming systems and crops. The informal sector is dominating the seed supply of almost all crops. The book addresses strategies and approaches for supporting informal seed supply, and links these with conservation and use of indigenous genetic resources. The book presents case studies from Ethiopia and elsewhere. It deals with the technical aspects of quality; seed availability and access; the role of farmers in the conservation and management of local crops and varieties; and the participation of farmers and communities in plant breeding and research. It takes a particular interest in the role of farmer organizations and their potential role in developing community and small-scale seed enterprises. TThe Ethiopian Seed Enterprise, ICARDA and Wageningen International jointly published the book. You can download the full guide and/or individual chapters at website of Wageningen International.
ISTA Publications
ISTA is known for publishing International Rules for Seed Testing (IRS) and a series of handbooks on seed testing methods which are regularly updated based on new developments in seed science and technology. Some of the new or revised publications are:
ISTA. 2009. International Rules for Seed Testing (English or French): IRST is a primary instrument to promote uniformity in seed testing with 17 sections that provide definitions and standardized methods to be used in, for example, sampling and testing seed lot quality and reporting results for international seed trade. It is also a useful reference guide for germination condition and methods for over 1000 species. The price is US$ 357.
Ripka, Z. (ed). 2006. ISTA Handbook on Flower Seed Testing: The handbook is a new ISTA project to collate current specialized knowledge of flower seed testing for most frequently tested species. The handbook contains an initial 24 method sheets covering 13 families with a series of procedures and detailed descriptions. The price is US$ 245.
ISTA. 2009. ISTA Handbook on Pure Seed Definitions: This handbook will expand on and illustrate the pure seed definitions of the International Rules for Seed Testing. The price is US$ 245.
To order these books or other related publications please contact ISTA Secretariat.
Aoki, K. 2008. Seed Wars: Controversies and Cases on Plant Genetic Resources and Intellectual Property, University of California, Davis, California. The book chronicles the expansion of intellectual property protection for plants throughout the past several decades and speculates on possible ways to ensure that plant genetic resources remain freely available across national borders to farmers, plant breeders and researchers. 'Seed Wars' is a comprehensive overview of current domestic and international legal controversies regarding intellectual property protections for plant genetic resources (PGRs) over the past three decades. It examines: (i) rise of intellectual property protection for plant varieties and the enclosure of 'genetic' commons; (ii) move of agro-chemical industry to seed in context of industrial agriculture; and (iii) emergence of overlapping regimes of national and multilateral treaties such as TRIPS (1994), CBD (1992) and ITPGR (2004). This book also speculates on possible directions that intellectual property protection for PGRs may take in the 21st century. Carolina Academic Press (Pb), ISBN: 978-1-59460-050-0; Price: US$ 40; 208 pp;
Herring, R. J. (ed). 2007. Transgenics and the Poor: Biotechnology in Development Studies. Genetic engineering is changing the terrain of development studies. Technologies with unprecedented potential-the capacity to move genes across species-have created widely politicized phenomena: 'Frankenfoods', 'GMOs', and 'The Terminator'. The public has reacted with equanimity or appreciation to genetically engineered pharmaceuticals, beginning with insulin, but transgenics in food and agriculture have raised a globally contentious politics.
The authors collectively conclude that predictions of disaster for the poor from transgenic technology are uninformed by empirical results, rest on misunderstandings of biotechnology or the poor or both, or get the science wrong. Yet the triumphalism of pro-transgenic forces, however, must be tempered by serious unanswered questions: much is unknown, but the transgenic genie is out of the bottle.
In this much-needed book, an emergent empirical literature allows scholars in disciplines ranging from micro-biology to economics and political science to assess the potential effects of transgenic organisms on poverty through multiple dynamics of property, yields, prices, biodiversity, environmental integrity and nutrition. Routledge (Pb), ISBN 978-0-415-46876-3; Price: $160; 256 pp
Hazell, P.B.R. 2008. An Assessment of the Impact of Agricultural Research in South Asia since the Green Revolution. Science Council Secretariat: Rome, Italy. The CGIAR-supported Centers and their national partners in South Asia have responded well to agriculture's evolving needs, and their work continues to be a sound investment for the region, despite its changed economic realities, according to a new and comprehensive impact study from the Group's Science Council. The compelling story of those efforts is thoroughly documented in a study commissioned by the Science Council's Standing Panel on Impact Assessment and entitled An Assessment of the Impact of Agricultural Research in South Asia since the Green Revolution.
Useful Websites, Journals, Newsletters
Alliance of CGIAR centers best bets for boosting crop yields in sub-Saharan Africa. The website provides best bet technologies available for boosting crop yields in Africa as compiled by CGIAR Secretariat and the World Bank. The best bet proformas are given sequentially by Center as submitted by 12th June 2008. Visit the website at:
http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/downloads/CGIAR_boosting_yields_ssa.pdf
New Journals
Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences: PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi has launched a new journal entitled. The journal will be published in continuity of previous published 'Pakistan Journal of Arid Agriculture' Researchers are invited to contribute scientific papers on original research work pertaining to all the related areas of agriculture and biology. Procedure for submitting manuscripts and peer review process have been posted on University website at: www.uaar.edu.pk.
Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food: The journal seeks to address the constraints- physical, biological and socio-economic-which not only limit food production but also the ability of people to access a healthy diet. The journal contains a mixture of original refereed papers taking a synthetic view of the science, sociology and economics of food production, agricultural development, access to food, and nutrition, together with review articles, case studies and letters to the editor. The journal covers the principles and practice of food security per se, taking an overview of the subject or analyzing it with a broad perspective over its many component disciplines. The journal does not seek to duplicate the coverage of the many publications that focus specifically on those component disciplines. For more information, visit the website: www.editorialmanager.com/fose
Green Farming: It is a monthly International Journal of Agricultural Sciences. The Journal publishes original research papers, reviews and technical articles on all various disciplines related to agriculture, horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry, dairying and rural development etc. The Journal also provides latest and applied technology to various readers such as scientists, experts, research scholars, administrators, policy makers, extension workers, private organizations and progressive farmers etc for application of organic and eco-safe farming & animal husbandry practices.
The Journal is guided by its eminent editorial board consisting of leading agricultural & animal husbandry experts to make it a unique guide on the advances in global agriculture.
The Journal is currently subscribed by various national & international agricultural research institutes, state agricultural universities, research workers, scholars, KVK'S, NGO'S, govt. departments, private agro-industries and progressive farmers.
Recently Green Farming has stated its official blog to provide a worldwide platform for discussing new ideas and innovative technologies. Authors, readers and subscribers are free to express their opinions within reason and may leave comments on the abstracts of articles posted. Please follow this link to visit our website: www.greenfarming.in.
Seed Newsletter
Seed Today is the leading seed industry publication in the United States. Each issue brings together seed producers, equipment manufacturers and service providers. The publication includes production facility features, product reviews and seed industry news. You can access the web site, view the magazine and send your seed news. Seed Today is freely available to readers worldwide via the Internet.
GIPB Knowledge Resource Center
The new version of the Knowledge Resource Center, the GIPB website has been launched (http://km.fao.org/gipb/). The major aim is to make all contents more easily accessible for all. Visit the GIPB web-site and check the updated information and resources.