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www.avrdc.org P.O. Box 42, Shanhua, Tainan 74199, Taiwan Phone: (+886) 6 583-7801 Fax: (+886) 6 583-0009
29 October 2010
International Day of Nutrition 2010
The cause of nutrition gave cause
for celebration in Mali when several
organizations gathered to mark the
2010 International Day of
Nutrition, 16 October, in
Koulikoro. Representatives from
the Institute of Rural
Economy, World Food
Program, Mali Weather
Observation Service, Mali
Biodiversity Program, AVRDC
– The World Vegetable Center,
government ministries, producers
associations, and women’s groups
joined with staff and the students of
the Rural Polyvalent Institute
to review Mali’s progress in
combatting hunger and
Congratulations! Jackie Hughes, Deputy Director General - Research, recognized for contributions to the advancement of the biological sciences
Page 3
A coalition against hunger and malnutrition mobilizes in Mali
Vegetables make headlines
in Cameroon
Christophe Kouamé discusses
seed, markets, and
indigenous vegetables
Page 6
Vegetables in the spotlight: The colorful AVRDC booth displayed seed, fresh vegetables, processed vegetable products, recipes, and posters describing the Center’s nutrition research.
2
malnutrition. The event aimed to
promote further action to ensure
Mali can achieve the United
Nation’s Millennium Development
Goals.
Diabaté Fatoumata Guindo,
Mali’s Minister of Relations with
Institutions, stressed the
importance of the fight against
poverty and malnutrition. “Joint
efforts will help to improve the
living conditions of the population,”
she said.
Theresa Endres, AVRDC
community development specialist,
set up a colorful and attractive
stand to showcase the Center’s seed
and research on pepper, onion, and
okra. At the stand she introduced
Minister Guindo to the Center’s
main research activities and
mandate vegetables. Different
varieties of fresh produce on
display prompted plenty of
questions, particularly about hot
and sweet peppers. Visitors were
especially curious about the
‘Nisondia’ pepper, and asked about
taste, cultivation practices, and
where to find seed. Examples of
dried and processed vegetables
gave participants ideas about how
to handle harvests to ensure more
vegetables are available year-round.
Theresa distributed seed kits to
Rural Polyvalent Institute students
to encourage future vegetable
production. She explained the
practice of cooking vegetables,
either by boiling, steaming, or
frying in a small amount of oil, to
make more nutrients available for
the body to absorb, and shared
some nutritionally enhanced
recipes with the students and other
visitors.
“The event offered an opportunity
for the Center to highlight the
multiplicity of
vegetables on
which it carries out
research,” said
Theresa. “It also
provided a
platform for the
Center’s nutrition
work, and has
opened
possibilities for
new
partnerships.”
Representatives from the World
Food Program presented their
experiences with school gardens,
and expressed interest in
collaborating with the Center to
find vegetable varieties adapted to
mature in line with the school year
calendar.
Theresa Endres Community Development Specialist [email protected]
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Diabaté Fatoumata Guindo (center), Mali’s Minister of Relations with Institutions, receives a briefing on vegetable production in Mali from Theresa Endres (left) and Domo Tembely (right).
Participants take a moment to reflect on opportunities to improve nutrition in Mali.
3 IN THE SPOTLIGTHT
An honor bestowed
Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes PhD CBiol FSB
The Society of Biology of the
United Kingdom has recognized
the prominent contribution to the
advancement of the biological
sciences in a position of senior
responsibility by Jacqueline
Hughes (AVRDC – The World
Vegetable Center Deputy Director
General – Research), and elected
her as a Fellow of the Society on 22
September 2010. The Society’s
Fellows are deemed to be “high
achievers in their respective fields,
whether that be in industry,
academia, government services, the
voluntary sector or teaching.”
Hughes is also entitled to Chartered
Biologist status, which is
recognized throughout the
European Union, attesting to the
achievement of excellence, the
attainment of high standards of
competence, the ability to exercise
leadership, and a high level of
personal integrity.
The Society of Biology of the United
Kingdom, incorporated by Royal
Charter, builds upon and develops
the strengths of both the Institute
of Biology and the Biosciences
Federation. The Society is a single
unified voice for biology: advising
government and influencing policy;
advancing education and
professional development;
supporting members, and engaging
and encouraging public interest in
the life sciences.
Congratulations, Jackie!
On the cover
‘Tanya’ and ‘Tengeru 97’—tomato varieties
developed from AVRDC – The World
Vegetable Center breeding lines that
launched a tomato production industry in
Tanzania—took top billing in a recent
edition of the African Journal of
Horticultural Science (Vol. 3, 2010).
The tomatoes were mentioned in an article
on “The Role of AVRDC – The World
Vegetable Center in Vegetable Value
Chains” by Chris Ojiewo, Abdou
Tenkouano, and Mel Oluoch of the
AVRDC’s Regional Center for Africa, and
Ray-yu Yang at AVRDC headquarters.
4 CORNUCOPIA
AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center raised another healthy crop of summer students this
year. The students explored a diverse range of topics, including the evaluation of heat stress
indicators in sweet pepper, molecular characterization of cucurbit-infecting begomoviruses in
Taiwan, and graphic design for international institutions. We wish them well in their careers!
From left to right
Front row: Chou Yu-yu, Lawrence Kenyon, Gregory Luther, Jaw-fen Wang, Kadirvel Palchamy, Maureen Mecozzi, Ray-yu Yang, Paul A. Gniffke
Second row: Lydia Wu, Shih Su-ling, Lin Chen-yu, Zhang Shi-Hong, Chu Tzu-Chun, Kuo Pei-Fen, Hsu Fang-Chen, Tung Chia-Yu, Tseng Pao-Jui, Chen Huei-mei, Shieh Sheue-chin
Third row: Hsiao Yun-yin, Lin Shih-Hung, Shen Yu-Yen, Lu Ying, Huang Yu-Chun, Wu Wan-jen, Wang Hsin-I, Tang Yu-Chi, Lin Chih-hung
Back row: Sarah Fischer, Samuel Tang
Face the facts
Follow AVRDC – The World
Vegetable Center on Facebook
and Twitter to keep up with the
latest events and news related to
vegetable production, nutrition,
climate change, and other topics
of interest through links to
articles, webinars, videos,
photos, and more:
http://www.facebook.com/WorldVegetableCenter
@go_vegetables
5 CORNUCOPIA
Compost For Horticulture International
Symposium
4-7 April 2011
University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Australia
Web http://compost-for-horticulture.com/
Expression of interest https://lavaworks.wufoo.com/forms/register-your-
interest/
The International Symposium on Organic Matter
Management & Compost Use in Horticulture will
present, discuss and explore options of using compost
and other organic soil amendments for managing and
improving horticultural soils and production systems,
including amenity horticulture, nurseries, and protected
cropping. Topics include:
characterization and production of organic soil
amendments and growing media
managing organic matter in conventional,
integrated, and organic horticultural production
systems
identifying and quantifying the agronomic,
environmental, and societal benefits of using
composted and un-composted organic soil
amendments and mulches
the economics of managing organic matter
translating R&D outcomes into farm practices
Contact: Johannes Biala <[email protected]>
Sixth International Workshop on
Management of the Diamondback Moth
and Other Crucifer Insect Pests
21-25 March 2011
Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon
Pathom, Thailand
Abstract submission now open http://twvc.omnicms.com/twvc/2010/collection.cgi
Abstract submission deadline
31 December 2010
In conjunction with Cornell University, USA and
Kasetsart University, Thailand, AVRDC – The World
Vegetable Center will host the Sixth International
Workshop on Management of the Diamondback Moth
and Other Crucifer Insect Pests to discuss the latest
research on the bio-ecology of insect pests, host plant
resistance, biological controls, pesticides, and insect
management on crucifer crops. About 200–300
researchers worldwide are expected to attend.
Contact: Srinivasan Ramasamy
Conference corner
For 20 years, the newspaper La Voix du Paysan (The Farmer’s
Voice) has played a vital role in promoting agriculture in
Cameroon and throughout West Africa. Farmers, rural
entrepreneurs, and decisionmakers read the paper for valuable
advice on production, processing, and marketing agricultural
products. About 9,000 copies are circulated each month. A
special issue on vegetables featured an interview with
Christophe Kouamé, AVRDC liaison officer in Cameroon,
who discussed the region’s vegetable seed production and
distribution challenges.
Vegetables make headlines in Cameroon
6 NEWS FROM THE REGIONS
Christophe Kouamé champions the cause of vegetables in Cameroon.
7 NEWS FROM THE REGIONS
More than 300 hundred farmers
and NGO representatives attended
an Open Field Day on 6-7
October 2010 at the Sadoré
Research Station, operated by the
International Center for Research
in the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
in Niamey, Niger. At the event,
Sanjeet Kumar, AVRDC
vegetable breeder, discussed issues
of interest with the President of the
National Cooperative of Niamey
Vegetable Producers, who
expressed his appreciation for the
Center’s improved okra seed and
the support his association receives
from the AVRDC/ICRISAT
vegetable project. Sanjeet updated
the representative of NGO Lutte
Contre La Pauvrete on the on-farm
training provided to 43 trainers in
rainy season vegetable production
in 2009. With their enhanced skills
and improved seed, the trainers
have helped new growers initiate
vegetable production to improve
the livelihoods of their families and
communities. During the field day
participants were introduced to
diversified cropping systems, and
visited fields where rain-fed okra
and Moringa trees are being grown
on degraded land.
On 20 October 2010, Y.P. Singh,
Indian Ambassador to Niger,
visited Sadoré Station. Farid
Waliyar, Director, ICRISAT West
& Central Africa, explained how
ICRISAT works together with
AVRDC – The World Vegetable
Center on vegetable production in
the region. The ambassador was
pleased to learn that Moringa
leaves, which are high in vitamin C
and other micronutrients, are
widely consumed in Niger;
ICRISAT/AVRDC breeding projects
have promoted improved Moringa
line PKM-1, which was developed in
India. AVRDC vegetable breeder
Sanjeet Kumar discussed the
nutritional qualities
of vegetables, and
explained how it is
possible to increase
the availability of
micronutrients
such as beta
carotene to the
body by cooking
vegetables, using
the example of raw
carrot vs. carrot
lightly fried in a
small quantity of
oil.
News from Niger
Top: At the Field Day, farmers review a stand
of rain-fed okra.
Bottom: Women farmers evaluate rain-fed
okra.
Sanjeet Kumar Vegetable Breeder for the Sudano-Sahelan Region [email protected]
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