Nov 26, 2010

Food Exhibition at Mer Rouge

 La Food Exhibition a ouvert ses portes hier matin  (25 Nov 2010) à Mer-Rouge. Ce salon de l'alimentation a été inauguré par le ministre des Affaires étrangères Arvin Boolell. Organisé par ADZE Events, il regroupe des entreprises et marques du secteur agroalimentaire de Maurice, de Rodrigues et de pays tels que l'Inde et le Pakistan. Cet événement, dont c'est la deuxième édition, permet de favoriser les échanges régionaux entre les participants de plusieurs pays, soulignent les organisateurs.
Arvin Boolell, invité d'honneur à la cérémonie d'ouverture, a souligné l'opportunité qu'offre ce salon aux entreprises qui souhaitent investir dans l'agroalimentaire pour rencontrer d'autres entreprises de ce secteur.
Le salon est ouvert jusqu'à demain 27 Nov 2010 . Des navettes gratuites sont disponibles à la Gare du Nord. 

Source: Le Mauricien du 26 Nov 2010. Dates in post added by author

National Science, Engineering and Technology Week (SET Week)

SCIENCE: Semaine de la science, de l'ingénierie et de la technologie


La National Science, Engineering and Technology Week (SET Week) se tiendra du 2 au 4 décembre à la Cyber Tour No 1 d'Ébène. L'objectif est de sensibiliser le public sur l'importante de la science, de l'ingénierie et de la technologie pour le développement socio-économique du pays. Le calendrier des activités s'établit comme suit : jeudi 2 décembre - Caravane de la Science (14 h à 17 h), exposition (14 h à 17 h) et un forum avec pour thème la biodiversité marine et terrestre (14 h à 15 h 30). Vendredi 3 décembre : Caravane de la Science (10 h à 17 h), exposition (10 à 17 h) et deux forums avec pour thèmes l'énergie renouvelable, la sécurité alimentaire et le secteur de l'agro-industrie de 10 h à 11 h 30 et 13 h 30 à 15 h respectivement. Samedi 4 décembre - Caravane de la Science (10 h à 17 h), exposition (10 h à 17 h) et un forum avec pour thème le tourisme pour le développement durable (10 h à 11 h 30).
Cet événement est organisé par le Mauritius Research Council (MRC) et le ministère de l'Éducation Tertiaire, de la Science, de la Recherche et de la Technologie. L'entrée est gratuite. 
 Source le Mauricien 26 Nov 2010

Workshop on Pesticides Use in Mauritius - 30 Nov 2010

APEXHOM, in collaboration with the Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture and CropLife (Mauritius), is organising a workshop on “The use of Pesticide in Mauritius – Stock-taking and Stakeholder Discussion Workshop” on 30 November 2010 at 09h30 at La Cannelle, Domaine les Pailles.

See brief below from Le Mauricien of 26 Nov 2010.

L'Association Professionnelle des Producteurs/Exportateurs de Produits Horticoles de Maurice (APEXHOM) organise, mardi prochain, un atelier de travail d'une journée à Pailles sur l'utilisation des pesticides à Maurice. " L'inquiétude grandissante parmi les consommateurs par rapport aux résidus des pesticides dans l'alimentation est à la base de l'organisation de cet atelier de travail à l'intention de toutes les parties concernées par cette question ", indique APEXHOM. 

Selon le programme établi pour cet atelier, le ministère de la Santé fera une présentation des règlements qui régissent l'importation des pesticides et de l'impact de ces produits sur la santé. APEXHOM parlera des bonnes pratiques agricoles concernant l'utilisation des pesticides ainsi que des facilités disponibles à l'intention des agriculteurs et autres exportateurs pour adopter ces bonnes pratiques. L'utilisation des pesticides dans la culture de canne à sucre sera abordée par le Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute (MSIRI). Alors que l'Agricultural Research and Extension Unit (AREU) et la Faculté d'Agriculture de l'université de Maurice, parleront de la recherche et du développement des pesticides. La production biologique sera présentée par la Fondation Ressources et Nature.

Nov 25, 2010

NEWS from the AgriCultures Network

This special edition shows what the AgriCultures network did during its jubilee year, but also what it has accomplished in the last 25 years. We present a theme overview about LEISA, family farming, the green revolution, the IAASTD report, important policies and actions. Articles discuss the network, our experiences in the field, reactions of readers, interesting books and educational modules in the Learning AgriCultures series. Read now.

Latest notification of the online magazine, Le Courrier

Dear readers,
A new issue of The Courier is online: Issue 19  focusing on the demanding migration and urbanisation issues in ACP countries, for which urgent solutions are to be found.
You will find interviews with Jean-Pierre Ezin, AU Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology and with the European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, who on the eve of the third Africa-EU Summit in Tripoli gives his point of view on the recent evolution and future strategy of AU-EU relations.
From ACP group, Tanzania is on the agenda, a country which recently went to the polls and re-elected its outgoing President Jakawa Kikwere.

Nov 24, 2010

Successful Completion of the Turf Grass Management short course




In October the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Mauritius ran a ‘Turfgrass Short Course’ for stakeholders in Mauritius who work in the turfgrass and landscape industry.  A total of 14 people attended the week-long course, which was taught by Dr. Elizabeth Guertal, a Fulbright Fellow from Auburn University, Alabama, USA, who is currently teaching at the University of Mauritius.  Attendees of the short course were superintendents and greens committee members from area golf courses, grounds management staff, and members of the University and extension community.  Excellent discussion and exchanges were held during the first four days of the course, and the topics of weed control, turfgrass selection, soil testing and course construction were all covered.  One the last day everyone enjoyed a tour of golf courses, sod production facilities and football stadia.
Contributor and Photos: Prof E. Guertal

Nov 16, 2010

Business Angels - Some Snapshots

The  2nd Business Angels Forum organized by the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Mauritius in collaboration with the Mauritius Research Council was held at Paul Octave Wiehe Auditorium, University of Mauritius on the 15 November 2010.  It has regrouped some 20 innovators in the agribusiness field and some 20 Business Angels. It focused on how the innovators need to communicate their ideas successfully to Business Angels.Mr  Bhimal Rai based in UK shared his wide experience in an interactive session with the participants and business Angels. He explained the basic principles behind this new mode of financing and gave ample evidence on how innovators can achieve success in their endeavours. A range of projects were presented and discussed. Some snapshots of the event (opening ceremony, interactive session with Mr B. Rai, interaction of Business Angels with participants among others) are shown below, pending a resume of the event by the organising commitee. There are also some photos of the event on Minister Rajesh Jeetah's blog. Click here

Nov 15, 2010

La Faculte D'Agriculture de L'UoM organise sa premiere édition du Business Angels' Forum - le 15 Nov 2010

La Faculté d'agriculture de l'Université de Maurice en collaboration avec le Mauritius Research Council lance sa première édition du Business Angels' Forum, aujourdhui le lundi 15 novembre à l'auditorium Octave Wiehe à Réduit. Cette manifestation permettra aux investisseurs (Business Angels) locaux de rencontrer des futurs entrepreneurs ayant des idées innovatrices et d'explorer des opportunités d'investissement. See website
Les futurs entrepreneurs, les innovateurs ainsi que le grand public auront lors du Business Angels' Forum l'occasion de présenter auprès des investisseurs leurs idées innovatrices ayant un potentiel commercial en particulier dans les domaines de l'agro-business et l'industrie alimentaire. Cette plateforme servira, d'une part, de pont entre les investisseurs locaux et les chercheurs et autres potentiels entrepreneurs. D'autre part, ce sera une possibilité pour les innovateurs et les entrepreneurs de partager leurs idées et de discuter de leurs projets. De plus, les futurs entrepreneurs bénéficieront des compétences et de l'expertise des Business Angels qui seront présents.

"Learning from the past: Successes and failures with agricultural biotechnologies in developing countries over the last 20 years"

Source:http://biotech-zone.blogspot.com
A summary Document of the e-mail conference entitled  "Learning from the past: Successes and failures with agricultural  biotechnologies in developing countries over the last 20 years" that took  place from 8 June to 8 July 2009 is now out.  It was the 16th conference hosted by the  FAO Biotechnology Forum since its launch in 2000.(http://www.fao.org/biotech/forum.asp). The report contains valuable insights on the status of use of Biotechnology in developing countries.

Nov 12, 2010

Seminar on Turfgrass Management by Prof E. Guertal at the Faculty

Contributor Navin Boodia
The Faculty is organising a seminar on Turfgrass Management (see advert below). It will be delivered by Prof E. Guertal. All are invited.


Summary 
Golf courses are often more than a recreational outlet for local golfers.  In many regions, including Mauritius, golf courses are part of a tourism package, with golf marketed as part of a ‘resort experience’.  These golf courses must be of high quality, providing uniform fairways and putting greens with consistent ball roll and playability.  To achieve this high quality golf course turfgrasses often receive inputs of fertilizer on a frequent basis.   However, this application of fertilizers could pose environmental hazards, and whether real or perceived, the environmental impact of golf courses on the surrounding environment is a topic of much discussion.  This seminar will discuss the fate of applied N fertilizer in the turfgrass ecosystem, and will detail gains and losses of N in the system.  Current and past research that studies the fate of N in turfgrass systems will be discussed, including N flux from leaching and volatilization.   

Nov 11, 2010

Africa crop tool - Interactive 43-nation guide on what to plant, when and where launched by FAO

Interactive 43-nation guide on what to plant, when and where

FAO has launched a quick reference calendar covering 43 major African countries (Mauritius is also included) that advises which crops to plant when, according to the type of agricultural zone from drylands to highlands. The web-based tool, developed by FAO experts, covers more than 130 crops from beans to beetroot to wheat to watermelon. It is aimed at all donors, agencies, government extension workers and non-governmental organizations working with farmers on the continent. Read more at FAO Media Centre.

World Food Day 2010 - Collection of Non Perishable Food Items on UoM campus

The World Food Day is celebrated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) every year on the 16th October, the day on which the organization was founded in 1945. In this context, the students of the Faculty of Agriculture are organising a collection of non-perishable food items on the UoM campus over a period of four working days as from Thursday 11 November 2010. These items will be distributed to needy people. See poster below.

Nov 10, 2010

World Food Day 2010 at the Faculty - Poster and Essay Competition

Dear ALL
The deadline for poster submission (not essay competition) has been extended for a further one week.
Dean

Nov 9, 2010

New Agriculturist - Latest Edition

The latest edition of New Agriculturist (2010-6) is now online at www.new-ag.info. Like the woes released from Pandora's box, the challenges we face are numerous, and if we are to hold onto hope, we must be prepared to change. In this final edition of 2010, New Agriculturist looks at key areas where change is paramount, including restoring soils, reducing hunger and improving women's right and access to land

Job Opportunities at LFL Aqua and Extrusion Laboratory (Riche Terre)

Poste au labo - LFL Aqua and Extrusion Laboratory (Riche Terre)

Recrutement au niveau du laboratoire: Nous recherchons un jeune qui sera responsable du laboratoire à Riche terre.

Il s’occupera du QC en place et de l’échantillonnage, des analyses etc. Nous recherchons une personne dynamique et motivée qui n’a pas peur de travailler dans un environnement de production, (odeur, chaleur, poussière, etc).

Profile avec Masters ou bien avec quelques années d’expériences.

Contact either the Dean or Assoc Prof F. Driver 

Nov 8, 2010

Financing Agriculture in Southern Africa - ACP Briefings

The CTA, the European Commission, DG Development and EuropeAid, the ACP Secretariat, Concord and  SACAU and regional organizations of Southern Africa has released their briefing notes on Financing Agriculture in Southern Africa.
The Briefing aimed at raising awareness about existing and emerging key challenges on financing agriculture in Southern Africa; promoting exchange of information and experiences from other regions; and ultimately at contributing to shape the debate and policies on financing mechanisms. More details can be obtained by visiting the following website.

Research Assistant at the FoA

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the post of Research Assistant on the project entitled “Seaweeds-Based Plant Growth Promoters” funded by the MRC Solicited Research Grant Scheme.

Nov 1, 2010

World Food Day 2010 at the Faculty - Poster and Essay Competition

The Faculty of Agriculture will celebrate the World Food Day 2010 on the 12th  November 2010 on the campus. As one of the main activities, a poster and essay competition is being organised by the Agricultural Society for students of the Faculty only. These two competitions will provide an opportunity to students to learn more about their role in being United Against Hunger.
I am sure you will find your participation in this exercise a fruitful and insightful one. So give the best of yourself.
Thank You and Good Luck to all of you.
Dean of Faculty

More details on the requirements and guidelines for the competitions are provided in the adverts below.