International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCI ATION OF STU DENTS IN A G R I C U LT U R A L A N D R E L AT E D S C I E N C E S
January - February 2016 By Sam Raeymaekers VP Communication IAAS World
1
International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences
Contents Contents............................................................................................................................................................... 2 News from new applying countries ........................................................................................................... 3 Austria................................................................................................................................................................................3 Bulgaria .............................................................................................................................................................................4 IAAS activities.................................................................................................................................................... 5 Switzerland Exchange Week 2016 .........................................................................................................................5 IAAS Indonesia ...............................................................................................................................................................6 Partners events and more ......................................................................................................................... 11 The role of agricultural biotechnologies in sustainable food systems and nutrition – FAO ....... 11 Upcoming events ........................................................................................................................................... 13 IAAS World Congress 2016 .................................................................................................................................... 13 Exchange Coordinators Meeting .......................................................................................................................... 14 Seminar 2016 Poland - Between tradition and quality .............................................................................. 15 Seminar Week 2016 - An Agricultural Walk along the Rhine .................................................................. 16 Want to attend and represent IAAS at an FAO event? ................................................................................ 16 EC Courier ........................................................................................................................................................ 18 Call for Articles ............................................................................................................................................................ 19
2
International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences
News from new applying countries 2015-2016 will be a year of growth for IAAS. Old committees rebuilding, new committees joining. IAAS is growing steady!
Austria One of the applicants is IAAS Austria! They are more than ever ready for their come-back! Read on and get to know the new team! Are you interested in joining IAAS? Get in touch with us! info@iaasworld.org and vpcommunication@iaasworld.org.
Follow IAAS Austria: Facebook & Website Their message Hey everyone, We are a group of students from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, currently reactivating IAAS in Austria. In the past there has been a huge IAAS community at our university, but since most of the former members graduated, it has fallen into oblivion. Now we are working on reconnecting with everyone and getting to know this interesting association. This year we will participate in several European seminar weeks to experience how IAAS actually works. Extending our team and planning events for you to explore Austria are our goals for the near future. In case you would like to say Hi or ask any questions, we are always happy about a little chat with you! Check out our webpages and stay tuned. We’re all very excited to get to know you and your projects soon. Best wishes, Your team from IAAS Austria
3
International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences
Bulgaria Another new group in Bulgaria is setting their first steps towards establishing an IAAS committee!
IAAS Bulgaria met with the Dean of Agriculture university – Plovdiv, Bulgaria The executive committee of IAAS Bulgaria held a meeting with the Dean of the university the organization is based at. This was the first official meeting that was held and presented the idea of IAAS and IAAS Bulgaria. It also included future plans and how to achieve them. In conclusion: The University expressed its approval and full support of the creation and registration of IAAS in Bulgaria. It also offered an office, with required equipment and logistic and administrative assistance. Talks were made about an international event in Bulgaria to be held in the upcoming year.
Two day seminar with students and agribusiness IAAS Bulgaria assisted in organizing and facilitating a two day seminar with the agricultural business and the students of Agricultural university of Plovdiv. Companies like BASF, Bayer Crop Science, Adama, DuPont, Pioneer and SumiAgro presented their newest products and innovations and inspired the students to aim higher and pursue a career as agronomists.
“ I can claim with full responsibility that the students in agricultural sciences here in Bulgaria and all across the world can motivate and lead change, create a better future and assure a sustainable agricultural development. Because they are the leaders of tomorrow� ND IAAS Bulgaria
4
International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences
IAAS activities Switzerland Exchange Week 2016 Our journey, nearly 1500 km through Switzerland started in Sion with an « Welcoming Fondue » at midnight, after three hours in a car. A hard beginning for mediterranean people that are not used to our cheese gastronomy. We had a first day in the agronomic research center of Changins, where we discovered the seed gen bank as well as various research about potatoes. Back in Valais, we finished the day at the sunset with an epic time sliding on garbage bags. The second day, we appreciated the sun and the valaisan landscape along the vineyards of Sion, and finally we tasted some bottles of Grand Cru by Marie-Bernard Gillioz. In the afternoon, we went to a goat farm where we tasted some goat cheese. The Wednesday was more busy. After get up at crack of dawn, we had an orgy of chocolate at Maison Cailler. Later in the afternoon, we could visit the exhibition « We are eating the world » in Lucerne. Afterward we had a citytour-express, and finally we finished with a marketing Workshop given by our IAAS specialist. On Thursday, we visited the Syngenta research center. On the very beautiful site of Stein, the presentation as well as the impressing facilities aroused a lot of enthusiasm. In the land of Lucerne, and in totally different perspective, we discovered in the afternoon a lot of rare breeds and varieties in a farm-arch sustained by the Foundation Pro Specia Rara. Friday, the participants had to practice their marketing abilities in creating yoghurt, from the marketing concept to the final product, without forgetting the jar design. Some got impressed by the ability of our drivers on small mountain road or by the swiss organisation, others blamed us for the ubiquity of cheese, for the loud wake-up at 6h30 after having slept three hours and for a busy program. Nevertheless, everybody went back home with a lot of happy memories about their new friendships and were glad to have discovered the great diversity of this small country.
5
International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences
IAAS Indonesia National Strategic Meeting (NSM) 2016 “A milestone to achieve a greater vision of IAAS Indonesia”
National Strategic Meeting (NSM) is a meeting where the national committee and representative from local committee gathered to discuss and set the annual strategy for IAAS development as well as taking the opportunity to create an unbreakable bonding among the members through some fun activities. As IAAS envisioned to be “the leading Agricultural youth development and dedicated organization”, the meeting was held successfully and it was divided into 4 sessions, they were: Session 1 – How to synergize the work of National Committee and Local Committee? Session 2 – How to plan our activities as the leading Agricultural youth development and dedicated organization? Session 3 – How to enhance our branding as the leading Agricultural youth development and dedicated organization? Session 4 – Progress Report from Local Committee, WOCO Organizing Committee, and two university representative who’s interested to join IAAS Indonesia as candidate member next year.
Stop food waste: SnapFood “1.3 billion tons of foods are wasted every year!” Unconsciously we like to waste the food. When we have leftover food on our plate, uneaten food that left on refrigerator until expired, badly prepared then we just throw it away. Some people do not know that it can cause big problem. Global fact says that 1.3 billion tons of foods are wasted every year. This amounts to US$1 trillion dollars of wasted or lost food. Then another fact says that 55-65% food waste on consumer level. Food waste has a negative impact on the environment, on the economy, on food security and on nutrition, said Ludovica Principato, a Ph.D.
6
International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences
What we can do as youth to help this problem? Start from little thing, let’s encourage society to respect their food and the farmer works by joining SNAPFOOD. Finish food without leaving leftover food can bring a big impact to world.
Everyone is welcome to join SNAPFOOD, More than 75 snapfood has been sent to IAAS Indonesia. So let’s take a picture of your food before and after you finish it. Write the caption with [ I join snapfood by @iaas_indonesia, your best caption ] don’t forget to use #snapfood #FinishYourFood and tag @iaas_indonesia after that upload it to your Instagram account or other social media account. Snapfood, Finish Your Food!
7
International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences
AgroSchooling by IAAS Local Committee Universitas Padjadjaran (UNPAD) Agroschooling is a social project established in 2012 by IAAS LC Unpad, Indonesia. Agroschooling aims to introduce the world of agriculture since an early age to the early generation which is elementary school students, Agroschooling proposes to raise children’s awareness of the importance of agriculture, environment, and health through education and simple practices taught in the school for months. This year, Agroschooling aspired to promote International Year of Pulses 2016 as a contribution towards Sustainable Develompent Goals on the theme of “Nutritious Seeds for a Sustainable Future”. Not only that, engaging Gerakan Indonesia Diet Kantong Plastik (GIDKP), the NGO works on promoting plastic bag diet, as its partner, Agroschooling 2016 acts as one of the agents of change in reducing plastic bag usage by doing a Use-Reusable-Bag campaign and holding how-tomake-a-reusable-bag workshop. In the future, we hope to bring more positive impacts to the surroundings and plant a mindset that:
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a LIFE by what we GIVE. So give your knowledge to the children because children are the world’s most valuable resource, and it is the best hope for the future”
8
International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences
The brighter smile of Kemuning by IAAS Local Committee Sebelas Maret University (UNS) “I believe the happiest thing in the world is when you share to others” Dr. Happy Kemuning is a village located in Mt. Lawu’s feet, precisely in Ngargoyoso, Karanganyar district. Kemuning is 34 km away from Sebelas Maret University and can be reached in 1 hour by motorcycle. This village has huge potencies. Because of its geographical, a lot of plants able to grow prolifically. The main commodities of Kemuning village are tea, red guava, and vegetables. Kemuning village has huge human resource with 80% of the citizen is in productive age. Thus, Kemuning village potentially become agro-tourism destination in Indonesia. But, there are some obstacles faced by villagers. The red guava commodity is vulnerable while villagers don’t have skill to process it into food product or preserve it. There is also need to raise elementary student’s enthusiasm on agriculture. Villagers have to be trained on how use water efficiently and manage waste. IAAS LC UNS helps to overcome those obstacles one by one during this two year, we keep out tranquil dedication to see the smile of Kemuning. Our first program in Kemuning Village for 2016 is SOFT-TEA that has been held on Sunday, May 15th 2016 from 9 am until 1 pm. SOFT-TEA stands for Socialization of Guava-Ginger Manufacture and Share Tea. Share tea is our masterpiece program to share and teach children in Kemuning about agriculture, English proficiency, and creativity. In this occasion we teach them to make Saung Kagura, an innovation of reducing plastic waste by transforming it into pot with water reservoir. The other agenda is socialization. We socialized farmer association on how to make red guava jam because 10% of red guava corps wasted, so we suggest processing it into jam.
9
International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences
Gingerangers Project by IAAS Local Committee Dipenogoro University (UNDIP) Gingerangers Project is a form of embodiment of what we believe that students can contribute actively to minimize the impact of poverty in the village without leaving duties in the college. These activities include innovation ginger cultivation in polybag and social business “Chocoped’s”, namely chocolate products that use ginger as a lasing taste. In addition we are also trying to inspire students about the importance of the role of education and the profession through Tutoring Gemawang (BBG) which endorse the elements of local wisdom, exact education and agriculture with the theme “agroeduculture”. We believe people are born to accomplish their mission to make the world a better place up to their way. So do us, which believe that we as students of university could contribute on sustainable economic growth issues. Our form of confidence of what we believe then converted into real action called Gingerangers Project which focuses on strategic issues in Indonesia, such as food security and nutrition, increase agricultural productivity and the standard of living in rural populations.
Figure: Local community empowerment through verticulture socialization
10
International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences
Partners events and more The role of agricultural biotechnologies in sustainable food systems and nutrition – FAO 15-17 February, Rome, Italy The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is organizing an international symposium with theme “The role of agricultural biotechnologies in sustainable food systems and nutrition” in Rome on 15-17 February 2016. The symposium aims to examine how the application of science and technology, and particularly agricultural biotechnologies, can assist smallholders in developing sustainable food systems and improving nutrition in the context of climate change. The Symposium involved multistakeholder, multisectoral and multidisciplinary actors. The Symposium provided a forum for innovation and fresh perspectives. In this context, FAO organized a special side event during the Symposium to allow greater engagement of agricultural students in universities and young agricultural professionals around the world that may not be able to travel to Rome. The side event would bring the perspectives and opinions of the students who represent the next generation of scientists, agricultural practitioners, leaders and decision makers. The outcome of the initiative reported to the final plenary session of the Symposium the morning of 17 Feb 2016. On the first day, FAO invited several universities from all over the world to organize a 'Webinar Event' at their university, for students and young professionals to watch and listen to the Plenary Session and the High Level Ministerial Session of the Symposium. Based on the issues discussed in those sessions, a student representative prepares an 'Input for Policy makers' from the student perspectives. Bogor Agricultural University, represented by its IAAS Local Committee, was invited and successfully organized this prestigious Webinar event. During the Webinar event at Gedung Audit Mandiri, Bogor Agricultural University, about 45 students participated and actively engaged on a fruitful discussion regarding the theme of the Symposium. In order to bring out the best “Input for Policy makers”, the students participants were divided into 8 different groups to discuss on the agricultural biotechnologies in sustainable food systems and nutrition in Indonesia. Generally, they came up with a final draft of statement that will be delivered on the second day at FAO-led Student Interactive Session by the previous IAAS Indonesia National Director, M. Irvan Herviansyah.
11
International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences
The wonderful moment happened during the second day, where IAAS Indonesia was on FAO-led Student Interactive Session through video links. It was a 1.5 hr Student Interactive Session with a panel of policy makers and leading scientists in the Sheikh Zayed Media Centre, FAO, Rome. The student participants or their representatives from the seven invited universities were connected via video-link with FAO HQ through multiple screens. The facilitator first provided an overview and invited the student representatives to provide their suggestions and inputs for policy makers. During the FAO-led Student Interactive Session, student representatives from the five invited universities gave their input for policy makers respectively. As IAAS Indonesia representative, M. Irvan Herviansyah delivered the final input which focuses on heritage culture and biodiversity issues with following proposal: 1. We propose the policy makers, scientists, and international bodies to consider the local wisdom in the making of policy. Deeper research should be done before making any policies. 2. We propose the policy makers to consider the biodiversity in any case. Illegal activity that could harm the perseveration should be punished without exception. Lastly, IAAS Indonesia input also emphasized on agricultural branding issue, especially youth interest in agriculture. Hence, we propose to FAO and Policy makers to support Student associations and youth activity that related to Agriculture. We believe that more participation from youth equals higher success rate in our Agriculture. This will automatically affect the sustainability of agriculture especially biotechnology. “Well, for example. I joined in IAAS, which basically the largest agricultural student association in the world. IAAS Indonesia has an activity called “Youth Agricareture” which aims to make agriculture sexier than ever.” Said Irvan. The student interactive session went really smooth and it was a true honour for us to be able to speak on behalf of youth in agriculture to the policy makers in FAO, Rome. We hope that FAO and IAAS can continue collaborating in enhancing young people engagement in agriculture through many ways.
12
International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences
Upcoming events IAAS World Congress 2016 22 July – 10 August, Indonesia With proud we announce the next IAAS World Congress, 59th edition! Find more info on the Official IAAS WoCo Indonesia Facebook page.
13
International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences
Exchange Coordinators Meeting 8 - 15 April, Greece
IAAS Greece proudly presents the Exchange Coordinator (ExCo) Meeting 2016. Apply and come to this great event in Thessaloniki and Volos from the 8th to the 15th of April. During this week you will learn about the Exchange Program (ExPro) of IAAS and how you can start or develop it in your country. Participate in the assemblies and help the Vice - President of Exchange and the Exchange Coordinator improve the ExPro and set new goals and strategies. Receive trainings in soft-skills from experienced trainers and broaden your horizons. Learn about Greece’s agriculture and history throughout several excursions . Visit both Thessaloniki’s and Volos’ Agronomy Universities and their beautiful cities. Last but not least you will enjoy Greece’s modern and traditional night-life. Are you ready to take your IAAS experience a step further?
Application form: http://goo.gl/forms/6m7UJFeoD5 Application Deadline:15/02/2016 Arrival Point: Makedonia Airport SKG,Thessaloniki
14
International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences
Participation Fee: Category A: 100 € Category B: 110 € Category C: 120 € Category D: 135 € Category E: 150 € For any questions do not hesitate to contact us via facebook IAAS Thessaloniki- Auth or via email (greece@iaasworld.org)
Seminar 2016 Poland - Between tradition and quality 17 – 24 April, Poland Come to Poland! This year we are organizing a special 'seminar' for you! - "Between tradition and quality". The main topic will be the policy of the European Union in relation to quality of traditional and organic food. It will be an exciting week full of excursions, farm visits & social activities together with old and new IAAS-members from different countries in Warsaw and Zakopane, near beautiful polish mountains - Tatry. Join this event to always get the latest news about the seminar. Do you have questions or wishes? Leave a comment, write an email or ask us in person ;)
15
International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences
We are looking forward to hear from you, IAAS - Poland
Seminar Week 2016 - An Agricultural Walk along the Rhine 30 April – 7 May, Germany Finally we can officially announce our this year's seminar week! One week of farm visits and excursions around good, agriculture, plant cropping, animal husbandry, food processing and agricultural technology is waiting for you! 50€ registration fee and a few clicks away from you... APPLY NOW! http://iaas-germany.jimdo.com/application/ We provide you with a wonderful accommodation for the whole group, self-cooked food, transport from and to Stuttgart Airport and an exciting program - Don't wait, apply now! We'll keep you up to date about the detailed program, what we can already promise you: You will get to know the geographic specialities of the Rhine region and something about the famous German 'Spargel', some food processing, some (agricultural) politics and some innovative technology will be involved too! We are looking forward to welcome you and spend time with you! IAAS Germany
Want to attend and represent IAAS at an FAO event? Year round As IAAS and FAO are historical partners, members of IAAS have the privilege to attend global, regional and national FAO events related to agro, environment and food topics. If you are interested and show good motivation to participate at an FAO event, Sam and Genna guide you in the application process and provide you with. Don’t hesitate to take this opportunity and get to know the best of the best professionals in your field of study! Contact Sam and Genna: vpcommunication@iaasword.org & controlcommittee@iaasworld.org. Some possible events that might be interesting for you (you can always browse the FAO’s many event sites and propose an event you want to attend to us): Commission for Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture of Latin America and the Caribbean (COPESCAALC) February 10-17, Lima, Peru
Symposium on the Role of Biotechnologies in Sustainable Food Systems and Nutrition February 15-17, Rome, Italy
16
International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences
May 2-5, Antalya, Turkey
Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission February 22-26, Subic Bay, Philippines
FAO Council 154th Session Rome, Italy 30-May-2016 / 03-June-2016
FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific March 7-16, Malaysia
Committee on Forestry and Committee on Fisheries July
FAO Regional Conference for Africa April 4-8th, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivore
Committee on Agriculture September
Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) 11th Session Rome, Italy 04-April-2016 / 08-April-2016
Committee on World Food Security October
FAO Regional Conference for Europe
17
International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences
EC Courier This section will be featured in the IAAS Newsletter March April 2016, where an overview of the accomplishments of EC and CC from January until April 2016 will be given.
18
International Association of students in Agricultural andand related Sciences International Association of students in Agricultural related Sciences
Call for Articles
Did you organize an event? Do you want to share anything with IAAS World and its partners
Send your article with pictures to vpcommunication@iaasworld.org before the 20th of December, 2015
This IAAS Newsletter was brought to you by Sam Raeymaekers Leuven, March 2016
19