Hello there, My position title is 'Director of Communications and Information Markets' for a large DFID funded research programme entitled 'Research Into Use'. As the name implies, the purpose of the programme is to ascertain ways in which field validated research findings can be taken up on a widescale basis in response to the demands of a diverse set of institutions with a common interest (eg in a commodity such as milk, or cassava marketing; or an issue such as youth in agriculture). The programme is directed at resource poor farming communities in 6 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and 6 in Asia.The RIU employs an innovation sytems approach to address these concerns/opportunities - whereby an inclusive set of actors are involved such as those in a 'farm to fork' value chain for instance. It's also attempting to introduce an information markets approach to in-country activities - where information is seen as a 'valuable' input - much like seeds and fertilizers. Currently, the marketplace tends to be dominated by people 'selling' information products that potential 'users' don't want, or not in an appropriate format/language/style. So RIU is attempting to stimulate both 'push' and 'pull' mechanisms to ensure a more dynamic and responsive marketplace for information. We see the burgeoning mobile phone industry in Africa as one which is already fit for many purposes but which needs further development if it is to be used for communicating information other than social exchange, the price of commodities or the transfer of funds/assets. Its use for diagnostics and the SMS facilities for information exchange are but two areas that currently interest us. I look forward to exchanges with the participants in this e-forum.

Hello Everyone, A quick introduction. I am part of the management team of a new DFID programme called Research Into Use whose principal purpose is to take the best of natural resources research findings and apply them widely for the benefit of resource-poor farming communities in 6 sub-Saharan African countries and 6 countries in Asia. I am personally responsible for communication issues in the 5 year programme - with field practitioners, with global decision makers and with 'infomediaries' in general. We are particularly anxious to promote mechanisms which stimulate demand for information from diverse institutions in the farm to fork system and are conscious of the need to integrate the supply of information with supportive goods and services and an enabling political and economic environment - what the Green Revolution used to call the 'symphony approach'. We are living in remarkable times wth respect to the rapid global availability of emerging ICTs for up- and out-scaling information. I believe one of the challenges we face in the e-agriculture field is how we harness appropriate and currently available ICTs in-counry with those which are likelty to be at hand over the next few months and years - and how these can be integrtaed innovatively with more conventional approaches including use of the media. What might help the e-agriculture meeting in my mind would be to draw boundaries around the 'e' issue. Does it include all ICTs such as mobile telephones, PV, TV/radio etc or should we have a narrower definition? I look forward to contributing to the discussions. Wyn [www.researchintouse.com]

Hello Everyone, A quick introduction. I am part of the management team of a new DFID programme called Research Into Use whose principal purpose is to take the best of natural resources research findings and apply them widely for the benefit of resource-poor farming communities in 6 sub-Saharan African countries and 6 countries in Asia. I am personally responsible for communication issues in the 5 year programme - with field practitioners, with global decision makers and with 'infomediaries' in general. We are particularly anxious to promote mechanisms which stimulate demand for information from diverse institutions in the farm to fork system and are conscious of the need to integrate the supply of information with supportive goods and services and an enabling political and economic environment - what the Green Revolution used to call the 'symphony approach'. We are living in remarkable times wth respect to the rapid global availability of emerging ICTs for up- and out-scaling information. I believe one of the challenges we face in the e-agriculture field is how we harness appropriate and currently available ICTs in-counry with those which are likelty to be at hand over the next few months and years - and how these can be integrtaed innovatively with more conventional approaches including use of the media. What might help the e-agriculture meeting in my mind would be to draw boundaries around the 'e' issue. Does it include all ICTs such as mobile telephones, PV, TV/radio etc or should we have a narrower definition? I look forward to contributing to the discussions. Wyn [www.researchintouse.com]