CIGR Newsletter No 33
CIGR-SPONSORED ACTIVITIES
All CIGR-sponsored events are now listed in chronological order!
International Seminar on Mechanization of Small Scale Farms
This International Seminar will be held in Rabat, Morocco on 13-17 May 1996.
The mechanization of small farms remains a key problem to a sustainable agriculture in developing countries. Accord-ing to FAO, mechanization includes the manufacturing activities, the distribution and the use of any tool, instrument, machine or equipment for the development of arable land, the production on farm and the harvesting of agricultural products and their primary transformations. It also refers to all kinds of energies: human, animal and mechanical.
The present seminar is intended to provide an opportunity for discussions and exchange of experience between researchers, users and manufacturers. Many mechanization projects have been conducted around the world. Improvement of small farms has been tried through upgrading of human or animal based techniques or the introduction of motorisation.
This meeting will help to sum up the results obtained from both academic research and practical field experience. It will also provide the opportunity to set up guidelines for future development projects dealing with appropriate mechanization.
Topics include:
1. Small scale farms mechanization concepts and policies;
2. Constraints for the mechanization of small scale farms;
3. Conditions and limits for the use of motorisation in small scale farming;
4. Technology transfer and local manufacturing adapted to small farms;
5. Case studies.
Languages: French and English with simultaneous translation.
Registration fees: 300 USD including seminar proceedings. The fees do not include accommodation nor meals.
The venue of the seminar is: Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco.
A two day technical and touristic tour will be organized.
Participation fee: 100 USD.
An exhibition of equipment used in small scale farming will be organized during the seminar.
Further information can be obtained from:
ANAFID, Seminaire CIGR/Petite Mécanisation, BP 6359, 10101 Rabat, Morocco.
Tel. +212 7 67 03 20 Fax. +212 7 67 03 03
International Conference on Rational Use of Renewable Energy Sources in Agriculture, in Connection with Environmental Control
This Conference is scheduled for 2-7 June 1996 in Budapest, Hungary. It is organized by the Hungarian Society of
Agricultural Sciences in co-operation with the Hungarian Electrotechnical Association and the Fourth Section of CIGR. It coincides with the 1100th anniversary of the foundation of Hungary and the 200th anniversary of the first Agricultural High School in Hungary.
The purpose of the Conference is to exchange experiences of economic use of regenerative energy sources for production of heat and electricity in agriculture with regard to the environmental effects and the limitation of harmful emissions.
Topics of interest include:
* Use of biomass and environmental control;
* Possibilities of the use of solar energy;
* The environmental connections of the use of wind energy;
* The use of heat pumps in agriculture;
* Regenerative energy sources on the farm;
* Possibilities for the use of groundwater.
The Conference will be held in the House of Techniques, Budapest, V., Kossuth L., tér 6-8, Ist. floor N° 135.
Languages : English, German and Hungarian with simultaneous interpretation.
Different registration fees for CIGR members and non-members. An accompanying persons programme will be provided. A one day study tour during the conference and a two day study tour after the conference are foreseen.
The organizing committee is chaired by Prof Z Sibalszky, Honorary Vice President of CIGR.
Further info : The Conference Secretariat of the Hungarian Society of Agricultural Sciences (MAE),
H-1055 Budapest V, Kossuth L. tér 6-8, Hungary.
Tel.: +36 1 153 0651 Fax.: +36 1 153 1950.
International Seminar on 'New Uses for Old Rural Buildings in the Context of Landscape Planning'
Section II of CIGR together with the Associazione Italiana di Ingegneria Agraria and the Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Piacenza organizes an International Seminar on 'New Uses for Old Rural Buildings in the Context of Landscape Planning'. This Seminar will be held in Piacenza, Italy on 20 and 21 June 1996.
The landscape is more and more regarded as a precious and irreplaceable heritage for this generation and for those to come. In lands which have been farmed for centuries rural buildings are a component of the landscape and frequently the predominating one. It is thus important to preserve their external appearance, but their very survival depends on their having some meaningful use.
The aim of the seminar is to discuss problems posed by the use of old rural buildings in situations perhaps different from the ones for which they were originally constructed
without compromising excessively their relationship with the surrounding landscape.
The Seminar will be held at the Centro Congressi of the
Catholic University in Piacenza on 20 and 21 June 1996.
The languages of the seminar will be English and Italian
with simultaneous translation.
A special programme is foreseen for accompanying persons.
The scientific programme will discuss the following topics:
1. Protection and utilization of old rural buildings;
2. Methods and techniques for the functional and structural re-use of old rural buildings;
3. Environmental quality and countryside development;
4. Old rural buildings in landscape planning.
Further information from:
Istituto di Genio Rurale,
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore,
Via Emilia Parmense 84, IT-29100 Piacenza (Italy).
Tel. +39 523 599 241 - Fax. +39 523 599 124
e-mail: <GENRUR@PC.UNICATT.IT>
XXVth Congress of the Brazilian Society of Agricultural Engineering CONBEA 96 - Ist Congress of the Latin American Society of Agricultural Engineering
The Brazilian Society of Agricultural Engineering SBEA organises its XXVth Congress together with the Ist Congress of the Latin American Society of Agricultural Engineering ALIA. It will be held on 22 to 26 July 1996 at the Faculty of Engineering and Technology UNESP, Campus de Bauru, S.P.
Further information can be obtained from:
Prof Dr Joao Candido Fernandes, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, UNESP, Campus de Bauru, Av. Luiz E. Coube S/N° - CEP 17033-360 Bauru, SP, Brazil.
Tel. +55 142 30 2111 Fax. +55 142 30 5070
First Regional Symposium on Hydrology of Tropical Watersheds
The Nigerian Society of Agricultural Engineers, NSAE, organises the 1st Regional Symposium on Hydrology of Tropical Watersheds. This symposium will be held from Sunday, July 28 to Friday, August 2, 1996. The venue is the Niger Room, (CEC), Continuing Education Center of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. The programme includes paper presentations, poster presentations, field trips and computer software demonstrations on Tropical Watershed Hydrology.
Sub-themes include:
- Tropical agro-meteorology and rainfall patterns;
- Hydrologic abstractions and water balance;
- Soil loss prediction, sediment transport and erosion control;
- Surface water - ground water hydrology;
- Land use, watershed characteristics and soil-plant-water relationships;
- Instrumentation, GIS and database development;
- Hydrologic processes, chemical transport and water quality modelling;
- Hydrological hazards and legal aspects.
Further information from: Dr CC Mbajiorgu, Secretary of the Organizing Committee of the 1st Regional Symposium on Hydrology of Tropical Watersheds, Dept. of Agricultural Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Second Workshop on Sustainable Land Use Planning
The Second Workshop on Sustainable Land Use Planning with special regard to Central and Eastern European Countries is organized by Gödöllö University of Agricultural Sciences in cooperation with the First Section of the National Committee of CIGR of Hungary. It will be held at Gödöllö University on 4, 5 and 6 September 1996.
The First Workshop was held in Wageningen, The Netherlands in 1992 and dealt with questions of policies, methods, information systems and projects of sustainable land use planning. The objectives of the Second Workshop are to search for acceptable solutions for land use in Eastern European countries under conditions of radical change in their national economies. It is still a generally accepted
opinion that the main function of agriculture is to produce traditional agricultural products, mostly foodstuffs. Before a new investment cycle is started to replace the existing run-down production capacities it is essential to determine a clear orientation for the future functions of agriculture. It is an important question for these countries to adopt the experiences of highly developed countries, to find new farm-ing methods for harmonisation of the agricultural production with nature preservation and environmental control in mind, all this in the framework of sustainability.
Researchers and experts from different countries can contribute to the reorientation of agriculture towards a more sustainable development by discussing their experiences and drawing conclusions which can be implemented in countries in transition.
Main topics include:
1st day:
1. New farming systems for a sustainable agriculture
1.1. The need and requirements for new farming
methods, production patterns and technologies.
1.2. Reorientation of agriculture towards a multifunctional agriculture (pluriactivity nature management, non-food use of land and other resources).
1.3. The integration of multiple objectives in land use planning at farm unit level.
1.4. Land reclamation, water management and other
technical aspects of sustainable land use.
2nd day:
2. Impacts of the social and economic transition on the prospects of development of sustainable land use in Central and Eastern Europe
2.1. Contradictions and interactions of social aims and market economy requirements in land use planning.
2.2. The role and effects of changing ownership, farm
structure and property rights on land use patterns.
3. Land use in relation to rural development
3.1. Methods of nature preservation and environmental control in predominantly farmed areas.
3.2. Objectives, contradictions and different approaches in rural development in relation to the efficient use of
land resources.
3rd day:
Full day study tour
Language : the official language of the workshop is English
Excursion : following the workshop on the third day a full day study tour will be organized in the Hortobagy National Park Region. Details will be available in the Second Circular.
The 102nd National Agricultural Exhibition - that will be held in Gödöllö - can be visited optionally during the whole week.
Hotel accommodation will be made available in Budapest (30 km from Gödöllö). Transfer to and from Gödöllö will be organized. Cheap University Hostel accommodation (approx. 20 USD per night for a double room / person) can also be reserved within the Campus.
Participation fee:
Expected participation fee including proceedings, lunch, study tour and social events will be approx. 250 USD per person.
Secretariat: Gödöllö University of Agricultural Sciences
H-2103 Gödöllö, Hungary.
Tel.: +36 28 310 200 - Fax.: +36 28 310 804
E-mail: <TSZALAI@FA.GAU.HU>.
First SEASAE International Conference on Agricultural Engineering, Environment and Development
The Southern and Eastern Africa Society of Agricultural Engineers (SEASAE), the Tanzania Society of Agricultural Engineers (TSAE) and the Kenyan Society of Agricultural Engineers (KSAE) heartily invite you to attend the first Conference on Agricultural Engineering, Environment and Development which will be held in Arusha, Tanzania on 2 - 4 October 1996. This conference will bring together ex-
perienced agricultural, biotechnical and food engineers from around the world. The main aim is to assess the role of bio-engineering in bringing sustainable development and conservation of the environment in SEA countries in particular and Africa in general.
The conference will comprise seven sessions, one for each sub-theme, over the three days. Each session will include a keynote paper plus five short papers. Small groups workshops will be used to arrive at recommendations for action.
Sub-themes are:
- Agricultural land and water resources engineering and management;
- Sustainable mechanization of agricultural production and processing operations;
- Energy production and management for agriculture;
- Agro-industrial systems engineering;
- Storage and packaging of agricultural products in the tropics.
- Agro-environment and agro-waste management;
- Electronics and information technology in agriculture.
The official language of the conference will be English. Bilateral simultaneous translation will be available on request.
Post-conference tours are planned to interesting places such as: Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Ngorongoro game parks and Masai-Mara game park in Kenya.
The conference will be held at the Arusha International Conference Centre, one of the leading conference centres in East Africa.
Accommodation will be available in a variety of hotels ranging from 40 USD to 80 USD per night.
Fees are as follows:
SEASAE members : 20 USD
Non-members : 100 USD.
Further information can be obtained from:
Dr Nuhu Hatibu, Chairman - Organizing Committee,
P.O.Box 3003, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania.
Fax.: +255 56 3718 or +255 56 3748.
International Symposium on Concrete for a Sustainable Agriculture, agro-, aqua-, and community applications.
This symposium organized by the Norwegian Masonry- and Concrete Center in cooperation with the Norwegian CIGR and supported by Cembureau, BIBM, ERMCO and CIGR will be held in Stavanger, Norway on May 21-24, 1997.
Purpose of the symposium is to bring together experts in the field of agricultural engineering, concrete producers, both precast and cement manufacturers to discuss the latest developments in
* innovative concrete structures for agriculture, horticulture, animal breeding, aquaculture and community waste (water) handling, prompted by changes in environmental standards;
* durability and quality aspects of concrete in such applications in relation to general environmental standards, health, energy and economy.
This is an excellent occasion to meet colleagues and to exchange experiences, solve problems, ask questions, enlarge your field of knowledge and create your own international network.
The symposium will focus on environmental, technical and technological items as well as on product development, market and economy in utilization of concrete in agro-, aqua-, and community applications.
The main subjects will be:
Market issues: market and market potentials, development, products and systems, applications incl. community applications and land based fish breeding.
Product issues: loads, environmental and other strains, damages, performances, material property requirements, design and construction with respect to durability, repair and reconstruction, surface treatment.
Language: English.
Proceedings: The individual papers presented at the symposium will be published in the Proceedings which will be distributed to the participants.
A social programme will be provided for the delegates and accompanying persons.
Time schedule:
For authors:
Abstract submission (max. 500 wds): October 1, 1996;
Paper acceptance: November 1, 1996;
Full paper submission: May 1, 1997.
For participants:
Tentative registration from now on and final announcement for the symposium will be issued on November 1, 1996.
Further information from:
Mur- og Betongsenteret MBS, P.O. Box 53, Blindern,
N-0313 Oslo, Norway.
Tel.: +47 22 96 58 60 Fax.: +47 22 56 42 38.
Joint International Conference on Agricultural Engineering: Agricultural Engineering for Sustainable Development
This conference will be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 15-18 December 1997.
Organizing and participating countries are: Canada, China, Egypt, Ghana, India, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea(s), Lebanon, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Turkey, Thailand, Tanzania, United Kingdom, USA, United Arab Emirate, Vietnam and Bangladesh (host).
Papers and posters are invited on the following topics:
* Power, machinery and farm mechanization;
* Irrigation, flood control, water resources and management;
* Soil and water;
* Post-harvest technology;
* Advances in food processing and engineering;
* Fruits, vegetables production, handling, processing, packaging;
* Physical and chemical properties of bio-materials;
* Advances in agricultural waste management technologies;
* Greenhouse engineering and agro-chemical technology;
* Electronic and software technology;
* Automation and control technology;
* Modelling with finite elements;
* Research planning, management, evaluation and technology transfer;
* Sustainable agricultural systems and modelling;
* Weather and environment technology;
* Appropriate agricultural technology;
* Bio, solar, wind, renewable energy and technology.
Anyone involved in agriculture and food, directly or indirectly may submit a paper. Last date of submission of abstract (in English, 200-300 words): December 1, 1996.
Final paper ready by September 30, 1997.
Send abstract by mail, fax or e-mail to one of the following:
1. Prof J Gerrish, Agric. Engng. Dept., Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI-48824, USA.
Fax.: +1 517 353 8982
E-mail: <gerrish@egr.msu.edu>
2. Prof AE Ghaly, Techn. Univ. of Nova Scotia, P.O.Box 1000, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J 2X4.
Fax.: +1 902 420 7551
E-mail: <aeghaly@tuns.ca>
3. Dr MA Mazed, Bangladesh Agric. Res. Inst.,
Joydevpur, Gazipur 1701, GPO Box 2235, Bangladesh.
Fax.: 880 2 813032.
Inquiries about registration, sessions, abstracts, programmes, accommodation, travel and visa please contact: Dr H Chowdhury, Conference Convenor, Agric. Engng. Dept., Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI-48824, USA.
Tel.: +1 517 353 3883 Fax.: +1 517 353 8982
E-mail: <chowdhu2@pilot.msu.edu>
Registration fee for developed countries is USD 150, for South Asian (SAARC) and all developing countries USD 75 and for host country USD 15. Luxury Class package USD 240 and First Class package USD 120. The package deals include 4 days of accommodation, meals, airport service, technical tours, industry visit and cultural show. Additional days can be arranged upon advance request. All international participants are required to confirm preregistration and package deals at the time of abstract submission. Bank draft drawn in USD must be payable to International Ag Engineering Conference 1997 and sent directly to Prof Shah M Farouk, Chairman Org. Ctee., Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh by May 30, 1997.
ASAE INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS IN 1996
Jun. 12-15, Computers in Agriculture. Marriott, Cancun, Mexico.
Jul. 13-18, ASAE Annual International Meeting. Convention Centre, Phoenix, Arizona.
Sep. 15-18, Liquid Fuels/Alternate Products Conference. Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee.
Nov. 3-6, Evapotranspiration and Irrigation Scheduling. Convention Centre, San Antonio, Texas.
More info can be obtained from:
ASAE, 2950 Niles Road, St.-Joseph, MI 49085-9659, USA. Phone: +1 616 429 0300 Fax: +1 616 429 3852
E-mail: <hq@asae.org>
EurAgEng INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS
AgEng '96 - International Conference on Agricultural Engineering
This conference will be held at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain on 23-26 September 1996. The language of the conference is English. The conference will deal with the latest developments and future directions in agricultural engineering research in Europe and the rest of the world.
Further information:
Prof Jaime Ortiz-Canavate, ETS Ingenieros Agronomos, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Tel.: +34 1 336 58 52 Fax.: +34 1 336 58 45.
