Project Log

Soil/Agronomic constraints workshop planned for Nairobi (co-convened with ICRISAT and CIAT/TSBF) to review options and on-going activities with regard to soil parameter data to support crop simulation and land quality assessments in SSA and SA.

Philip Pardey to attend the annual meeting of the South African Agricultural Economics Association in Johannesburg and present keynote address.

Philip Pardey and Stanley Wood to review progress on the HarvestChoice sub-contract with Haluk Kasnakoglu (Director of Statistics Division, FAO) and colleagues at FAO Headquarters, Rome.

Philip Pardey to present highlights of the World Development Report Background Paper titled “Science, Technology and Skills,” and brief CGIAR Science Council on HarvestChoice project at FAO Headquarters, Rome.

Philip Pardey and Stanley Wood to review progress on project with Gates Foundation personnel in Seattle. Develop plans for implementation of commercialization aspects of project with Carol Nottenburg (Cougar Patent Law).

Jawoo Koo to visit University of Minnesota to work with Jason Beddow on CLIMEX modeling approaches for wheat diseases.

Jawoo Koo to visit CIMMYT to attend a meeting to review analytical approaches and data usage by the Asian Rice/Wheat consortium to support regional-scale crop systems modeling.

Eduardo Magahlaes (HarvestChoice consultant) at IFPRI headquarters working on background data and statistical analyses for Poverty-Crop Linkages paper.

Stanley Wood visit University of Minnesota to discuss project management aspects with Rob King and collaborate with Jason Beddow, Phil Pardey and Amy Praught on web site details and development of on-line data capture algorithms for biotic constraint analysis.

Zhe (Joe) Guo (previously University of Maryland) joined the HarvestChoice team as a GIS and remote sensing specialist.

Elizabeth Leonardi (graduate, California Polytechnic State University) joined the HarvestChoice team as an intern (until December 7, 2007) to work on data compilation on farming system characteristics, input use and farm management practices.

Gerrit Hoogenboom (University of Georgia) visited Stanley Wood, Jawoo Koo and Siwa Msangi at IFPRI to finalize terms of reference for a consultancy to improve regional soil maps and soil properties database to support HarvestChoice crop simulations.

Jawoo Koo (previously University of Florida) joined the HarvestChoice team as a Post-doctoral Fellow based at IFPRI headquarters. Jawoo working in partnership with others is responsible for the cropping system characterization and crop simulation activities of HarvestChoice.

Proof of Concept Workshop on the Regional Modeling of Biotic Constraints for Integration in a Strategic Crop Simulation and Economic Evaluation Framework convened by CIMMYT, IFPRI and University of Minnesota at CIMMYT Headquarters, El Batan, Mexico. Workshop details available at (coming soon).

Participants: Jason Beddow, , David Bergvinson, John Dixon, Etienne Duvallier, Dave Hodson, Bill Hutchison, Henri Maraite (by Skype), Maria Mateos, Julie Nicole (by Skype), Jaywoo Koo, Philip Pardey, Bob Sutherst, Rob Venette, and Stanley Wood.

Intensive development phase of on-line bibliographic archival and search engine using Drupal and Solr led by a team from the University of Minnesota Library.

African Crops & Seed Systems News Service published article “HarvestChoice: Better Choices, Better Lives.”Article available in Press Room.

OECD Observer published article “Food for innovative thought.”Article available in Press Room.

Robert Hijmans (IRRI) met Stanley Wood at IFPRI Headquarters and Philip Pardey (by phone) to review options for improving spatial and temporal resolution of climate data and finalize terms of reference for crop simulation activities to be undertaken at IRRI.

Philip Pardey interviewed by host Kerri Miller for a one hour session on Minnesota Public Radio’s Midmorning Program on the theme “Is a 'Green Revolution' in Africa Possible.” Link to details available in Press Room.

Expert consultation at University of Minnesota, St Paul on Modeling Crop Biotic Constraints in an Economic Evaluation Framework”. Consultation details available at (coming soon).

Participants: Jason Beddow, Erich-Christian Oerke John Dixon, Terry Hurley, Bill Hutchison, Brian Keating, George Norton, David Pannell, Philip Pardey, Serge Savary, and Stanley Wood.

Genes, Seeds, Plots, Models & The Poor Roundtable convened by the International food Policy research Institute and the University of Minnesota on behalf of the Gates Foundation at the Campus Club, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Roundtable details available online.

Participants list.

HarvestChoice Advisory Panel meeting at Cargill Building for Microbial and Plant Genomics, University of Minnesota, St Paul.

Participants: Tsedeke Abate, Richard Jones, Andrzej Kilian, Robert King, John Lynam, Philip Pardey, Edie Paul, Ron Phillips, Mark Rosegrant, Emmy Simons, Roy Steiner (by phone), and Stanley Wood.

Philip Pardey and Stanley Wood met with Frikkie Liebenberg, Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria to review proposal for collaborative technology assessments and policy analyses.

Philip Pardey and Stanley Wood attended the Third General Meeting of Biotechnology, Breeding and Seed Systems for African Crops, held in Maputo, Mozambique. Jointly presented a keynote address titled “Informing Strategic Investment Choices to Improve Cropping Systems for the Poor”

Philip Pardey briefed Lindiwe Sibanda and Doug Merrey (Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network, FANRPAN, Pretoria) on HarvestChoice project at FANRPAN headquarters, Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Institute for Agricultural Engineering, Pretoria.

Philip Pardey visited Johann Kirsten, Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development, University of Pretoria, Pretoria and Frikkie Liebenberg, Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria to further develop a proposal and discuss operational details regarding collaborative technology assessments and policy analyses with HarvestChoice. An emerging idea is to place collaborative efforts between HarvestChoice and the University of Pretoria in the context of (i) developing a center based at the University to undertake national and regional (including Southern Africa and, for some applications, sub-Saharan Africa) policy analyses and monitoring and economic evaluation activities centered on (agricultural) science and technology concerns, (ii) become a regional center for graduate training in the economics of (agricultural) science and technology policy built around existing capacity at the University of Pretoria and the Agricultural Research Council, and (iii) develop links between this research and training and the regional policy dialogues fostered by FANRPAN.

Minnesota Daily article published titled “Gates Gives to U Crop Studies.” Article available in Press Room.

Haluk Kasnakoglu (Director of Statistics Division, FAO) visited Stanley Wood to review progress on the HarvestChoice sub-contract with FAO.

HarvestChoice two page flyer and project press announcement developed and released. Flyer available in At A Glance.

Launched HarvestChoice website, initially to host April 4-5 Roundtable details, and then to be populated with data, maps, bibliographic and other material developed by HarvestChoice project team and partners for broader dissemination.

Project Advisory Panel formed.

Philip Pardey visits IRRI, Los Banos to explore collaboration with HarvestChoice project. Met with Ren Wang, Michael Jackson, Sushil Pandey, Debbie Templeton, Graham McLaren, Mahabub Hossain, Philippe Herve, Melissa A. Fitzgerald and David J. Mackill. Stanley Wood joined in via Skype for discussions with Robert Hijmans. Gave IRRI-wide seminar titled “Global Agricultural Research—Technological Distance, Location Effects and R&D Spillovers.”

CORAF Action newsletter published article titled “HarvestChoice: le bon choix fait la belle vie.” Article available in Press Room.

Presentation titled “Agricultural Research—A Growing Global Divide?’ by Philip Pardey to World Bank Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia region staff. Visit hosted by David Nielson (World Bank Task Manager for the MAPP) and Karen Brookes

Project team meeting in IFPRI Washington D.C. to review strategies for addressing biotic constraints.

Participants: Jason Beddow, Jenni James, Philip Pardey, and Stanley Wood.

Stanley Wood initiated dialogue about modalities for engaging HarvestChoice with the CAADP/RESKSS process (through Ousmane Badiane, IFPRI Africa Coordinator), and the IEHA/SAKSS process to which it is now linked (through Michael Johnson, IFPRI).

CAADP – Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Plan, RESKSS – Regional Knowledge Support System, IEHA – USAID’s Initiative to End Hunger in Africa, SAKSS – Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System.

Philip Pardey and Stanley Wood at Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development, University of Pretoria, Pretoria for exploratory discussions with Johann Kirsten, Frikkie Liebenberg (Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria) regarding possible HarvestChoice analytical alliance with the University of Pretoria. Philip Pardey and Stanley Wood gave a presentation at the Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development on October 12 titled “New Views on the Global State of R&D for Agriculture.”

Philip Pardey and Stanley Wood at ILRI, Nairobi to gather information and explain details of the HarvestChoice project. Discussion held with Carlos Sere, John McDermott, Ade Freeman, Gabrielle Persley and Howard Elliott. Also met with Mpoko Bokano (African Agricultural Technology Foundation, AATF) Joe DeVries (Program for African Seed Systems, AGRA/PASS) and John Lynam (Kilimo Trust).

Philip Pardey and Stanley Wood at FAO, Rome to discuss details of FAO sub-contract with HarvestChoice with Haluk Kasnakoglu (Director of Statistics Division, FAO) and colleagues including Kafkas Caprazli, Frank Schmitt, Edward Gilian, and Naman Keita.

Met with CGIAR Science Council personnel (including Ruben Echeverría, Tim Kelly, and Beatriz Avalos Sartorio). Also made a joint presentation to FAO titled “New Views on the Global State of R&D for Agriculture” on October 6.

Project inception date.

Stanley Wood at University of Minnesota to discuss operational plans for HarvestChoice project. John Dixon (CIMMYT) also at University of Minnesota (September 24-25) to discuss possible CIMMYT Collaboration with HarvestChoice project.

Formal approval of funding for HarvestChoice project.

Discussion initiated with Gates Foundation regarding HarvestChoice Project.