Challenge Programme Featured in Genome Technology Magazine
The Challenge Programme is featured in a story titled, ?Crop Plan: Genomic Resources for Developing Countries,? on pages 14-15 of the March 2004 issue of Genome Technology magazine (http://www.genome-technology.com/). Pending approval from the publisher, we will post a PDF of the story to the CP website, http://www.generationcp.org. The article discusses how the Challenge Programme came to be, what we aim to accomplish, and some challenges for the future.
Subprogramme 4 Consultation Workshop in Rome 16-20 February
IPGRI hosted the recent SP4 Consultation Workshop in Rome. Theo van Hintum, Subprogramme Leader for SP4, chaired the meeting, and over 45 Challenge Programme members participated in the workshop, which aimed to establish the scope of the bioinformatics platform for the Challenge Programme and set targets and assign tasks for the first year of work. For a complete list of participants, click here: http://www.generationcp.org/na. A full report of the meeting will be posted to the CP website by the end of March, so check back!
Bob Visits France and EU
In late February, Bob met with representatives of the French Ministry of Youth, Education and Research in Paris; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Agropolis; IRD; and Genoplante to brief them about the progress of the Challenge Programme. They expressed strong support for the CP and highlighted the importance of communicating the Programme?s objectives and activities in light of the difficult political environment surrounding plant biotechnology and genetics. Bob also had a very positive interaction with the European Commission EIARD working group assigned to this CP in Brussels. Minutes of the meeting are available upon request from Bob (r.zeigler@cgiar.org).
First Quarter Progress Report
The first quarterly report of the Challenge Programme?s progress was presented to the Private Sector Committee of the CGIAR and the EU. You can access it here:
http://www.generationcp.org/na.
CP Virtual Workspace Coming Soon!
It was decided at the SP4 Workshop that a virtual workspace is necessary for optimal collaboration among all CP members on all Subprogrammes. We?re developing that workspace now, and it will be ready for launch soon. Stay posted!
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES ? check the CP calendar for additional events
APRIL 2004 Call for Proposals for Competitive Grants
The call for proposals for competitive grants will go out in early April 2004, so CP members should begin thinking about potential partnerships. Full details of the competitive grants programme ? eligibility, selection criteria, the grant awards process, etc. ? will be outlined in the call for proposals.
2-6 August 2004 Capacity-Building Needs Assessment for Nat?l Systems Workshop
A needs assessment workshop on capacity-building for national agricultural systems will be held 2-6 August in Costa Rica. Jenny will send out a formal announcement about this workshop shortly.