IAALD Joins INFITA

The International Association of Agriculture Information Specialists has agreed to join INFITA, the International Network for Information Technology in Agriculture (INFITA) as a founding member. As IAALD Acting President, Pamela Q. J. Andre noted in her acceptance remarks, “ We are very excited to be joining colleagues with such a strong interest in utilizing IT in all aspects of agriculture. As information specialists, IT is absolutely critical to our success and an organization like INFITA will certainly help to improve its use worldwide.” (Editor’s note: http://www.infita.org/ click on the Infita-Organization button for the “Memorandum of Understanding” between AFITA, EFITA, PanFITA, and IAALD.)

INFITA, the International Network for Information Technology in Agriculture, was established in July 2003, in Debrecen, Hungary. Founding members include AFITA (Asian Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture), EFITA (European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture), and PanFITA (PanAmerican Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture), as well as IAALD.

The purpose of INFITA is to promote international communication and cooperation in the design and development of information technology based support systems and in the management and use of digital knowledge and communication networks. Key activities include the promotion of electronic communication through newsletters and e-journals, the organization of outreach initiatives of various kinds including conferences and workshops, and the provision of advisory services on an international level. An international scientific, peer-reviewed electronic journal, The Journal on IT in Agriculture, is in the planning stages and will be hosted at the University of Florida, USA.

Even before it was officially founded, INFITA members were instrumental in organizing a World Conference on IT.  The first World Conference was organized in March 2002 in Brazil in conjunction with the conference of the Brazilian Association for IT in Agriculture. The second World Conference is scheduled for August, 2004 in Thailand in conjunction with the conference of AFITA.  A third conference is planned for 2005 in Portugal in conjunction with the conference of EFITA (July 25-28, 2005).  IAALD will be participating in the two coming conferences and plans are underway for programs on information management issues.

-- Submitted by Debbie Currie, QB Editor,  July 2004