“Success stories in the use of ICTs for agricultural research and innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean” is the title of a new book published by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), along with the Secretariat of the Forum for the Americas on Agricultural Research and Technology Development (FORAGRO), the Scientific and Technological Information System for the Agricultural Sector in the Americas (INFOTEC) and the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR).

The book presents six successful experiences in the Americas in the use of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), which were compiled by Viviana Palmieri, IICA Technology and Innovation Specialist.

Cases were submitted in response to a call for proposals issued by the FORAGRO Technical Secretariat, via an invitation extended through INFOTEC and co-sponsored by GFAR. The cases selected offered important information in terms of both learning and awareness-raising among decision makers.

Of the 28 proposals received, a jury comprising three veteran professionals in the management of agricultural information and in technological innovation selected six.

Frank Hartwich, Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute; Franz Joseph Martin, Regional Information Management Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization; and Lornel Rivas Mago, Researcher, INIA-Venezuela, selected the following cases:

• “REDesastres: A Cuban Contribution to the Management of Health Disasters involving Plants and Animals” This is the history of the development of the first agricultural network in Cuba that brings together professionals in different disciplines who share information in an effort to reduce the risks posed by such disasters.

• “Decision Support System for the Control of Asian Soybean Rust, Paraná State, Brazil” This deals with an early warning system which, for the last three growing seasons, has made it possible for growers to reduce the risk of losses from this disease.

• “Cauca Valley Agricultural Sector Information System (SISAV), Colombia” This system, which brings together 20 institutions, has been successful in organizing agricultural information by production chains.

• “The National Voice Network as a Support for Technological Innovation and Research at the National Agricultural Research Institute of Venezuela (INIA)” This network enables agricultural researchers to interact in real time, making it possible to respond promptly to problems. • “The Potato Electronic Network (REDEPAPA)” Thanks to this initiative, information on potatoes has been compiled, selected and posted on the Internet. The Website is used to reply to queries and distribute documents, and contains a database with the names of subscribers and visitors which reveals how often users access the network.

• “PRODARNET: A Virtual Community dedicated to the Promotion of Rural Agroindustry” This virtual network, which has been in operation for 10 years, has some 2600 users who share and disseminate information as a contribution to rural development in the Americas.

According to the introduction of the book, the documentation of successful experiences is basic for the purposes of learning, “given the possibility of sharing experiences about how information and communications are managed so they can contribute to the success of research or innovation initiatives; and of awareness-raising, by “positioning the subject so that decision makers can examine concrete instances of how a positive impact was achieved through the use of these technologies.”

Each chapter, written by those who submitted the cases, offers information on the background of the project, the project itself, the role of the ICTs, the positive impacts and the lessons learned.

Lessons learned

One of the lessons learned is the importance of choosing the specific ICTs to be used on the basis of the nature and needs of the users and the project. Although there are no universal formulas, several of the cases underscore how important it is to rely on certain tools such as email (mailing lists or e-groups) rather than focusing on a presence on the Web, when users’ broadband access is limited.

The determination and dedication of those who facilitate or organize these experiences, the promotion of fluid and productive exchanges, and the continual expansion of the virtual communities involved by adopting new tools as they emerge, are vital for achieving a positive impact.

It is recommended that greater emphasis be placed on the qualitative assessment of information projects, and that not only the experiences themselves, but also the conditions prevailing before the start of the project, be documented. According to the Conclusions section of the book, “Only then will it be possible to show more precisely the positive impact of the effort. This is vital when trying to raise the awareness of decision-makers regarding the need to support and promote the management of technical information aimed at agricultural innovation.”