Dear All, dear Jacky

The basic ideas for a IBS Farm Network Jacky already has formulated:

- Exchange of ideas, knowledge (know-how) and experiences in IBS (mostly via
internet).

- Initiating common experiments, research programmes, feasibility studies,
discussion forums.

- Creating a platform for training and education of students and workers in
IBS (exchange of demonstration and educational material).

- Information and public relation on IBS-initiatives (lobbying, fund raising,
internet sites).

Public information and relations must have a high priority for IBS Farm
network. From our point of view, as scientists we are convinced about the
importance and the usefulness of our work and its benefits for the society
and the environment. But this must not automatically also be the case for
people outside of our circle. We have to communicate actively the IBS Farm
concept to the governments, to the administrations but also to the people on
place. We always have to keep in mind that with such initiatives the local
"standard? marked situation will underlie changes and there are always some
people (sometimes also governments and administrations) who feel to be on
the looser side when IBS farming is introduced. A good and continuous
information campaign is the best prevention against misunderstandings. For
the people working in these projects the support by an international group
of the UN, therefore is helpful and important.

But also to find funding from industrial countries and international
organisations is easier, when the projects are supported by a world wide IBS
Farm network.

Finally a very important and simple fact is: The biggest motivation for
farmers (big and small) is the selling price of her products.  Simon
Appleby mentioned that European and Japanese (US ?) tourists have an
increasing demand on ecological products. Of course the first interest of
the people is to produce enough and high quality products for their own
market. But if they can sell some of their products for a good (fair trade)
price into industrial countries, this can become a further stimulation. IBS
Network could work out a guaranty system for IBS Farm products. If the
farmers can profit from such a system they are also willing to pay for
University support and consultancy. They also get more interested in
learning and introducing new technologies.

Further on IBS Farm Network also has to:

- Support and consult new initiatives and projects in IBS-Farming.

- To build up an address list (catalogue) of experts (specialists) and
specialised institutions in the internet for IBS Farms.

In any project sometimes the special knowledge of a botanist,
phyto-pathologist, animal-pathologist ..... etc. is needed for special
diagnostics. Such specialist often are very rare to find. A list with
addresses or a service to find the right specialists has to be worked out.

The name "IBS-Farm? I like very much. After my free definition it is an
ecosystem approach for a sustainable agriculture, integrating soil
conservation, water resources and human and animal health aspects.

Jacky asked me to act as a co-ordinator of this network. I think we first
have to ask all colleagues of this forum, if somebody else also is
interested to co-ordinate this network before deciding.

Otherwise if you think it will be helpful to you and to the IBS Farm
Network, I am willing to accept this task as a challenge.

But before I can start, I have to clarify some organising and technical
aspects. As a free working scientist (visiting scientist of ICIPE-Ethiopia)
and expert, I would like to install the co-ordination address and office at
the Swiss Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH = Eidgenossische Technische
Hochschule) to get all services from this institute. I am a teaching at ETH,
so it should be possible to get an arrangement with the administration of ETH.

The other point I have to solve, is to get a payment for this work. My plan
is to ask the Swiss government to provide some funds as an act of solidarity
 for the UN IBS Farm Network.

Here I need your help. Is it correct that the IBS Farm Network will be an UN
organisation? Then, if the Swiss government gets an official request from an
UN organisation, I belief the chances are quite good to get a permanent
funding for IBS Farm Network co-ordination - and I hope also some for
travelling for the members of IBS Farm Network.

Before we work out a concept and a budget for request to the Swiss
administration, we can check the chances. To me the easiest way would be if
Jacky sends to the Swiss Embassy in Stockholm a short official letter for
some grants from the Swiss government for working out a concept and a budget
for the Swiss administration.

Regards   Markus