Markus wrote:
>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.
>Is it correct that the IBS Farm Network will be an UN
>organisation?

No. it will not be an organization.

Firstly I wish to provide some background on IBSnet.........

Integrated Bio-systems Network (IBSnet) was established by the UN
University (Inst of Adv Studies, Tokyo) in 1995 and when its IBS project
ended (I was the cooordinator) in 1999, IBSnet joined IOBB (Intl
Organization for Biotechnology and Bioengineering) as a sub-group. Thus
now, IBSnet is a sub-group of IOBB. So we have an organization (i.e. IOBB)
and IBSnet is the network of people who are connected via Internet, for
forum and co-operation in the applications of integrated bio-systems in
agriculture, industry, forestry and habitat.

IAS of UNU still continues its association with the IBSnet by sponsoring
different IBSnet activities, e.g. this MFA Internet Conference; and in the
near future, IBS activities in the South Pacific.

IBSnet has several "working groups" which are created as "ad hoc" groups
and dissolved whenever the tasks are done or they may continue if they wish
to. The IBSnet working groups are
(a) a working group for composting toilets
(b) a working group for on Integrated Community Sewage Treatment Systems
(c) a working group for the Brewery project in Samoa (2000-2002)
(d) a working group for project development in Hawajo Farm, Nigeria
(e) a working group for project development in Nepal
(f) a working group on project development in the South Pacific

I guess the term "IBS Farm Network" is misleading and what we want is an
"IBSnet working group on farms". Of course such a working group is also a
network of people dealing with IBS in farms. Thus IBSnet could be seen as a
network of networks. The chair of IOBB is Prof. Horst Doelle and I look
forward to his comments on this organizational structure of IBSnet within
IOBB.

>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.

if needed, I can ask the director of the IAS/UNU (Tokyo) and/or chairman of
IOBB (Australia) to write the Swiss Government to realise a budget for your
contribution in coordinating the IBSnet Farm Working Group.

So far, members of the working groups are not paid, they are volunteers.
The Brewery Project in Samoa has obtained funding from SIDA (Sweden) and is
a project of the Dept of Biotechnology of the Royal Inst of Technology
where I am the research investigator. The members of the working group for
the Brewery Project are now looking into how to develop sub-projects within
the Brewery Project framework for additional funding.

The Secretariat of the IBSnet from 2000 is funded by IBSnet membership fees
and using funds from IBSnet special activities (e.g. MFA Internet Conf.).

Markus:
with this information background, do you think ETH and the Swiss Govt can
provide any support ?

regards
jacky foo
IBSnet Coordinator
http://www.ias.unu.edu/proceedings/icibs/ibs/ibsnet