Infonet-BioVision is an online information platform tailored to the rural population in East Africa. It offers information on sustainable agriculture and ecological control of plant-, human- and animal- targeting pests and disease vectors.

Infonet-BioVision's aim is to contribute to poverty reduction and environmental protection by disseminating appropriate methods for crop and livestock production, human and environmental health.

In East Africa agriculture is the main source of income for over 70% of the rural population (in Kenya about 20 million people) and represents 25% of the region's gross domestic product (GDP). Most of the farming is small-scale or subsistence. Crop pests (insects, weeds, plant diseases, rodents etc.) represent a considerable limiting factor in the production of local food crops and are a major cause of agricultural under-production, malnutrition and poverty. At the same time the workforce is plagued by the major health problems that arise from numerous diseases caused by parasitic infections in humans (HIV/Aids, malaria) and productive livestock (tsetse-born trypanosomiasis, tick-born East Coast fever). Despite agriculture's significance, the rural population in Africa often lack access to extension services, productivity augmenting techniques and know-how. In particular, up-to-date information on affordable, effective and ecological methods for the sustainable management of plant-, human- and animal- targeting pests and disease vectors, for adequate nutrition, as well as methods to maintain a healthy and productive environment lay dormant in academic journals and research institutes, beyond the reach of farmers and rural communities that need them the most.

In February 2002 BioVision provided the initial funds for the establishment of a Technology Transfer Unit (TTU) at ICIPE in Kenya. This was to facilitate and support participatory development and dissemination of ecological and sustainable management methods and technologies. The unit addressed community driven needs in an integrated approach with emphasis on food security, poverty alleviation, human and animal health; and the environment. To actively support dissemination initiatives at the ICIPE and other organisations in the area of agriculture and health, BioVision provided the initial finances in order to begin preliminary work on an Internet platform whose purpose was to act as a tool for information sharing and dissemination of knowledge and experience gained in various pilot projects.

The design of Infonet-BioVision incorporates a bottom-up approach in the sense that the topics, content and structure of the platform was defined in consultation with local farmer groups and communities. Infonet-BioVision also encourages user's feedback on experiences and on the situation on-the-ground which eventually is lead back to the board of advisory scientists so that the information presented can be continuously adapted and expanded. This two-way flow of information is an integral aspect of ensuring the applicability, relevancy and usefulness of the platform.

For effective outreach, Infonet-BioVision aims to collaborate with research institutions such as ICIPE's Technology Transfer Unit as well as other training and extension networks in the field of sustainable agriculture, animal and public health. We aim to collaborate with organisations which have experience in awareness rising and sensitation for farmers and rural communities in East Africa. In addition, such collaborators ought to be receptive in in using new information and communication technologies to disseminate the necessary information to farmers and rural communities. We are aware that access to computer, literacy, language and cultural differences are major limitations in reaching the defined target groups. Therefore, we endeavour to collaborate with organisations that will translate relevant information into local languages for an effective transfer of information. We are also aware that the internet can only become an established medium for the transfer of knowledge if it is used by existing institutions and access points and if it supports their work.

Infonet-BioVision has the potential to increase the impact of existing training and extension programs from GO's and NGO's as it can be easily combined with various existing local approaches.
To ensure that the information reaches the end-users directly, a wide range of media such as posters, brochures, local radio, marketplace and other "low-tech" media must be used. This is also to ensure that illiterate farmers are not left out. In addition, Infonet-BioVision has a sister project called EduVision started in 2005, which pioneers a low-cost, wide-coverage content distribution system for rural farmers in Africa.

The sustainability of the platform largely depends on the ability to bring the information to the farmers and to ensure the relevancy of the information provided. The project is characterised by a participatory approach involving farmers` groups, local collaborating partners and communities.

The core concept of Infonet-BioVision is the database with its processed information and pre-defined structure which facilitates the rapid and easy incorporation of new data. As the needs of users with varying levels of knowledge and experience ought to be catered for, the platform around the database is conceived in such a way that the users can access its content through different entry points. These include databases on sustainable pest and crop management, animal, human and environment as well as training modules in these areas. Furthermore, it will be possible for the users to send feedback information to the project team-members regarding their experiences.

The platform provides comprehensible content with up-to-date information on preventive and curative control of plant-, human- and animal- targeting pests and disease vectors and on sustainable agriculture and environmental health. Where available, effective traditional management methods will also be incorporated. With the use of photos, images, illustrations and clear advice, we provide practical tools for the correct identification and recognition of pests, disease vectors and parasites and their damaging symptoms. Such information is also useful to non-experts. All information can be compiled, saved and printed in tailor-made training material by users. In all categories, external web-links lead to related web-sites with additional information.

In the plant health part the database contains biological and ecological background information, scientific and local names, images and photographs used for the identification of pests and diseases. The description on the prevention and cultural measures which have long term effects is also provided. This is then followed by direct control measures such as Bio-control Agents and Bio-Insecticides which have short-term effects. The data on preventive control measures is the core part of the information we provide.

In organic farming systems, methods with long-term effects are the basis of crop production and animal husbandry, and should be used with preference. On the other hand, methods with short-term effects should be used in emergencies only. Infonet-BioVision has extended this approach to human health systems. This is because the advance in the development of vaccines and chemotherapeutic agents has brought many diseases under control. However, there are still many communicable diseases for which environmental control measures are indispensable, especially in the field of water supply and sanitation. Such diseases include cholera, diarrhoeal diseases, leishmaniasis, malaria and schistosomiasis. In all these instances, the environmental measures, either as an integral part of primary health care or undertaken outside the health sector, form an indispensable component of overall disease control strategies together with education on health and hygiene. In some cases they are the only component.

In order to guarantee the optimum implementation of the project, various experts are involved in the project. We have built up a team of international and local experts involved in the early conceptual and content development phases and in the monitoring and evaluation phases. The board of scientists is specialised in this particular fields for the review of all information provided on the platform. Currently, the scientific board includes experts from ICIPE, FIBL and WOCAT. The board will continuously be extended.

The source of information is derived from BioVision projects, other agricultural and health organisations, research institutions, project reports, extension workers, books, publications, web-sites and partner organisations in East Africa as well as from local farmers` groups and communities.

BioVision Foundation http://www.biovision.ch is a Swiss non-profit organization with a global mission to alleviate poverty and improve the livelihoods of rural people in Africa while maintaining the natural resources and diversity that sustains life. Our chairman is Dr. Hans Rudolf Herren, one of the world's leading researchers in biological pest control. He has been living and researching in Africa for over 20 years. In 1995 he won the World Food Prize, the first Swiss to receive this honour. From 1994 until 2005 he has been the CEO and Director of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Nairobi, Kenya. In May 2005 Dr. Herren officially took over presidency of ther internationally active Millenium Institute in Washington DC. This institute supports the governments of developing countries by providing resources for sustainable development. While icipe plays a major role in the control of pests, parasites and disease vectors in developing countries. BioVision Foundation functions as an intermediary between research institutes and local users in order to ensure that benefits of science reach the people who need them most.

Infonet-BioVision is an independent project and is free to collaborate with any partner organisations.

The core team members are:

Project Management and Coordination: Ms Monique Hunziker, M.Sc. Biology and Environmental Sciences, post-graduate studies in development, human health and international agriculture, BioVision Foundation Switzerland m.hunziker@biovision.ch

Information Management: Ms Sonia Fontana, Geographer, BioVision Foundation Switzerland s.fontana@biovision.ch

Programming and Database: Ms Ursula Suter, E-Learning Specialist, Avallain, Switzerland usuter@avallain.com

Local Coordination Kenya: Ms Anne Bruntse Nganga, Agronomist, Kenya. a.bruntse@biovision.ch

For the Pilot-phase (2005 - 2008) which focuses on generating information on Plant Health, the project team works closely with scientific experts ICIPE, FIBL, WOCAT and others. The scientific advisors are be extended in the near future with experts from Human-, Animal- and Environmental Health.

Current members are:

BioVision is attempting to offer information of sound quality to the users of the online plattform and information service, Infonet-BioVision. Due to the fact that ecological approaches cannot be standardized because of the diversity of local factors influencing its performance, BioVision does not assume any responsibility for damages which may arise from the use of the information presented in Infonet-BioVision. This covers any direct, indirect or consequential damages.

BioVision encourages the users to test the information presented first on a small scale within their location with the aim to study the performance of the presented information under local condition and to adapt it, if necessary. This local validation should be conducted in cooperation with competent local partners.

Note: Hyperlinks to other Internet sites do not imply any official endorsement of or responsibility for the opinions, ideas, data or products presented at these locations, or guarantee the validity of the information provided. The sole purpose of links to other sites is to indicate further information available on related topics.

This site is founded and hosted by BioVision in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland. This site, its contents, and any disputes arising therefrom shall be construed and interpreted exclusively under the laws of the canton of Zürich and applicable Swiss federal laws.