- 著者
- Winston E. Marte Teruaki Nanseki Fernando Bienvenido
- 出版者
- Japanese Society of Agricultural Informatics
- 雑誌
- 農業情報研究 (ISSN:09169482)
- 巻号頁・発行日
- vol.20, no.2, pp.66-73, 2011 (Released:2011-07-01)
- 参考文献数
- 7
This paper describes the role of educational programs, institutional settings, and information and communication technology (ICT) tools on the development of integrated production in Almeria, Spain. To consider the necessity of integrated production and the role of above factors, the transfer of integrated production system to other countries is also discussed. Integrated Production (IP) is an agricultural production system that uses natural methods and natural mechanisms of production to manage pests and diseases, taking into account the protection of the environment and the farm economy, with social responsibility. IP not only takes into consideration operations at the farm level but also at packaging, processing, and labeling. IP regulations not only are in line with other certified quality norms such as Naturane, AENOR, and Global-GAP but also include more demanding regulations and provide users tools to assure product quality and production requirements. The availability of ICT tools such as administrative, technical support, and private management and traceability have significantly contributed to control and secure the accrue application of IP rules by the regional government and certification entities. They also facilitate the adoption of IP by farmers through the groups of integrated production (APIs), and to translate huge amounts of information in a comprehensive manner so that consumers are able to verify product quality and production requirements. IP has not only been provided of the normative framework but also of educational programs and institutional settings. Farmers are trained on pest, pesticides, and labor risk management while technicians are capacitated on a wider range including product quality certification norms at both farm and processing center levels. The development of ICT tools, the provision of educational programs along with the cooperation and coordinated work of all the stakeholders and organizations involved in IP is bringing about the successful application and development of this agricultural system.