Annual Meeting in Costa Rica
EARTH, University, Campus Las Mercedes, Costa Rica
17 – 19 September 2018
Kick-off meeting Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain)
August 28 – September 1 2017
The MUSA kick-off meeting took place in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, NH Hotel. The first day was dedicated to the presentation of the Coordinator, Aurelio Ciancio, followed by introductory presentations of other attending partners (Luis Vicente Lopez-Llorca, University of Alicante, Spain; Javier Lopez-Cepero, Coplaca, Canary Islands, Spain; Michele Sellitto, Sacom Lab, Italy; Jesus Mercado-Blanco, IAS-CSIC, Cordoba, Spain; Jassmine Zorrilla, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium; Dan Bebber, University of Exeter, UK; Danny Coyne, IITA, Nigeria; Henry Wainwright, Real-IPM, Nairobi, Kenya and Lieselot van der Veken, Green Lab Biobest (owner of Real-IPM); Solveig Haukeland, ICIPE, Nairobi, Kenya; Belkis Peteira, CENSA, Cuba; Luis Pocasangre, EARTH, University of Costarica) to describe each group expertise and contributions to the Project.
During the second day, participants have discussed the first task activities of the work packages and their organization, taking decisions concerning the biological materials and the details of the study to be produced. The Consortium has also discussed issues related to the partners’ interactions, whether to work collectively or individually. A management committee has been appointed to assist the Coordinator in writing reports, taking decisions and monitoring activity on project development. The three members of the External Advisory Board: Prof. Rosa Manzanilla-Lopez, Dr Ana Piedra-Buena Diaz, and Prof. Piero A. Bianco, gave introductory presentations.
A field tour to two farms in the Tenerife island, meeting producers and sampling activities took place the third day, whereas the fourth day was dedicated to administrative and other issues.
Draft Programme
| 28/08 | 9.00 | Introduction and presentations |
| 9.30 | Summary description of Project Work Packages (A. Ciancio) | |
| 10.00-11.15 | Description of Partners’ Institution and expertise contributed to MUSA:CNR, Coplaca, SACOMLab, UAL, CSIC | |
| 11.15-11.30 | Coffee break | |
| 11.30-13.00 | Description of Partners’ Institution and expertise contributed: KULeuven, UNEXE, IITA, SARI, Real IPM | |
| Lunch | ||
| 15.00-17.00 | Description of Partners’ Institution and expertise contributed: ICIPE, CENSA, EARTH | |
| 29/08 | 9.00 – 10.00 | Deliverables and milestones: production of Deliverable n. 1 (A. Ciancio) |
| 10.00 – 11.15 | General discussion on WP1 – WP4: planning activities for samplings, field and lab work, availability and properties of banana germplasm; problem solving approaches | |
| 11.15 – 11.30 | Coffee break | |
| 11.30 – 12.30 | Decisions and appointments for Management Committee | |
| 12.30 – 13.00 | EAB members presentations, activities and links with partners | |
| Lunch | ||
| 15.00 – 17.00 | Data Management and Exploitation Plan | |
| 30/08 | 9.30 – 16.00 | Visits to farms, field samplings, meeting farmers |
| 31/08 | 9.00 – 11.15 | Administrative issues, cost statements, gender issues, visits, travels, future meetings and seminars |
| 11.15 – 11.30 | Coffee break | |
| 11.30 – 13.00 | Dissemination and Communication Plan | |
| Lunch | ||
| 15.00 – 17.00 | Web pages, logo, other communication issues, external links | |
| 01/09 | 9.30 – 13.00 | Meeting with producers and stakeholders, with seminars on farming systems in: Cuba, Costa Rica, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia (held at Coplaca). |