{"id":9227,"date":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-dev.library.illinois.edu\/funkaces\/15_01\/"},"modified":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2015-01-07T00:00:00","slug":"15_01","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/funkaces\/15_01\/","title":{"rendered":"ACDC News – Issue 15-01"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Welcome to the first 2015 issue of ACDC News <\/strong> <\/p>\n

We hope you will enjoy and find value in a new year of research, updates and perspectives from the Agricultural Communications Documentation Center based at the University of Illinois. <\/p>\n

You have more resources than ever to find and use.\u00a0 The ACDC collection now totals 41,000 documents from around the world.\u00a0 BibLeaves, our hard-working online search system, makes your searching easy and powerful. And ACDC staff members enjoy helping you, your associates or students find information you need about all kinds of human communicating related to agriculture (broadly defined) \u2013 nearly anywhere \u2013 and from latest to earliest. <\/p>\n

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Thanks for your interest and encouragement <\/strong> <\/p>\n

Special thanks to those who contributed news, documents, thoughts and suggestions last year.\u00a0 As readers and users, you are the most important partners in developing this unique resource to strengthen agriculture-related journalism and communications, wherever you live and work.\u00a0 We welcome the opportunity to serve and cooperate with you during 2015. <\/p>\n

At the same time, we do not wish to impose on your time and interests.\u00a0 Please let us know at docctr@library.illinois.edu <\/a> if you prefer not to be informed of new issues of ACDC News. <\/p>\n

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2015, here we come – with a first sample of research, news, views, ideas and events. <\/strong> <\/p>\n

New survey on food decisions and consumer trust <\/strong> <\/p>\n

\u201cCracking the code on food issues: Insights from moms, millennials and foodies\u201d is the title of a new report from the Center for Food Integrity. Findings were based on an online survey completed in September among 2,005 respondents who reflect the general U.S. consumer population. The survey identified trusted sources and information-seeking patterns as a guide for communicating effectively with consumers about food <\/p>\n

You can read the full 2014 CFI Consumer Trust Research Report here <\/a> . <\/p>\n

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\u201cCan we call it smart data instead of big data?\u201d <\/strong> <\/p>\n

Charlie O\u2019Brien, senior vice-president of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, offered that framing suggestion in a recent issue of the AEM periodical, Ag Executive Advisor <\/em> . He observed that \u201cbig data\u201d conjures up an immense mountain of bits and bytes coming from the farm to increase production. \u201cIt also may invoke thoughts of Big Brother, with fears of who may get their hands on some of this data.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWouldn\u2019t \u2018smart data\u2019 be a more appropriate term?\u201d he asked. \u201cThe data, by design, is used for decision-making. \u2026 So let\u2019s build the electronic bridges between the data clouds and build the right security measures so that farmers are comfortable releasing their data for select uses.\u00a0 And let\u2019s build the right standards around the data formats\u2026\u201d <\/p>\n

You can read this commentary in the December 2014 issue here. <\/a> <\/p>\n

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New resources about Africa Lead II <\/strong> <\/p>\n

Thanks to Kathy Alison of Training Resources Group for alerting us to new resources about Africa Lead II, the USAID\u2019s primary capacity-building program in sub Saharan Africa. It is working to help realize goals of Feed the Future by \u201cbuilding the capacity of champions, institutions and stakeholders to develop, lead and manage the structures needed for African-led agriculture transformation.\u201d <\/p>\n

The program has a new website and new quarterly newsletter. They provide program reports (by country), result stories, \u201cChampion\u2019s Corner\u201d videos, and other resources. <\/p>\n

You can learn more about these resources for African-based agricultural development here <\/a> . <\/p>\n

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Australian students produce animation for rural development in Timor-Leste <\/strong> <\/p>\n

Animation is a key ingredient in a current project to help crop growers in Timor-Leste try new maize varieties developed by Seeds of Life and the Ministry of Agriculture. Final-year students at Charles Sturt University in Australia are preparing the animations that feature 12 key agronomic messages. They are working under the direction of Chris McGillion, a senior lecturer in journalism at the University. <\/p>\n

You can read a brief report from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research here <\/a> . <\/p>\n

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Caution about staffing for social media <\/strong> <\/p>\n

At a recent conference in France, business consultant Mike Greene explored two sides of a personnel dilemma facing food companies in their use of social media. <\/p>\n