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Advice on Publications Available.Dear Editor,
The irony of all the difficulties experienced by the anonymous wimp importing seed ('The Trials of New Crop R&D: Getting the Germplasm; Australian New Crops Newsletter 3:7) would have been greatly alleviated by importing seed via Air Mail Post.
Unless it is one of the few restricted species requiring a QP28, air mail posted seed comes directly to your mailbox (no QP28 required) after inspection and a $20 fee. All seed sent air freight requires all those hassles and invariably takes as long as air mail post.
Another outrage is AQIS deciding plant importation (seed) for accession and trial is user-pays. If that's true, when will customs start charging user-pays on tourists and all other imported goods.
(Dr) Paul Recher
Fruit Spirit Botanical Gardens
Dorroughby NSW 2480
Dear Editor,
I would like to commend Peter Milthorpe for his comprehensive and objective summary of the 'Ninth International Conference on Jojoba and Its Uses' and the 'Third International Conference on New Industrial Crops and Products' which was held in Catamarca, Argentina 26-30 September, 1994. Peter's comments appeared in Issue No. 3 (January 1995) of the Australian New Crops Newsletter.
As Co-Chair of the event I believe Peter's commentary accurately reported the significant highlights of the conference and at the same time he expertly integrated his view of how those highlights might impact the Australian new crop efforts. Peter ended his summary with a theme familiar to most new crop and product individuals. "More resources (must be) directed into new crop research and development". I would like to second that motion and at the same time point out some resources and strategies which were at play during the Conference although perhaps not obvious to most attendees.
The Argentine Jojoba Association, The Latin American Jojoba Association and The Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops chose Catamarca as the site of the Conference for reasons that should be illustrated.
In recent years, this Northwestern Province of Argentina and in particular the valley surrounding its capital city has been the site of extensive new crop activities. Jojoba, lesquerella, chia, kenaf, guayule and other new industrial crops have been grown in the area on both research and commercial scale through co-operative efforts between public and private organisations.
The University of Arizona, Arid Lands Research, The University of Catamarca, The University of California at Riverside, The Provincial Government of Catamarca and the Federal Government of Argentina have been joined by private industry in these new crop and product development efforts in the region. Jobs have been created, new crop technologies have been transferred, new farmland has been cleared for jojoba and other crops and existing farmland has been converted from traditional crops to new crops.
The area surrounding Catamarca can be said to have under way one of the most integrated, diverse and effective new crops development program of any region. The effort is in its infancy and final judgement as to its success will be reserved until later.
In contrast to Peter Milthorpe's comprehensive and constructive summary of the conference Lennox Davidson PhD in his 'Letter to the Editor' (same issue) presented a somewhat unfocused and negative view of the proceedings surrounding the conference. Although facilities and services were not optimum in Catamarca, they were certainly adequate. Session Chairs attempted to allow sufficient time for discussion and at the same time discouraged the inevitable discourses intended to further personal agendas.
Those of us in the mainstream of jojoba commercialisation over the years have been familiar with the peripheral involvement of some naysayers that in the end contribute little more than criticism yet in some manner always manage to be published. I would invite your readers to judge the content and quality of the technical presentations of the Conference for themselves. I have enclosed an order form for the Proceedings which will be published within the first half of 1995
James H. BrownDear Editor,
Recently, I saw a copy of your January 1995 newsletter. Overall I was impressed and would like to inquire how I might be placed on the mailing list to receive a subscription.
In contrast to the letter to the editor by Lennox Davidson, I believe that AAIC/ALAJO conference to be a success although there were a few minor problems. The conference accomplished what was intended: to convene people from around the world who are interested in new crops, and provide them with a forum to discuss their interests and research. Dr Davidson did not express his concern to myself or others involved in conference organisation, either during or after the event. The vast majority of the other 240 conference attendees expressed support and appreciation for a valuable and productive conference.
Wayne Coates
President AAIC
The University of Arizona
Arizona USA
Any claims made by authors in the Australian New Crops Newsletter are presented by the Editors in good faith. Readers would be wise to critically examine the circumstances associated with any claims to determine the applicability of such claims to their specific set of circumstances. This material can be reproduced, with the provision that the source and the author (or editors, if applicable) are acknowledged and the use is for information or educational purposes. Contact with the original author is probably wise since the material may require updating or amendment if used in other publications. Material sourced from the Australian New Crops Newsletter cannot be used out of context or for commercial purposes not related to its original purpose in the newsletter
Contact: Dr Rob Fletcher, School of Land and Food, The University of Queensland Gatton College, 4345; Telephone: 07 5460 1311 or 07 5460 1301; Facsimile: 07 5460 1112; International facsimile: 61 7 5460 1112; Email:
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