Development of a multimedia crop protection compendium - Pilot phase

The ultimate aim of this project is to produce and maintain a multi- media compendium of crop protection databases and a pest risk assessment system, delivered on CD-ROM technology, which will provide factual and predictive information on a large but limited number of agriculturally important pests. However, before the overall concept was taken further there needed to be a comprehensive analysis of needs, scope, design approach and costs. This would provide the basis for a detailed project proposal which would be used to seek further funding. ACIAR supported a consultant/ contractor with specialist skills in international pest management and quarantine, and with experience of modern information systems, to conduct this analysis. The consultancy report, which endorsed the concept of an electronic Compendium, was presented to ACIAR in December 1992. ACIAR was subsequently approached by CABI to support the preparation of material for the development of a pilot-version for South East Asia. The aim of the proposed development was to: 1) define the requirements of a regional pilot compendium for South East Asia, 2) identify and assemble immediately available data, 3) define the data that must be compiled, its sources, and the format for compilation, 4) define the structure of the regional Compendium in relation to its intended applications, and 5) develop software towards implementaiton in an actual pilot Compendium. Once again this would be done by employing a consultant crop protection specialist for 6 months and a systems analyst for one month.

The analysis of the requirements of a working Compendium, with particular attention to the needs for SE Asia, indicated that its contruction was a substantial but feasible task. The main component of this was the compilation of data, the writing of data sheets, and the construction of diagnostic keys. It was conlcuded that further progress would depend on mobilising resources to achieve these ends. At the beginning of 1994 CABI produced a leaflet which introduced the concept of the electronic compendium and a simple demonstration version of the Compendium. At the same time a formal project proposal was developed and sent to a range of potential donors, both development assistance agencies and commercial companies, in the aim of developing a Donor Consortium. ( see CS1/96/23 for the next stage).