Gerhild Boje, Hubertus Franzen, Henning Knipschild, Vilma Plum, Christian Hornstein, Thomas Schaaf:
GARDEN: The New German Information System for Agricultural Research for Development, Environment and Nutrition

GERHILD BOJE, HUBERTUS FRANZEN, HENNING KNIPSCHILD, VILMA PLUM, CHRISTIAN HORNSTEIN, THOMAS SCHAAF
The German Centre for Documentation and Information in Agriculture (ZADI), Germany

Recently the German research community for agricultural research for development (ARD) got its own web-based information system (www.GARDEN-infosys.de).

This system does not only focus on agricultural sciences but also includes environmental issues, nutrition and other related fields.

Its objective is to gather the nationwide scattered information and and give central access to all relevant German internet sources. Thus it aims at creating transparency in German ARD, facilitate networking and coordination of research as well as further cooperation on national and international level.

The joint project of GARDEN-infosys.de emerged from a workshop of the German ministries BMVEL, BMZ and BMBF as well as DFG and BEAF. Started in 2001, it is supported by BMVEL.

GARDEN-infosys.de offers a range of information services:

Navigation systems assist in easy retrieval of meta information. You can search either by a systematic approach within AgriScout (agriculture, fishery, forestry, horticulture, socio-economics etc.) or by type of information in AgriInfo (projects, publications, networks etc.) and AgriOrg (organisations). Additionally you can use freetext search.

Further information services provided are:

GARDEN-infosys.de is by concept a decentralised system e.g. information presented remains with the data provider. The working mode is complementary and in cooperation with other organisations.

Being designed as a participatory system, GARDEN-infosys.de invites public entry in all services. All members of the German research community are welcome to enter their relevant data using the ``Add $\ldots$'' buttons on the various pages. You have the opportunity to present your institutions (website), research activities, news, events etc. to the wider public without any cost.

Since GARDEN-infosys.de is also part of the European Information System for ARD (www.EARD-infosysplus.org), German data will be displayed in both systems. In this way GARDEN-infosys.de supports the European efforts for innovations in agricultural research for development.

Keywords: Agricultural research, environment, German information system, nutrition, participation, services

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Contact Address: Gerhild Boje, The German Centre for Documentation and Information in Agriculture (ZADI), Villichgasse 17, 53113 Bonn, Germany, e-mail: bojezadi.de