The Council for Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural Research (ATSAF e.V.) is a network for scientists and experts concerned with development-oriented research in the tropics and subtropics. This year was the 25th ATSAF e.V. member meeting. Besides funding options for students and researchers it offers a platform to interconnect national and European scientists and organizations. Students, Doctors and young scientists can especially benefit from the network already in their early career since it helps to build up long-term relations with other researchers and offers access to research programs, says chairman Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch from the University of Hoheneheim. Since 1997, in cooperation with the participating universities and by the support of sponsors, ATSAF e.V. organizes the Tropentag.

At the oral sessions on cropping system and environment, Eike Luedeling reports about "potential fruit trees production decline induced by climate change". Eike Luedeling Temperate fruit trees need winter chill in order to produce fruits. The climatic requirements during the dormancy season are poorly understood. With raising temperature production is at risk. Adaptation planning is needed in order to maintain the production. Eike Luedeling emphasizes the need for long-term adaptation strategies. He promotes the use of the dynamic model to consider climate change in cultivar selection and to find climate analogues.

In the first oral presentation of the session titled " cropping system and environment", Wilfred Elegba, talks about Domestication of shea tree (Vitelleria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn) via ex-vitro propagation. He highlights the importance of Vitelleria paradoxa, contributing up to 60 % of women's income in rural sub-Sahelian regions. Providing food (fruits, shea butter), non-food products (soaps, medicine, timber, and charcoal) and protection from erosion and desertification. The main problems hindering domestication are the long juvenile phase (15-20 years), short seeds viability, late shoot emergency, and long tap root (transplanting difficulties). In order to enhance livelihood or rural women in northern Ghana, Mr. Elegba research objective was to develop a protocol for propagation of Shea tree. To fasten germination and seedling growth of the trees, mechanical scarification (fruits were de-pulped and testae removed), chemical treatments (presoaks of seeds in Gibberellic acid-GA3 concentration), as well as thermo-scarification (incubation of seeds) were studied by means of trials. The main find outs were that GA3 and thermo-scarification reduces days to seedling emergency. Testa scarification reduces radicle length compared to the control. Presoaking of seeds in 20% GA3 for 48 hours resultes in the highest mean number of leaves and seedling height.

On Tropentag 2012, the GIZ presents its different approaches to enhance resilience in agricultural systems by depicting some fields of action. The key-factor opposing resilience in rural development is the vulnerability of agricultural systems. The approach to decrease vulnerability acquired by the GIZ comprises economic, political and ecological as well as social aspects. Thus, it is distinct from approaches that focus only on ecological resilience of agricultural systems. Presenting experiences gained in Afghanistan, it was analyzed what development work needs to consider in a fragile state that faces insecurity, lack in welfare and political guidance. Key findings were that firstly main components in livelihood need to be assessed and respective main problems need to be identified. Then, taylor-made approaches that are sensitive to the traditional structures can be applied. Also of importance is the long-term commitment to the development. Finally, the new public knowledge platform agriwaterpedia.info is presented. It aims at overarching gaps between different sectors and on the other hand filling the general knowledge gap. The target group of the platform are young professionals and practitioners that can share knowledge on their respective field of experience.

On Tropentag 2012, three young scientists are each awarded 10 000 Euro for their excellent doctoral dissertation directly applicable to the enhancement of food security and poverty reduction. The Joseph G. Knoll European Science Award 2012 is funded by the Fiat Panis Foundation. Infos on the theses With her thesis on “Implementation and Optimization of the Doubled Haploid Technology for Tropical Maize Breeding Programs”, Dr. Vanessa Prigge helped to exploit maize genetics more effectively, by increasing production rates and reducing breeding times. Concerned with the “Operational Poverty Targeting by Proxy Means Tests Models and Policy Simulations for Malawi”, Dr. Nazaire Houssou investigated how to reduce poverty by more effective targeting and avoiding inefficiencies by leaking money to the non- poor. In her thesis, “Determinants and Impacts of Smallholder Collective Action in Kenya”, on the micro level, Dr. Elisabeth Fischer identified under which conditions farmers join smallholder collectives and assessed impacts on the role of women and food security. Selection criteria

Overall, 12 student reporters are blogging, tweeting and taking pictures of the Tropentag 2012. We are from countries around the globe and have diverse research backgrounds. In the following you can find more information about us and our responsibilities: The editors are mainly writing this blog here , are blogging on facebook or tweeting on twitter . The members of this team are: Divya Rajeswari Swaminathan (India), PhD student in Developmental Studies, Centre for Developmental Research in Bonn Minette Flora Mendoza De Asis (Philippines), PhD student in Agricultural Economics, Humboldt-University Berlin Reginald Tang Guuroh (Ghana), PhD student in Vegetation Geography, UNU-EHS in Bonn Pamella Akoth Ogada (Kenya), research assistant in Plant Pathology and Entomology, University of Hannover Tina Atieno Omuombo (Kenya), PhD student in Quaternary Geology in Paleo-climate, University of Nairobi and University of Paris 6

Once again the fiat panis award winners were felicitated during the Tropentag 2012 conference. There were two awards in total, the Hans H. Ruthenberg Award for Graduates 2012 for master level students and the Josef G. Knoll European Science Award 2012 for PhD students. The following are the winners of the Hans H. Ruthenberg Award for Graduates 2012: Lilli Scheiterle from University of Hohenheim spoke about her research work in Ghana. She carried out research on the topic “Opportunities and Challenges in the Production of Maize in Northern Ghana”. Lilli Scheiterle Reginald Tang Guuroh from Ghana, doing his PhD in University of Bonn at present spoke on his research topic “Contribution of Home Gardens to Household Income Generation in Burkina Faso- A Case study of Bieha District”. Reginald Tang Guuroh

According to Drs. Vanessa Prigge, Elisabeth Fischer and Nazaire Houssou proud recipients of this year’s Josef G. Knoll European Science Award, being recognized for ones hard work is the best way of boosting confidence in young scientist. This they reiterated encourages innovation and creativity in young people to pursue careers in research. In commenting on her work, Implementation and Optimization of the Double Haploid Technology for Tropical Maize (Zea mays L.) Breeding Programs, Dr. Vanessa Prigge noted that testing different methodologies in order to adopt the right one can be one of the most stressful aspects of pursuing a PhD if one aspires to achieve excellence. She was however, excited and overwhelm by the impact her work has had on the communities that have adopted her methods. Dr. Elisabeth Fischer who worked on “Determinants and Impact of Smallholder Collective Action in Kenya” also recounted that the challenging part of a PhD is the result as this is the unknown and the reason behind the work in the first place. As per her experience, Research requires perseverance. On the part of Dr. Nazaire Houssou, thinking about the impact of your work is a major pusher to strive for excellent result. He worked on “Operational Poverty Targeting by Proxy Means Tests Models and Policy Simulations for Malawi".