Marginal people? No creature is marginal to its own existence. Marginalisation is just a concept incorporated to our “social taxonomy” according to Prof. Paul Richards. Prof. Paul Richards (Technology and Agrarian Development) from the Wageningen University, argues that in ecology and evolutionary there is no such thing as “marginal people.” Everything has its own place. He argues that the creation of “marginal people” is just a reflection of the human need to classify its environment. It is also a reflection of our capacity to produce insidious harm based on our lack of trust on the others ("I trust myself more than I trust others, I can blame other more than I blame myself"). Prof. Richards argues that in early medieval times most social misfortunes were attributed to the unfitness of the rulers (they were accused for either not being able to do their work or to follow God’s desires), and that rulers were often “marginalised” from common society. This started to change during the later medieval period (the beginning of the market economy), when the blame shifted from elites to certain minorities.

Andrea Bues and William Leiser win the Hans H. Ruthenberg-Graduate- Award 2011. Bues was awarded 2500 Euros for her master thesis work in Ethiopia, which focused on institutional analysis of agricultural foreign direct investment, water rights and conflicts. A student of Humbolt University, Berlin, Bues' research was able examine how access to water resources can contribute to alleviating poverty. Leiser from University of Hohenheim, won 2500 Euros for his work in Mali. He studied the variation for adaptation of sorghum to low phosphorous soils. His research is an effective contribution towards the reduction of hunger and improvement of food security. This award is given by the Fiat Panis Foundation. This year's jury members comprised of Prof. Tilman Brueck (Humboldt-University of Berlin), Prof. Ulrike Grote (University of Hannover) and Prof. Joachim Sauerborn (University of Hohenheim). The jury decided the award based on scientific excellence, innovation and applicability. (By : Priyanka Parvathi and Divya Rajeswari Swaminathan)

Agriculture is a major contributor to global carbon dioxide emission according to Prof. Rattan Lal, distinguished professor at the Ohio State University, USA who presented on marginal soils at Tropentag 2011 . He defined marginal soils as “soils of poor quality and characterized by low ecosystem functions and services”. He also underscored the linkages between soils and the ecosystem and spoke about the importance of soil for humanity. He said that when soils get marginalized, people also get marginalized and that when farming occurs, nutrients are removed and these nutrients must be replaced one way or another, otherwise soils then get marginalized. According to him, if the millennium development goals would be achieved, then soils should be taken more seriously and properly protected. Soil degradation Land is needed for human settlement especially with population growth and urbanization, and Prof. Lal estimates that up to about 400, 000 ha of land is needed per year for one million people which means that about 3 million ha is converted to areas of human habitation each year. Another cause of soil degradation he mentioned is the use of top soil for brick/block making as well as use of soil for sale. He stated that, “soils can provide for our needs but not our greed”.

One of the established agricultural research conferences is back on tow.

Prof. Dr. Mathias Becker
, University of Bonn started by stating that he was sure topics titled such as “Iron Assimilation pathways are not the blockbusters” for participants to trail back year after year to this conference. He feels this year’s theme “Development on the margin” reflects the present scenario in the world very well with issues like soil degradation, inequality and so on being on the rise with globalisation aggravating the situation. This situation does not make the achievement of MDG’s easy. The worst hit due to these issues are the people living on the margins. It is one of the priority areas of the Federal Ministry of Economic Corporation and Development in Germany and hence Tropentag 2011 was strongly encouraged by the Federal Minister of BMZ, Dirk Niebel.

Just one day before the Tropentag 2011 conference in Bonn, Prof. Dr. Asch of the University of Hohenheim and Chair of ATSAF, pointed out his main ambitions for this year's conference. He encourages especially the opportunities for young scientists to get in touch with colleagues, get feedback on their research and find out about jobs.

Over 500 participants attended the welcome address of Tropentag. According to Prof. Mathias Becker, Chairman of organizing committee, the topic of Development on the Margin was chosen as a "top priority topic" aimed at helping to achieve the Millenium Development Goals. To be updated...

Tropentag is just two hours away now. All student reporters are ready to bring interesting updates as the conference progresses on the following events: At 13:00 is the welcome address by Prof. Dr. Christa E. Muller, Prorector, University of Bonn At 13:30 Gordon Conway from Imperial College London speaks on 'the double green revolution' At 14:00, Rattan Lal from the Ohio State University, USA, speaks on marginal soils. At 14:30 comes a talk on marginal people: "Surplus Youth" in the Global Taxonomy of Insidious Harm by Paul Richards from Wageningen University and Research Centre, The Netherlands Also, there is a guided poster session at 17:00 and a social gathering at 18:30 to wrap up the day's events.

Tropentag is a good platform for getting connected and to know about the various opportunities and current trends in agriculture and natural resource management research, according to three agricultural graduates from the University of Hohenheim. Master's student Dusenthi Manoharan thinks the conference is a good starting point for young researchers. She is presenting her work on a course module of Food Ethics in the Vulnerable People that she helped designed this year. As an advocate for Food Ethics her experience from last year’s theme "World Food System - A Contribution from Europe” in Zurich, Switzerland was contrary to the actual practicality during the conference meals.