1. New Book: "Plant Breeding and Farmer participation" Edited by S. Ceccarelli, E.P. Guimaraes, E. Weltzien

The book is aimed at plant breeders, social scientists, students and practitioners, with the hope that they all will find a common ground to discuss ways in which plant breeding can be beneficial to all and can contribute to alleviate poverty. This book demonstrates that PPB is in essence no different from conventional plant breeding, being based on the very same principles of Mendelian, quantitative and population genetics, and therefore has complemented the traditional approach to plant breeding with a number of chapters addressing issues specially related to the participation of farmers in a plant breeding programme.

Recognition to The Participatory Research and gender Analysis Program (PRGA) for the initial idea of producing such a book.

More information:
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTARD/Resources/gender_and_gov_in_rural_services.pdf

3. Training Course on Participatory Plant Breeding, Nanning, China, January 18-23, 2010

Dr. S. Ceccarelli shared information about a Training Course he conducted on PPB. The course was attended by 17 participants of which eight males and nine females scientists including Dr. Song Yiching of the Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy (CCAP) of the Chinesa Academy of Sciences who has inspired most of the PPB work in China. Last day was also attended by Prof Shihuang Zhang, CAAS, China, the most eminent maize breeder in China and also one of the main PPB supporters. The 17 participants represented six breeding institutes from three provinces, namely Guizhou, Yunnan and Guangxi, and were all maize breeders except one rice breeder and one working on policy issues.

more information:
ftp://www.prgaprogram.org/Newsletter/Newsletter%202010/Febrero%202010/PPB%20in%20China.doc

4. Prize for Women's Creativity in Rural Life

By highlighting and awarding creative development models, innovations and experiences enhancing the quality of rural life, the WWSF - Women's World Summit Foundation an international non-profit, humanitarian NGO, participates in addressing the eradication of rural poverty, gender mainstreaming and women's empowerment.

The Prize aims to draw international attention to laureates' contributions to sustainable development, household food security and peace, thus generating recognition and support for their projects. While rural women are vital in providing examples of sound practice in their communities, they still do not have full access to tools needed for development, such as education, credit, land rights and participation in decision making.

5. New publication of (IPC-IG): Pro-Poor Policy in a Changing World. Chapter pg. 28: "Progress in Gender Equality Post-2015"

In this new publication, we can find information (pg 28) entirely related to the progress in Gender Equality post 2015, written by Nicola Jones, Rebecca Holmes and Jessica Espey, from the Overseas Development Institute, in London.

From the chapter: Promoting women's abilities to articulate their views in a meaningful way, and to become agents of their own empowerment, is vital to overcoming engrained sociocultural conditioning and gender roles. MDG 3 deals with two important tools for empowerment-education and national political representation-but we need a more comprehensive approach.