An international symposium on agricultural innovation systems in Asia and the Pacific, focusing particularly on southern and eastern Asia, will be held on 4–7 May 2009 in Kathmandu, Nepal. It is being jointly organised by CIAT (International Centre for Tropical Agriculture)–Asia, ICIMOD (International Centre for integrated Mountain Development) and PROLINNOVA (PROmoting Local INNOVAtion in ecologically oriented agriculture and natural resource management) in collaboration with the PROLINNOVA-Nepal partners LIBIRD (Local Initiatives for Biodiversity Research and Development) and Practical Action–Nepal. It is being funded by these organisations and Research Into Use (RIU)/UK Department for International Development. Support from other organisations is still welcomed.

The Innovation Asia–Pacific Symposium will bring together researchers and practitioners to share their latest experiences and insights in enhancing innovation processes in smallholder agriculture and natural resource management (NRM), and to draw lessons for policy, research, development and practice. The Symposium will include plenary keynotes, thematic mini-workshops and an interactive information market. It will open with a Nepalese fair on local innovation to celebrate the creativity of women and men farmers, farmer organisations and other local entrepreneurs and institutions.