Index by Topics

IC-MFA-IBS will provide papers on the web for discussions via the web and email. The goal of the conference is to facilitate a dialogue, with the objective of generating information that is useful to academia, industry, governmental and non-governmental organizations and funding agencies, on the role and application of integrated bio-systems in zero waste and emission, food production and security, sustainable industrial and agricultural development and climate change.

An integrated bio-system (IBS) integrates at least 2 sub-systems so that the wastes generated by the first system are used by the next biological sub-system to produce value-added products. A common example is the use of animal manure from a livestock sub-system to produce biogas and then using nutrients in the digested slurry for crop and fish production. The general aim of an IBS is to turn material flow with losses into a closed and integrated one. IBSs can be designed for a number of purposes, e.g. to enhance resource and waste uilisation in agriculture, aquaculture, industry and for eco-buildings, human communities and cities (see http://www.ias.unu.edu/proceedings/icibs/ibs/info for more examples). The material flow analysis (MFA) is key to the design and operation of an IBS.

By quantifying the material flows, useful information is generated to solve problems, to make systems more robust to changes and for the development of new ideas, planning of projects, and decision and policy making.

SCOPE

This Internet Conference will have a central focus on the analysis of material flows in integrated bio-systems. The organisers welcome abstracts of papers that can describe and quantify the flow of materials in existing and conceptual bio-systems under the following themes :

1) Municipal Biodegradable Solid Recycling and Conversion Systems MFA of systems that includes recycling and conversion of biodegradables, food scraps, yard trimmings and greens into bio-fuels, organic fertiliser, animal feed, biochemicals, etc. using biological sub-systems such as anaerobic digestion, composting, vermi-culture, etc.. New methods, alternative natural systems for control or remediation to avoid the need for landfills, conventional wastewater plants, etc.

2) Wastewater Treatment and Utilisation Systems
MFA of systems using plants, microbes, shellfish in wastewater treatment and use of wastewaters in crop irrigation, aquaculture, wetlands, forests, etc. crop-aquaculture, livestock-aquaculture systems, integrated aquaculture/polyculture systems, etc..

3) Integrated Aquaculture Systems
MFA of aquatic food production systems such as integrated aquaculture/polyculture systems, fish-shellfish-seaweed systems, aquaculture-terrestrial integrated bio-systems, silvifisheries, fish ranching, etc.

4) Small Scale Farming Systems
MFA of household bio-systems with sub-systems like livestock, biogas digesters, fish ponds, compost, vermicompost, vegetable gardens and crops plots, fruit trees, aquatic plants, etc.

5) Large Plantations, Farms and Feedlots
MFA of corporate and cooperative agricultural systems using of agro-crop residues and livestock manure for production of feed, food, fibre, chemicals, energy, etc.

6) Constructed Building Complex, greenhouse and Eco-house Systems
MFA of bio-systems in/on buildings for waste water treatment, food production, hydroponics, aquaponics; waste recycling or using animals and compost to heat greenhouses, etc.

7) Industry and Eco-Industrial Parks
MFA of bio-systems for cleaner production, industries and industrial parks to utilise primary by-product wastes for biochemicals, food and energy production in co-operative implmentation of shared systems for complementary recovery and use.

8) Resource Utilization and Conservation in Sustainable Eco-Systems
MFA of bio-systems for sustainable resource utilisation e.g. in watersheds, reservoirs, lakes, river basins, community forests, natural parks, coral reefs, mangroves, etc..

9) Small Islands, Community, Villages and Cities
MFA of IBSs for sustainable living in human communities and for urban ecology and environmental management

10) Global Issues related to Food Security, Environment and Climate Change
e.g. regional studies where integrated bio-systems are used to play crucial roles to sustain food security, zero emissions and wastes; and reduction of greenhouse gases.

11) Tools and Methodology for Design and Analysis of Integrated Bio-Systems.
e.g. softwares and methods for material flow analysis

PROCEDURE FOR SUBMISSION AND REVIEW OF ABSTRACTS

Abstracts should not be more than 1 page in size and may contain text, table, diagrams. It should include title of paper, full name(s) and postal and email address(es) of author(s), abstract and keywords. Please send abstracts to foo@swipnet.se.

All submitted abstracts will be reviewed by the Planning Group of the Conference. Authors should wait for formal notification of acceptance before proceeding into preparation of the full papers.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS

The deadline for the 1st Call for Abstracts is Oct 31, 1999. A 2nd Call for Abstracts will be made at a later date, if needed.

CONFERENCE INFORMATION

General information is available at
http://www.ias.unu.edu/proceedings/icibs/ic-mfa/
Future announcements will be made via
http://segate.sunet.se/archives/et-w11.html

To receive conference announcements by email, please send an email to:
listserv@segate.sunet.se and use the subscription command:
SUB ET-W11 yourfirstname yourlastname, organization
e.g. SUB ET-W11 Ted Tschang, UNU/IAS-Tokyo

SECRETARIAT

Please address all requests or questions to: Mr. Jacky Foo
<foo@swipnet.se> Fax: 46-8-314620