History
Statutory background |
| 1975 |
The First Lomé Convention (Lomé I) is signed between the nine countries in the EU (then called the European Economic Commission, EEC) and 46 ACP countries (all former colonies of the EU Member States). The aim of Lomé I is to foster development in these ACP countries. |
| 1979 |
Lomé I is due for renewal. By this time, the ACP countries are calling for a separate fund for agriculture, the sector on which most of their economies depend. |
| 1980 |
Lomé II (1980-85) is signed. |
| 1983 |
After much discussion,
the idea of a technical centre for agriculture ( CTA) is adopted. The mandate of the new centre is "to be at the disposal of ACP States to provide them with better access to information, research, training and innovations in the agricultural and rural field". |
| 1985 |
Lomé III (1985-90) is signed. |
| 1986 |
An Advisory Committee, appointed by the ACP-EU Committee of Ambassadors, and consisting of equal numbers of ACP and EU members, is set up to advise CTA on programme orientation and activities. |
| 1991 |
Lomé IV (1990-1995) is signed. |
| 1996 |
Lomé IVbis (1995-2000) is signed. |
| 2000 |
The Cotonou Agreement is signed between the EU Member States (15) and ACP Group of States (77). Annex III of the Agreement relates to CTA and its mission. |
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CTA Milestones |
| 1984 |
CTA is officially inaugurated. It has an office in Ede, The Netherlands, and about 10 staff. Its telephone number is 22484 - the day these offices opened! The first Director is Dr Assoumou Mba, from Cameroon. |
| 1985 |
The CTA Question-and-Answer Service is established. |
| 1986 |
The first issue of CTA's flagship magazine, Spore, is produced in English and French; the print run is 5,000 in each language. CTA pioneers a project to introduce CD-ROM technology to ACP countries to facilitate access to core agricultural databases. |
| 1987 |
Two regional branch offices are established, one in the Caribbean and the other in the Pacific. The Caribbean office is housed by the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI). The Pacific office is in the Institute for Research, Extension and Training in Agriculture (IRETA). |
| 1988 |
CTA launches its Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI) service, aimed at providing subject-specific information to ACP agricultural researchers and technicians. |
| 1990 |
Under CTA's Rural Radio Programme, the first Rural Radio Resource Pack (RRRP) is produced; the subject is agroforestry. |
| 1993 |
The first issue of Esporo, the Portuguese edition of Spore, is produced. |
| 1994 |
A joint ACP-EU evaluation of CTA from 1984 to 1994 is conducted. It recommends that CTA initiate programme planning based on a 3-5 year perspective. |
| 1995 |
Dr Rodney Cooke, from the UK, succeeds Dr Assoumou Mba as Director |
| 1996 |
CTA moves to new offices in Wageningen.
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| 1997 |
The Mid-Term Plan (MTP) 1997-2000 is implemented. It aims to achieve a balance between CTA's two main objectives: (1) improving access to information and (2) strengthening ACP capacity in information and communication management. CTA also introduces its subscription service, through which it distributes publications free-of-charge to institutions and individuals in ACP countries. |
| 1998 |
The CTA website is launched. The first meeting of the ICT Observatory, established to review ICT use, access and management in ACP regions, is held; the Observatory has meets annually. |
| 2000 |
Mr Carl Greenidge, from Guyana (previously ACP Deputy Secretary General and Secretary General ad interim) succeeds Dr Rodney Cooke as Director. A major CTA seminar on 'Information for agricultural and rural development in ACP countries' helps inform the debate on CTA's future activities. The magazine ICT Update, produced in both electronic and print formats, is launched to provide information on ICT applications and policies relevant to ACP agricultural and rural development. |
| 2001 |
The implementation of the Mid Term Plan is evaluated. Its findings are incorporated into the Strategic Plan and Framework for Action 2001-2005. CTA sets up its first web portal, Agritrade, which focuses on ACP agricultural trade issues. |
| 2002 |
The Strategic Plan becomes operational, and the new organisational structure prescribed in the Plan is put in place. |
| 2003 |
The E-Catalogue, featuring all publications in CTA's list, is put on the website, complementing the printed version of the CTA Publications Catalogue first produced in 1997. The Centre also launches a new web portal, Knowledge for Development, to support ACP science, technology and innovation policies, and research and development as they relate to agriculture. |
| 2004 |
CTA is 20 years old! It celebrates this milestone in various ways. |
| 2005 |
Dr Hansjörg Neun, a German national, succeeds Mr Carl Greenidge as Director, bringing with him a wealth of practical, as well as technical knowledge of agriculture. CTA hosted an ICT Observatory on RSS. |
| 2006 |
CTA’s Advisory Committee is disbanded and a proposal made to change to a Board of Directors. |
| 2007 |
The new Strategic Plan 2007-2010 is approved and goes into operation. |
