The Second STRAW Mission, Bangkok, Hanoi, and Guangzhou, 7-13 May 2009

The mission led by Mr Colin Burton (waste system engineer), Dr Harald Menzi (agronomist), Dr Peter Thorne (software specialist) and Ms Nawarat Chalermpao (assistant coordinator, RFO) visited the Project Management Officers (PMO) and local experts in Thailand, Vietnam and China during 7-13 May 2009 to present the progress on a computer based software package of the Decision Support Tool (DST) on manure management practices (STRAW: Support for the Treatment and Recycling of Animal Wastes).

STRAW is a system to assess manure streams for intensive livestock production with the aim of controlling negative impacts for the environment and supporting the user in choosing and implementing an optimal manure management strategy. The aim is also to use the livestock waste more efficiently by recycling it in crop production.

The PMO and local experts provides the feedbacks on the first impression at the first view of the software, its user friendliness, and the aspects that should be changed, improved, and added to the package.

The mission team also met with national counterparts (data coordinators) to finalize STRAW data file.

For more details, please see the consultants’ report on STRAW mission here.