iAABE

International Academy of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

The proposal to form iAABE under the umbrella of CIGR was presented to the CIGR Presidium on 3 September 2013 during the 5th International Conference in Prague, Czech. It was subsequently approved by the 68th Executive Board Meeting of CIGR. The proposal was finally rectified by the 53rd General Assembly of CIGR on 17 September 2014 during the 18th World Congress of CIGR held in Beijing, China. Statues for iAABE are proposed.

iAABE Background

International Academy of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (iAABE)

President's message:

The International Academy of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (iAABE) was founded in 2014 under the umbrella of CIGR during the 18th CIGR World congress. In addition to CIGR`s organizational boards and the CIGR technical sections dedicated to scientific and professional business, the Academy aims to “identify and recognize individuals distinguished by their scientific and professional contributions to agricultural and biosystems engineering”. Additionally, the Academy fosters international cooperation and exchange of information to promote agricultural and biosystems engineering and related sciences and technologies, and to stimulate international education and training in agricultural and biosystems engineering.

The Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering discipline contributed significantly in improving agriculture and advancing the sustainable use of natural resources globally. One of many important contributions was mechanization in agriculture, which abolished drudgery and later improved the efficiency of field and farm operations, as well as efficient use of water and fertilizers. In the last three decades electronics, sensors, robotics and artificial intelligence have propelled agriculture, through agricultural and biosystems engineering, into Agriculture 4.0. Transformation is rapidly occurring in all areas of agriculture. Knowledge that was once fragmented in the experiences of many stakeholders involved in agriculture and natural resources, is being integrated to improve outcomes through conservation of resources and optimum production. Agricultural operations based on producers’ experiences are being replaced by data-driven practices

The Academy honors individuals who have made significant contributions to positive developments in recent years by inducting them as Fellows. It also supports the activities of CIGR and its technical sections and working groups, and provides expertise and advice to other organizations that focus on similar issues.

Statutes for iAABE

Recognizing

• That the International Commission of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (CIGR) is the premier organization of agricultural and biosystems engineering, science and technology.
• That CIGR is a federation of national agricultural and biosystems engineering and science organizations.
• That CIGR has access to the best of the world's agricultural and biosystems engineers, scientists and technologists via these national organizations.
• That CIGR wishes to draw directly on this resource by forming an International Academy of distinguished agricultural and biosystems engineers, scientists and technologists.

With the purpose

• To identify and recognize individuals distinguished by their scientific and professional contribution to agricultural and biosystems engineering.
• To further improve international co-operation and exchange of information.
• To promote agricultural and biosystems engineering, science and technology and other sciences relevant to this area.
• To stimulate international education and training in agricultural and biosystems engineering.
• To stimulate international collaboration amongst agricultural and biosystems engineers, scientists, technologists and other related professions.

CIGR has established The International Academy of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (iAABE), hereinafter referred to as "the Academy", as a statutory component of CIGR.

Objectives of the Academy

Section 1. The Academy is a learned society composed of elected members (Fellows) from all parts of the world, who will usually, but not necessarily, be affiliated with Adhering Bodies of CIGR. The Academy promotes, for the benefit of the international community, agricultural and biosystems engineering science and technology and related sciences. The Academy promotes high standards of ethics and scientific endeavour among agricultural and biosystems engineers scientists and technologists. In seeking to promote scientific endeavour, the Academy encourages communication, discussion and interaction with similar international scientific groups. The Academy serves as a source of scientific personnel and information to support international activities related to agricultural and biosystems engineering science and technology through CIGR. The Academy acts in an advisory capacity to CIGR and to the Adhering Bodies of CIGR.

The Composition of the Academy

Section 2. The President, Past Presidents and Fellows of CIGR are Fellows of the Academy. The CIGR Distinguished Lecturer at each CIGR World Congress or International Conferences shall be considered on an individual basis for immediate Fellowship (if eligible) in the Academy. CIGR Secretary General and Past Secretaries General, not already Fellows of the Academy shall be considered with the roster of Fellows for the congress in question. The decision shall rest solely with the Fellows of the Academy.

Section 3. The membership of the Academy shall reflect, as much as possible, the global distribution by country of eligible engineers, scientists and technologists. For each period between CIGR World Congresses or International Conferences, no more than 20 persons may be elected as Fellows. At the time of election all must be professionally active (not necessarily employed).

Section 4. To be eligible for election as a Fellow, a person must be generally recognized as having established an outstanding reputation for scientific accomplishments and/or leadership in the area of agricultural and biosystems engineering, science and/or technology. Nominations for election as Fellows shall only be made by CIGR Presidium and individual Fellows of the Academy to the Executive Council during the twelve months leading up to an CIGR World Congress or International Conference. A maximum of one nomination shall be made by each individual Fellow of the Academy in each election

Election shall be carried out by the Fellows of the Academy. Election shall require a two thirds (2/3) vote by postal or electronic mail ballot of those Fellows voting in the election. Newly elected Fellows shall be announced and duly published in advance of each CIGR World Congress or International Conference.

The Direction of the Academy

Section 5. The Executive Council of the Academy (ECA), herein referred to as the Executive Council, directs the work of the Academy. It consists of a Past President, a President, a President Elect, and two further Fellows as Executive Councilors. The Secretary to the Executive Council and the President of CIGR shall attend its meetings in a non-voting capacity.

Section 6. Members of the Executive Council are elected for the period between the World Congresses or International Conferences. The President and President Elect serve in those capacities for a single term. The two Executive Councilors can be re-elected once consecutively. Not later than 9 (nine) months before each CIGR World Congress or International Conference, the Executive Secretary shall invite nominations for Academy President Elect from Fellows. A postal/electronic ballot of Fellows shall ensue resulting in the declaration by the Secretary of the President Elect for the ensuing period. Not later that 6 (six) months before each World Congress or International Conference, the Secretary to the Executive Council shall invite nominations from Fellows for two Fellows as Executive Councilors. Any unsuccessful candidate for President Elect may be included among the nominations, provided that (he/she) is not at that time serving a second consecutive term as an Executive Councilor. A secret postal/electronic ballot of Fellows shall ensue, resulting in the declaration by the Secretary of the two successful Executive Councilors for the ensuing period.

Section 7. The President presides over the meetings of the Academy and the Executive Council.

Activities

Section 8. The Academy meets in conjunction with the World Congresses or International Conferences of CIGR. The Executive Council meets in conjunction with the meetings of the governing bodies of CIGR. Other meetings may also be arranged when necessary, desirable and possible at the call of the Academy President, or the Executive Secretary or the President of CIGR. Initiatives or other activities may be proposed by any member of the Academy to the Executive Council. Activities and initiatives shall be discussed and voted on at the meetings of the Academy.

Amendments

Any proposal for amendment of these Statutes may be put forward by the Executive Council of the Academy, by the Presidium of CIGR, or by any five members of the Academy. Such proposals shall be notified no later than four months prior to the next meeting of the Academy, to the Executive Secretary, who shall circulate them to Executive Council. Proposals shall be voted on by the Fellows of the Academy and to be adopted shall require at least a 2/3 (two-thirds) majority of those voting in person, or by mail or electronic ballot.

Members of the Academy