Second Version – “Antonio Gandarillas Antezana” Award for Degree Thesis in Research with a focus on Sustainable Agriculture

INTRODUCTION

The Bolivian crops managed in its different regions are very important, because they generate significant income for its population and the country as a whole. However, despite the efforts, technology is insufficient to achieve sustainable production, improve productivity and make them more accessible for national consumption. For this reason, promoting the development of technologies and innovations in crops is of vital importance for family farming, food security and sovereignty, and poverty reduction.

Antonio Gandarillas Antezana has been a professional whose scientific skills, knowledge and experience was shared nationally and internationally. His vision to carry out high-quality, relevant and agroecologically focused research that influences both Bolivia's R&D sector and small farmers has been an inspiration. His effectiveness in supporting women and indigenous scientists, at a time when this was not part of the institutional agenda, as well as his effort to encourage young researchers, marked the great value and empathy of this Bolivian scientist and leader.

Dr. Antonio Gandarillas, from the strength of his second home, the PROINPA Foundation, promoted the use of genetic resources as a mechanism for their conservation and use, he was part of the development of innovations for the ecological management of crop pests and diseases in the different regions of the country and in his last years, he promoted the use of bio-inputs with strains of native microorganisms for the promotion of organic and ecological agriculture in the west and east of Bolivia.

The National Academy of Sciences of Bolivia (ANCB) is pleased to have counted Dr. Antonio Gandarillas Antezana among its Number Academicians, in his honor, is that this award is called, which aims to serve as a stimulus for training of researchers in agricultural sciences and others related to the sustainability approach in relation to the environment in the country.

In this Second Version, the contest is given at the National level but highlighting specific studies in the three macro-regions of the country, likewise highlighting the academic contribution, the first two places in each macro-region will enjoy the publication of their work in prominent academic journals throughout national level on the axis of Sustainable Agriculture. The works of young researchers who have carried out research in the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 are welcome.

II) OBJECTIVES OF THE AWARD

a) Overall:

– Promote research by young scientists with a focus on sustainable agriculture

   in Bolivia.

b) Specific:

• Recognize the contribution of research work on sustainable agriculture in the three macro-regions of Bolivia.
• Publish the winning papers in specialized magazines on agricultural research topics. 

III) AREAS OF PRESENTATION OF WORKS

In this Second Version of the Award, the areas in which theses can be presented are the following:

• Conservation of soil fertility.
• Water management.
• Capacity to adapt to climate change.
• Sustainable production systems.
• Organic production.
• Seed production.
• Plague and illness management.
• Genetic improvement.
• Conservation of genetic resources.
• Transformation processes and added value.

IV) PARTICIPANTS

Bachelor's thesis works that have been defended during the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 at any Bolivian public or private university may be presented.

Applicants must indicate to which macro region their research work contributes. (highlands, valleys, plains and/or yungas)

V) PRESENTATION OF WORKS

Applications must be submitted with the following requirements:

1. The participant must be accredited by the university where the work was carried out (through a letter from the Dean or from the thesis advisor professor). The person in charge of the thesis must be the first author, who will appear in all the efforts of the Award, from registration to the award. However, the thesis will indicate the name of all its authors.
2. The contestant must submit a thesis article in a maximum of 15 pages, in Arial font size 11 with 3 and 2.5 cm margins at 1.5 spacing. Send the document to the email: ucom@proinpa.org  (according to the attached template)
3. The theses must refer to the themes exposed in section III of this document.
4. PROINPA Foundation does not assume any rights over the authorship of the document.

TECHNICAL RECORD

1.- It must be attached to a letter addressed to the Organizing Committee of the Antonio Gandarillas Antezana Award of the PROINPA Foundation.

2.- The technical file must be written in a Word file and sent in PDF format. It should consist of the following chapters:

1. Qualification
2. Authors
3. Summary
4. Introduction
5. Objectives
6. Methods
7. Results and analysis
8. Conclusions

In detail:

Chapter 1. Work title

Episode 2. Authors. Full name of the authors, email address of the person responsible for the thesis and the main professor, telephone and cell phone. Year of defense of the thesis. College name.

Chapter 3. Abstract of the thesis (200 words)

Chapter 4. Introduction. Background, contextualization of the topic under investigation, related literature, hypothesis.

Chapter 5. Objectives. It can have a general objective and several specific ones.

Chapter 6. Methods. Describe the method used, it is not necessary to explain details.

Chapter 7. Results and analysis. Present the results concretely. It can accompany tables and figures. The discussion can go in this same chapter or a separate one. Include references to other authors.

Chapter 8. The conclusions must be analytical, reflecting the main results and the contributions that the work is presenting.

 VI) EVALUATION CRITERIA

Within the evaluation criteria, the originality of the work, the scientific level, the solution to specific problems concerning sustainable agriculture, the contribution to the environment, society and the world are mentioned.

VII) OF THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE

The evaluation Commission by region will be made up of a select group of invited professionals from the scientific and agricultural area of the country, guaranteeing the impartiality of the process.

 VIII) ORGANIZERS

This contest arises as an initiative of the PROINPA Foundation in alliance with the National Academy of Sciences of Bolivia. It has the support of:The Gandarillas family, the Inclusive Markets Project, the CREA Group of Santa Cruz de la Sierra and the Agriculture magazines of the Universidad Mayor de San Simón of Cochabamba, CREA of Santa Cruz and the Magazine of Agricultural Research and Innovation and Natural Resources (RIIARn ) of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Natural Resources (IIAREN) of the Faculty of Agronomy, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés.

IX) SCHEDULE

The launch of the call will take place in the month of August and the works may be presented until the month of September based on the calendar described below.

• August 4, 2022: Launch of the Call on the websites of the PROINPA Foundation and the media.
• August 4 to September 25, 2022: Submission of proposals via email

(ucom@proinpa.org)

• September 26 to October 26, 2022: Evaluation and qualification of the works.
• October 27, 2022: Publication of the results on the PROINPA Foundation Websites.
• Second week of November Awards. (8,9 and 10)

X) AWARDS

Three similar prizes will be awarded for the maro regions and crops of the plains and/or yungas, highlands and valleys of our country, rewarding the first two places of the three regions with the publication of their work in academic journals, (meeting the requirements of each of them) and delivery of certificates. The distribution of prizes will be as follows:

Valleys plains region

• First Prize: Publication, certificate and Bs 2,500 (Two Thousand Five Hundred 00/100 Bolivians)
• Second Prize: Publication, certificate and Bs 1,500 (One thousand three hundred 00/100 bolivianos)
• Third Prize: Certificate

Plains and/or Yungas Region

• First Prize: Publication, certificate and Bs 2,500 (Two Thousand Five Hundred 00/100 Bolivians)
• Second Prize: Publication, certificate and Bs 1,500 (One thousand three hundred 00/100 bolivianos)
• Third Prize: Certificate

Highland Region

• First Prize: Publication, certificate and Bs 2,500 (Two Thousand Five Hundred 00/100 Bolivians)
• Second Prize: Publication, certificate and Bs 1,500 (One thousand three hundred 00/100 bolivianos)
• Third Prize: Certificate

 XII) ETHICAL-LEGAL CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS

1. Contestants accept the terms and conditions of this contest and agree to accept the decisions of the Evaluation Committee.
2. The information provided by the contestants must be truthful, correct and precise.
3. Contestants authorize the information originating from their participation to be used in the dissemination and publicity material for the Award.