It is that time of year when we start bombarding farmer groups with questionnaires. Yes, we are in the process of asking people for the latest reports on their fibre production and on the changing context for production this year, trends and constraints, and generally trying to get a sense of how things are going, how many farmers and hectares are grown.

Many of you have already received these and even answered.

Time are challenging around the world, although some positive reports suggest markets for organic cotton can continue to grow.

This year, we are also asking many of you to supply information on other crops and products you have as we try and help producer groups gain access to other crop markets and inform buyers and players in those other crops of what they can find from farmers that are already organic.

We realise this information demand is heavy, but hope that the information and connections we generate will be useful to all.

Speaking of connections, we are shortly going to be launching a twice monthly email bulletin summarising information on who is buying and selling and on what events and new publications we have come across. We hope you will find this useful.

We will summarise all the contact information in a directory, which will be available on demand via email.

On other news, I see that the World Fair Trade Organisation has a draft new standard, which you can see at www.wfto.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=915&Itemid=285. WFTO is the organisation previously known as IFAT, the International Fair Trade Association.

The UK Institute of Organic Training and Advice has some useful documents online. See www.organicadvice.org.uk/reviews.htm

The Christian Science Monitor meanwhile questions whether America is ready for eco-fasion. Read the article here: www.csmonitor.com/2009/0424/p13s04-wmgn.html

The International Institute for Environment and Development has just published a new report on the role of information technology in participatory development: www.iied.org/pubs/display.php?o=17051IIED

Thanks for reading