The CIARD movement draws on the global community on Agricultural Information Management Standards (AIMS) which is working to enhance coherence in information management standards, tools and methodologies, and assure interoperability of data and information systems worldwide.
AIMS has the objectives of fostering and disseminating good practices that promote coherence in management of digital information that enable interoperability and reusability of information for greater dissemination, sharing and exchange. AIMS provides the means for registered community members’ to publish news and post experiences, and the platform offers online seminars on key topics to community members. AIMS grows through debate and exchange.
AIMS is facilitated by FAO, with support from an external Consultative Group which provides feedback and guidance on technical improvements, outreach activities, new services, and strategic recommendations. The AIMS Consultative Group comprises representatives of organizations active in agricultural information management CIARD partners from across the world, e.g. IFPRI, ILRI, CTA, IICA, Cornell University, IAALD, Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture in India, Ministerio de Agricultura del Peru, KARI-Kenya, INRA-France, Indian Statistical Institute, Agro-Know Technologies, and CONDESAN.
Functions of AIMS
- To disseminate good practices on how to best manage, disseminate, share and exchange information;
- To foster a community of practice centered on interoperability and reusability of information and cooperation between information specialists; and
- To support the implementation of structured and linked information to enable institutions and individuals to build open and interoperable information systems.
Users of AIMS
AIMS is primarily intended for information professionals from different technical backgrounds — librarians, information managers, software developers — but is also of interest to those who are simply passionate about knowledge and information sharing.
Benefits of using AIMS
- facilitates discovery of good practices designed to be widely applicable and easy to implement;
- provides a space to access and discuss agricultural information management standards, tools and methodologies;
- allows agricultural information workers worldwide to connect and share by registering in AIMS.
