For over 50 years, International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists (IAALD, http://www.iaald.org) has been the leading global community for information specialists contributing to an optimal use of the world’s land, water, renewable resources and improved livelihoods of rural communities. Its mission is to enable members to create, capture, access and disseminate information to achieve a more productive and sustainable use of the world’s land, water, and renewable natural resources.
Initially IAALD has holding a World Congress every 5 years but in recent years it is held once in 2 years. The past World Congresses were held in Ghent, Belguim (1955), Suttgart, Germany (1960), Washington D.C., USA (1965), Paris, France (1970), Mexico City, Mexico (1975), 1980 Manila, The Philippines, Ottawa, Canada (1985), 1990 Budapest, Hungary, Melbourne, Australia (1995), Dakar, Senegal (2000), Lexington, Kentucky, USA (2005), Tokyo, Japan (2008) and Montpellier France (2010).
