Tropicultura 1983-2019. Tale of a multidisciplinary and multilingual journal for the benefit of rural development in tropical countries

In 1980, three scientists of the Veterinary Department of the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp (ITMA) created a non-profit association called Agri-Overseas. The main objective was to publish a journal allowing to disseminate the results of researches carried out all over the world in the frame of a direct or indirect Belgian intervention or by Belgians individually. The General Assembly was composed by representatives of all Belgian veterinary medicine and agronomy faculties, the ITMA and individual members. On the 21st of October 1980 the three founders were elected as administrators: Prof. Jos Mortelmans as Chairman, Prof. Jacques Hardouin as Managing administrator and Prof. Pasteur Kageruka as Secretary. After a period of organisation, fundraising and recruitment of personnel, the first issue of Tropicultura was published on paper the first trimester of 1983. This was the start of a remarkable enterprise that is still ongoing. In a first step, this paper presents the story of Agri-Overseas and, in a second one, highlights the evolution and the spirit of the journal Tropicultura. Figure 1: The three founders Beyond the scenes ... Story of the non-benefit association Agri-Overseas Agri-Overseas obtained from the beginning financial support from Brussels Capital Region and from the Belgian Cooperation. So it could recruit two employees and start with the preparation, the printing and the dispatching on paper of the journal. It was free of charge for subscribers as well