CABI News

CABI is helping to change lives through the power of knowledge thanks to the donation of 400 books to Book Aid International, who themselves last year provided more than 1.2 million books to people in 25 countries around the world.

A range of titles covering the life sciences and sustainable development, including ‘Chickpea Breeding & Management’, ‘Mineral Nutrition of Livestock’ and ‘Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery’, formed the bulk of two crates of books which will be sent to the London-based charity to mark World Book Day 2020 today, 5 March.

Book Aid International, who prioritize the distribution of donated books to displaced people, healthcare providers, out of school learners, pupils and students as well as marginalised people, will use the CABI donation to benefit those who face the greatest challenges to accessing books.

CABI sees the donation as an extension of its own mission to improve people’s lives worldwide by providing information and applying expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment. Its publishing arm provides a range of physical textbooks, research and practitioner titles as well as e-books and open access products such as the Invasive Species Compendium.

Two crates containing 400 books form the donation to Book Aid International – photo credit: Tom Swindley CABI

Tracy Head, Production Manager at CABI, said, “The mission of Book Aid International in many ways aligns with our own in respect of empowering people to change their lives for the better through the power of knowledge and information.

“We are delighted as part of World Book Day 2020 to make this donation of books to the charity and we are confident that they will use it to benefit people of all ages and from all walks of life, but particularly those with an interest in the life sciences and sustainable development.”

Other CABI titles donated also included ‘Innovation in Agri-food Clusters’, ‘Visitor Experience Design’ and ‘Small-scale Fisheries Management’ – all of which are available in the CABI Bookshop.

Additional information

Main photo: CABI’s Tracy Head and James Bishop, Senior Production Editor (Books), with the books to be donated in CABI’s Wallingford warehouse – photo credit: Tom Swindley CABI.

CABI is an international, inter-governmental, not-for-profit organization that improves people’s lives worldwide by providing information and applying scientific expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment. Our approach involves putting information, skills and tools into people’s hands. CABI’s 49 member countries guide and influence our work which is delivered by scientific staff based in our global network of centres.

CABI has more than 100 years of scientific research and application underpinning its work. CABI supports study, practice and professional development through our array of publishing products, research services and support tools. Find out more about our Products and Services.

Book Aid International believe that books offer the chance for people to learn, imagine new possibilities and shape their own futures. In an average year, the charity makes books available to an estimated 28 million people in libraries, schools, universities, hospitals, refugee camps and prisons around the world.

World Book Day is a registered charity on a mission to give every child and young person a book of their own. It’s also a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and (most importantly) it’s a celebration of reading. In fact, it’s the biggest celebration of its kind, designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and marked in over 100 countries all over the world.