DSpace is an open source digital repository software and the software is designed to collect and share all types of digital assets including digital images, video, articles, datasets, working papers, and archives.

While DSpace is managed by Duraspace, a non-for-profit organization based in the United States, the DSpace open source platform is supported by a global community of users and developers; this community contributes to the software’s  new features and development.

Who uses DSpace?

As of September 2012, there are more than 1,337 registered repositories using DSpace software. According to Repository66, OpenDOAR  and Duraspace, DSpace is the most widely used repository in the world ; DSpace users groups include, libraries, Non-governmental organisations, research centres, Corporate archives and Educational institutions (i.e schools and Universities).

Why is DSpace attractive to users?

There are a number of reasons why most institutions find DSpace software suitable for their needs, these include amongst others, 

• Flexible and Customisable
• Supports Interoperability
• Open Source
• Larger Community of Support
• Assure greater visibility and searchability

DSpace initiatives in Agriculture

In the agricultural domain DSpace is also widely used, two examples are;-

• AgriOcean DSpace , this is a customisation of DSpace software by FAO, UNESCO IOC/IODE, Hasselt University Library and their partners. AgriOcean DSpace incorporated standards for metadata, thesauri and other controlled vocabularies in oceanography, marine science, food, agriculture, development, fisheries, forestry, natural resources and other related sciences to effectively meet the needs in the agricultural domain. OceanDocs repository is an example of a repository built with AgriOcean DSpace software.
• CGSpace repository is an example of the DSpace installation in the agricultural domain.CGSpace is a repository of agricultural research outputs and results produced by several CGIAR centers, initiatives, and programs.

To learn more about the DSpace software visit https://wiki.duraspace.org/display/DSPACE/Home

source: what is dspace? @tmire