IAPPS NEWSLETTER

Number IV      February, 2009

NEW ONLINE INFORMATION FOR CROP PESTS

The Australian Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has recently added to its website an extensive resource, including Australian and international research findings, that provide valuable information of relevance to Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

This online facility is part of the GRDC's Crop Protection Program which aims "to develop IPM strategies that reduce reliance on the use of broad spectrum pesticides, to facilitate a national extension network and to maintain a national capacity in invertebrate pest research through better use of resources and the provision of training opportunities".

The GRDC Pestlinks site can be accessed at - www.grdc.com.au/pestlinks.

Prof. Geoff Norton
IAPPS President
E-mail: g.norton@cbit.uq.edu.au

AAIS 18TH BIANNUAL MEETING AND SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT

The African Association of Insect Scientists is announcing its 18th biannual meeting and scientific conference titled "Insect pest and vector management for sustainable environment and food security in Africa: current developments", to be held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, November 16-20, 2009.

The scientific program will include keynote addresses, symposia and exhibitions, invited and contributed papers. Papers on any of the sub-themes (see below) are invited for scientific presentations. In addition, we would like to encourage roundtable meetings / workshops / symposia for specific working groups. Members who wish to hold such meetings may please indicate the topic to the AAIS Secretariat.

Sub themes:

1. Current trends in the management of transboundary/migrant pests
2. Arthropod pests and vectors, and their sustainable control in Africa
3. Biotechnology, biosafety and genetically modified organisms (GMO)
4. Monitoring and forecasting as decision tools in pest and vector management
5. Pollinating insects and other useful insects
6. Climate changes and emerging issues in insect pest and vector management in Africa

The second announcement with more details will be sent to those who would have submitted their intent to participate following this first announcement. However, an early response of potential participants is highly recommended to ensure an effective follow up of the information for a successful conference.

Importants dates to remember:

Mid-February 2009: publication of the second announcement
March - July: (closing date): reception of the abstracts

For further details please contact:

Prof. Karamoko Diarra,
The Hon. Secretary, AAIS
Faculty of Sciences and Applied Sciences,
University C. A. Diop of Dakar, Box 5005, Dakar - Fann, Senegal
E-mail: kdiarra@ucad.sn or aais@icipe.org

MICROBIAL PRODUCTS: EXPLOITING MICROBIAL DIVERSITY FOR SUSTAINABLE PLANT PRODUCTION

The New Zealand Plant Protection Society (NZPP) is announcing a pre-conference symposium to be held on Monday 10 August 2009, at Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand

Background

Microbes and their metabolites are poised to play an increasingly important role in agricultural systems as plant protection and growth promotion agents. The impetus for change has been driven by consumer and market demands for products with "no-detectable" chemical residues that are produced with minimal environmental impacts. Microbes contain an enormous diversity of genes with a broad range of functional attributes that are of potential value to agriculture. The symposium will be based around the development of Microbial Products relating to plant protection and plant growth promotion. The symposium will highlight opportunities to tap in to this renewable resource and outline steps towards their commercialization, including sessions determining potential of new organisms, production, formulation and investment and uptake by end-users

Symposium organisation

Submissions of original research, case studies or reviews covering any of the areas described above are welcome. Oral presentations will range from 10-20 minutes and will be published as a book. Please discuss potential submissions with the organizers, Sue Zydenbos (zydenbos@xtra.co.nz) or Trevor Jackson (trevor.jackson@agresearch.co.nz), and for further information visit http://www.nzpps.org/conference2009.php

The symposium will be held before the annual New Zealand Plant Protection Society Conference scheduled on 11-14 August 2009 at the Otago Museum Conference Centre, on Great King St, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Dr. Trevor A. Jackson
IAPPS Coordinator Region X: Oceania
AgResearch, Lincoln, New Zealand
E-mail: trevor.jackson@agresearch.co.nz

The IAPPS Newsletter is published by the International Association for the Plant Protection Sciences and distributed in Crop Protection to members and other subscribers. Crop Protection, published by Elsevier, is the Official Journal of IAPPS. IAPPS Mission: to provide a global forum for the purpose of identifying, evaluating, integrating, and promoting plant protection concepts, technologies, and policies that are economically, environmentally, and socially acceptable. It seeks to provide a global umbrella for the plant protection sciences to facilitate and promote the application of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to a the world's crop and forest ecosystems. Membership Information: IAPPS has four classes of membership (individual, affiliate, associate, and corporate) which are described here. The IAPPS Newsletter welcomes news, letters, and other items of interest from individuals and organizations. Address correspondence and information to: Dr. Manuele Tamo, Editor IAPPS Newsletter Biological Control Center for Africa, IITA-Benin 08 B.P. 0932 Tri Postal, Cotonou, Republic of Benin E-mail: m.tamo@cgiar.org