Number Vll [July 2024 – the date of publication in “Crop Protection“] 

CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND: SITE OF THE XXI INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION CONGRESS 2027

The International Association for the Plant Protection Sciences (IAPPS) is pleased to announce that the 2027 International Plant Protection Congress (IPPC) will be held in Christchurch, New Zealand, 01-05 November 2027. In the 78 years of organizing IPPCs in most regions of the world, this will be the first IPPC in the Oceania Region. 

The XXI IPPC is supported by the New Zealand Plant Protection Society, AgResearch Limited, Christchurch NZ, Tourism New Zealand, Ōtautahi Christchurch, and IAPPS. The local organizing committee brings together a wide range of expertise and skills which includes all plant protection disciplines, the productivity sector, and the government. The proposed theme for the Congress is “Incorporating indigenous knowledge into the science of plant protection”.

The Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre is a world-class facility located on the banks of the Ōtãkaro River and surrounded by some of the best accommodations with hotels in all price classes, fine restaurants, and a promenade with a pleasing river walk, and is located near areas with research excellence in agriculture, plant protection, and biosecurity. Christchurch has a salubrious climate and is accessible from anywhere in the world with 140+ international arrivals and departures every week.

IPPC 2027 has all the ingredients to produce a scientific program that will address the major issues facing plant protection and promote environmentally safe and economically profitable plant protection on a global basis. On behalf of the local organizers and the IAPPS Executive Committee, I invite you to Christchurch, New Zealand in November 2027.

Prof. E. A. “Short” Heinrichs
Secretary General, IAPPS
E-mail: [email protected]

FRENCH AND GERMAN RESEARCHERS JOIN FORCES TO FURTHER REDUCE SYNTHETIC PESTICIDE USE

On 27 March, The German Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI), and the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAe) signed a cooperation agreement during a joint seminar on alternative plant protection methods.

The transformation of agricultural production and the reduction of chemical-synthetic pesticide use require fundamental changes in cropping systems. French and German researchers are therefore joining forces on a bilateral basis through a joint collaboration agreement between the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) and its French counterpart INRAe. The signing of a joint collaboration agreement further intensifies the long-standing cooperation between both organisations, which has already led to the formation of the European Research Alliance “Towards chemical pesticide-free agriculture” since 2018.

 

The agreement establishes closer cooperation based on joint projects, and was signed on 27 March 2024 at the French Embassy in Berlin. Prof Dr Christian Huyghe, Scientific Director for Agriculture at the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAe), and the President of the Julius Kühn Institute, Prof Dr Frank Ordon (on left and right side of the picture, respectively), signed the agreement in

the presence of representatives of both national Ministries, the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

To achieve the objectives set out in the agreement, INRAE and JKI will use each other’s research results, which will be of mutual benefit, to collaborate in research activities such as technological cooperation, exchanging information, exchanging researchers and supervising joint PhD in the following areas:

  • Development of resilient and sustainable crop production systems
  • Breeding research on resistance to biotic and abiotic stress
  • Sustainable use of natural resources and adaptation to climate change
  • Agroecology
  • Information technology and communication.

Prof. Dr. Frank Ordon
IAPPS coordinator for Region I: West Europe
E-mail: [email protected]

FALL ARMYWORM MARCHES ACROSS THE PACIFIC

The Fall Armyworm (FAW), a highly adaptable and destructive pest native to the Americas, has significantly expanded its territory over the past decade, posing a formidable threat to agricultural ecosystems. First detected in Africa in 2016, FAW reached Australia and Papua New Guinea in 2020, quickly spreading to Timor-Leste, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, New Zealand, and most recently, Vanuatu (June 2023). The pest feeds on crops like maize, rice, and vegetables, causing potential losses of up to 100%. With agriculture underpinning Pacific economies, FAW directly threatens food security and the livelihoods of farmers and communities. 

Global entities like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are taking initiative and playing a critical role in knowledge sharing, resource mobilization, and technical assistance. A Regional Training workshop on Prevention, Preparedness, and Integrated pest management (IPM) of FAW in the Pacific Islands was organized in Honiara, Solomon Islands from 11 to 15 Dec 2023. The main objectives were to strengthen the capacity of regional and local agriculture officials and stakeholders on the use of FAW Monitoring and Early Warning System (FAMEWS) tool and sustainable management of the pest in the Pacific Islands. 

A field visit to an integrated pest management (IPM) trial in Guadalcanal plains also took place to give the participants hands-on experience on some of the management options. Participants were from countries like Australia, Samoa, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Solomon Islands. Countries like Fiji and Samoa, though not yet directly affected, are learning and taking proactive measures. Early detection, robust biosecurity, farmer awareness, and IPM practices are key components of their biosecurity and management strategy.

The battle against FAW is long and challenging, but collective action, preparedness, and innovative solutions offer hope. By working together, sharing resources, and investing in research, Pacific Islands can stand strong against this hungry invader and build a sustainable future where food security and livelihoods remain secure.

ASIAN CONFERENCE ON PLANT PATHOLOGY 2024 (ACPP 2024)

The Asian Conference on Plant Pathology 2024 (ACPP 2024) will be held at Holiday Inn Changchun Jingyue Hotel in Changchun, Jilin Province, China from August 3 to 7, 2024. The conference is organized by the Chinese Society for Plant Pathology and hosted by Jilin Agricultural University, Jilin University, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jilin Provincial Agro-Tech Extension Center, and Jilin Society for Plant Pathology.

 

ACPP 2024 is a prestigious international event that brings together renowned scientists, researchers, and industry professionals in the field of plant pathology. This year’s conference theme is “Crop Health in Modern Agriculture”. The conference will cover various topics related to plant pathology, including disease diagnosis and management, molecular plant pathology, plant-microbe interactions, and emerging plant diseases.

 

ACPP 2024 will include keynote presentations, oral and poster sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities. Additional details can be found at http://acpp2024.tri-think.cn/  

 

Dr. Wenxian Sun
Chair of ACPP 2024 Local Arrangement Committee 
E-mail: [email protected]

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 the world’s crop and forest ecosystems.

Membership Information: IAPPS has four classes of membership (individual, affiliate, associate, and corporate) which are described in the IAPPS Web Site 

The IAPPS Newsletter welcomes news, letters, and other items of interest from individuals and organizations. Address correspondence and information to:

Manuele Tamò 
Editor, IAPPS Newsletter
IITA-Benin [08 B.P. 0932 Tri Postal, Cotonou, Republic of Benin]
E-mail: [email protected]