Number II [February 2025 – the date of publication in “Crop Protection“]
WELCOME TO OUR NEW IAPPS GOVERNING BOARD MEMBER
On behalf of the Executive Committee of the IAPPS Governing Board, I have the pleasure to welcome Dr. Sabine Andert as our new Governing Board member, Coordinator for West Europe.
Dr. Andert is the Head of the Institute for Plant Protection in Field Crops and Grassland at the Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI). She has a background in agricultural science and is a graduate of the University of Kiel in Germany. Sabine received a Ph.D. from the University of Rostock, on the topic of on-farm pesticide use in Northern Germany. She received the award ‘Julius Kühn-Preis’ in honour of excellence in the field of plant protection from the German Phytomedical Society in 2023. She is a frequent speaker at international conferences and has published many scientific papers on Integrated Weed Management (IWM). Sabine is a member of the editorial boards of “Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection” and “Journal of Crop Health”.
Sabine is a weed scientist with extensive experience in IWM strategies. She focuses on sustainable weed control strategies that minimise herbicides and other chemical inputs while promoting ecological diversity and improving soil health. She takes over from Frank Ordon who was just nominated next IAPPS President, to whom I would like to express my warmest thanks for his contribution to IAPPS as past West Europe Coordinator.
Please join me in welcoming Sabine to the IAPPS GB and family!
Prof. E. A. “Short” Heinrichs
IAPPS Secretary General
E-mail: [email protected]
In all its activities, IAPPS strives to sustain an open exchange of ideas in an environment that embodies the values of freedom, responsibility, integrity, and cooperation, and provides opportunities to learn and grow from multiple views and perspectives, in an atmosphere of mutual respect, free from any form of prejudice and intolerance, to foster an inclusive community.
• IAPPS is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for members and the communities it serves and in which it operates.
• IAPPS believes that access and opportunity to engage should not be limited by one’s origin, cultural background, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, apparent and non-apparent disability, religious affiliation, immigration status, or political opinion.
• IAPPS acknowledges and values all dimensions of diversity, which ensures a wealth of perspectives and enhances the quality of our work and interactions.
• IAPPS is also committed to identifying areas for improvement in DEI in all its actions. It is our goal to create a culture free from intimidation and discrimination, and in which accountability to one another is built on trust and a shared commitment to a supportive environment. The commitment to DEI requires cooperation and regular reflection to continue investing for an equitable and inclusive space.
Dr. Manuele Tamò
IAPPS Vice-President and Newsletter Editor
E-mail: [email protected]
WORLD VEGETABLE CENTER AND THE ASIAN PGPR SOCIETY HOST LANDMARK CONFERENCE
The 8th Asian Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) International Conference for Sustainable Agriculture concluded successfully at the World Vegetable Center headquarters in Tainan, Taiwan, from September 25 to 27, 2024. Organized jointly by the World Vegetable Center, Asian PGPR Society, Food and Fertilizer Technology Center (FFTC), and the Agricultural Chemical Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture (ACRI), the event brought together leading experts and stakeholders worldwide.
The conference was inaugurated by Dr. Marco Wopereis, Director General of the World Vegetable Center; Dr. Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes, Director General of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT); Dr. Su-San Chang, Director of FFTC; and Prof. Munagala Sankara Reddy, Founder and Chairman of the Asian PGPR Society.
With over 100 participants, including scholars, researchers, and industry experts from 13 countries, the conference provided a global platform for sharing knowledge, presenting groundbreaking research, and, most importantly, fostering partnerships. Discussions revolved around key topics such as PGPR and microbiomes for improved soil health, the role of plant growth-promoting microbes in sustainable plant protection, and the use of biostimulants and other microbes to enhance plant vitality.
Highlights included presentations on utilizing native microbiomes to promote sustainable soil and plant health, the role of microbiomes in overcoming biotic and abiotic stresses, and innovative research on metagenomics, molecular studies, microbial endophytes, biofertilizers, biochar, and microbial bioformulations. These topics underscored the importance of healthy soils and plants for the well-being of people and the planet.
Novel research on the exometabolome of microbial communities for disease management, interactions between insect gut microbiota and humic acid transformation, and proteomic changes in endophytic microbes captured the audience’s interest. Discussions also explored how innovations like machine learning can provide new solutions for sustainable soil and plant health, offering hope for the future of agriculture.
Going beyond academic insights, the conference facilitated interdisciplinary collaboration and equipped participants with valuable soil and plant health knowledge. Through interactive sessions, panel discussions, and forums involving the private sector, the conference underscored the practical implications of the discussions, inspiring attendees to address the challenges of soil and plant health in a changing climate.
Dr. Srinivasan Ramasamy
AIRCA Representative on IAPPS Governing Board
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]
