International congress for plant biotechnology coming to Melbourne in August

Melbourne is about to host the next International Association for Plant Biotechnology (IAPB) Congress 2014.

Congress Chairman German Spangenberg said: “We hope you will join us for the 13th IAPB Congress, 10-15 August, to learn about and share exciting developments in plant biotechnology and plant science of interest to the diversity of the IAPB membership.”

In inviting delegates, Spangenberg said, “Technologies have always been at the heart of human progress and development. And it is critical that we harness the benefits of technological advances - while at the same time safeguarding against the possible new risks that may accompany them. This is no different for plant and agricultural biotechnology.

“It is undeniable that timely access to technology provides us with better tools; tools that are ultimately instrumental in satisfying society’s needs and desires.

“The food security challenge of doubling food production in only 50 years has become a daunting task to feed a world with an expected population of over 9 billion people by 2050. We must double food production in a sustainable and resource use efficient manner using less water, less fossil fuel and less nitrogen, on approximately the same area of arable land. And at the same time we must mitigate some of the challenges associated with climate variability and change.

“The outcomes of research and development in plant biotechnology are contributing to harvests of hope - with transgenic crops representing a potential tool providing options for sustainable development. Since the first commercial planting of transgenic crops in 1996, we have seen, over the last 16 years, a record 94-fold increase in acreage of transgenic crops, and cumulatively over 1.2 billion hectares of  transgenic crops planted by 2011, which makes these crops, products of plant biotechnology, the fastest adopted crop technology in the history of modern agriculture.

“However, the growing of transgenic crops remains controversial in parts of the world, in spite of 160 million hectares of transgenic crops grown by 16.7 million farmers in 29 countries in 2011. This highlights the need for our ongoing engagement in dialogue with those that do not practice the science of plant biotechnology or develop products from plant biotechnology to enhance general public understanding of the technology and address any concerns.”

The IAPB 2014 Congress Scientific Program Committee has developed an interesting and relevant program that will feature a range of topics presented during various keynote and concurrent sessions.

Visit www.iapb2014.org or click here to download a copy of the latest program.

Should you have any further questions regarding the program, please email iapb@wsm.com.au.