Professor Phil Russell
Consultant, Cambridge, UK

Growth reduction of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum, L) caused by bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon, L). A case of allelopathy
P Bouchagier and P Efthhimiadis, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

Compatiblity of the candidate bioherbicide Microsphaeropsis amaranthi with chemical herbicides and adjuvants in tank mixture
D A Smith and S G Hallett, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

Dr Pat Ryan
Syngenta Crop Protection UK, Cambridge, UK

The old certainty that the purpose of crop protection was to deliver increasing crop yields has been swept away by the economic, political and societal changes of the last ten years.

The reality for the future, of which the mid-term reform of the Common Agricultural Policy is a guide, is that subsidies will be removed from production and re-deployed to gain environmental benefits and provide rural employment. In partial contradiction to this, consumers expect the real cost of food to decline, for production to be at worst environmentally neutral, and for food to be both more nutritious and ‘life-style’ appropriate.

Future crop protection must evolve from our current practices to assist producers of food, (and fibre and energy), to remain competitive at world prices, whilst meeting the constraints imposed by regulators, processors and retailers, and meeting consumer aspirations.

This discussion session will debate crop protection needs for an apparently contradictory future. To provide a structure for the debate, in the months leading up to this conference, a forum of experts have been asked to provide their opinions of future crop protection needs. The output of this forum is included in the Congress Proceedings.

Professor Bob Naylor
Trelareg Consultants, Aberdeen, UK

In UK, the number of agriculture students is declining and fewer universities are delivering agriculture courses. There are fewer agricultural scientists. Farm size is increasing and the proportion of family farms is declining. Farming is changing in response to policy to give more attention to landscape management and countryside stewardship. Increasingly, crop managers need to be able to a) identify the various biotic (weeds, pests, diseases) and abiotic (various forms of stress) challenges occurring in crop production systems, b) access and use decision support systems, c) interpret the output for their own specific circumstances and d) do this with due regard for biodiversity and landscape. The latter are becoming more linked to farm income via cross-compliance.

How do crop managers obtain the knowledge and information to be able to carry out these tasks and is agricultural education providing these needs? Can employers of new crop science graduates expect them to have received the necessary education and training? The aim of this session is to discuss these matters and appraise the current provision.

The session will start with brief contributions from crop protection teachers and crop protection practitioners in order to promote topics for discussion.

Dr Jean Fitzgerald
Horticulture Research International, East Malling, UK

Alternative methods for controlling onion thrips
L Jensen, B Simko, C Shock and L Saunders, Oregon State University, Ontario, USA

Possible future herbicide options in green beans, Phaseolus vulgaris
J Scrimshaw, Processors and Growers Research Organisation, Peterborough, UK

Dr Anthony Biddle
Processors and Growers Research Organisation, Peterborough, UK

Biological action of some herbicides on teluric microflora development from sugar beet cultivated soil
S Stefan, I Horia, M Oprea, E Bucur and A L Stefan, Research and Development Institute for Plant Protection, Bucharest, Romania;
L Ghinea, Research and Development Agricole Institute Fundulea, Romania

Dr Charlie Riches
Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, UK
and
Dr David Johnson
International Rice Research Institute, Metro Manila, Philippines

Solving weed management problems in maize-rice wetland production systems in semi-arid Zimbabwe
A B Mashingaidze, O C Chivinge and S Muzenda, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe;
A P Barton, J Ellis-Jones and R White, Silsoe Research Institute, Bedford, UK;
C R Riches, Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, UK

Dr John Caseley
Castan Consultants, Bristol, UK

Tank mix adjuvants are widely used to improve the performance of pesticides. Regulations governing the sale and use of adjuvants and inerts vary between countries, but in both Europe and North America requirements for authorisation are being revised and in the future additional information will be required.

This session will start with two short presentations to stimulate discussion. Rupert Sohm, Syngenta Crop Protection, Muenchuilen, Switzerland will give an overview of developments in adjuvant markets worldwide and examples of the current regulations. Dr Jan Rosenblom, AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry, Stenungsund, Sweden will focus on chemical legislation changes and pressures which may affect the cost and availability of tank-mix adjuvants including the re-registration processes in Europe and the USA.

Professor John MacLeod
RHS Professor of Plant Science, Cambridge, UK

In February 2003, BCPC organised a major Forum on plant biotechnology entitled Biotech2020: Plant Biotechnology in the World of 2020. This brought together over 50 experts and senior representatives from government, international institutions, research, industry and commerce.

The purpose of the meeting was to identify the emergence by 2020 of new plant science and biotechnology on a global basis and to discuss its interaction with relevant aspects of the world of 2020, including geopolitics, trade, food supply, societal values and the nature of the agri-food market. By focusing on 2020 and creating cross fertilisation between very different disciplines, the Forum provided new insights to those involved in policy making, strategy setting and investment in the UK and Europe. (The Report of the Forum is available from BCPC Publications Sales price £25. Email: publications@bcpc.org).

One of the clearest messages from the Forum was that increased understanding of plants over the next two decades and beyond, will be unprecedented and will provide huge opportunities for mankind throughout the 21st century. The UK, through university groups and research institutes, is at the forefront of this exploration. However, a number of factors were identified that could seriously undermine the conversion of this research into commercial activities with the capability to participate successfully in future European and global biotechnology markets.

The Discussion Session will raise questions on three aspects of the route to market for UK plant science.

1. What relationship should the UK maintain with the international bioscience companies?
2. Do we need a new paradigm to achieve impact from UK biotechnology in outlets specific to the UK which is of no commercial interest to the multinationals?
3. What are the critical issues for the UK’s successful involvement in the non-food crops sector, including renewable energy and the replacement of current petro-chemical products?

Professor John Pickett
Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK