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14 June 2004 New seminar programme for BCPC event in Glasgow The world renowned, annual BCPC gathering of the international crop production industry has a new format for 2004. A series of highly topical, in-depth and complementary seminars will be held at the SECC, Glasgow, UK from 1 to 3 November 2004. This new-style event will alternate with the BCPC International Congress which will return in 2005. And whilst the format is different, the event is designed to be as extensive as last year’s Congress and to attract an even wider audience. "The seminars will focus on three challenging themes," explains Mr Chris Todd, managing director of BCPE. "These are: Food Issues which include food safety, health and well-being; Water and the Environment; and Crop Production and Protection which includes minimising inputs and biotechnology regulation. Delegates will be able to pick and choose which seminars they sign up for over the three days. In addition there will be poster presentations on display from researchers working in the areas relevant to the seminar themes." As Dr Terry Clark, programme committee chairman explains, "This new format is a bold and exciting adventure and will focus on hot topics both from a scientific and political perspective. Two areas of great political debate and of enormous scientific challenge which will be focussed on are GM and its regulation around the world, as well as the concept of minimising chemical inputs with the view to lowering risk to consumers and the environment. Invited expert speakers will cover these, and all other topics, in depth. Delegates will be encouraged to question, challenge and contribute to the issues after each presentation." "A completely novel feature is the involvement of the EC Research Directorate General from Brussels, Belgium. This seminar, to be run throughout Wednesday 3 November, cuts across all the seminar themes. The aim is to disseminate the research results from the ten, top-class projects supported by the Fifth Framework Programme (FP), whilst also detailing the opportunities available to academia and research under the Sixth FP. These opportunities are open not only to Europeans, but also for researchers from other countries wishing to collaborate with European colleagues," advises Dr Clark. "Two seminars will address the key concerns of safety and health in the food arena and should appeal to everyone in the food chain, from farmer through to supermarket personnel and onto the consumer. Sustainable water is core to our existence but how this fits in with sustainable agriculture will depend on where you live in the world. Globally, water has different values and international speakers at this seminar will review the current situation and consider the impact of legislation on delivering sustainable water alongside sustainable agriculture within the EC," concludes Dr Clark. Crop production on show "The move to Glasgow has been great for the BCPC exhibition," enthuses Dr Colin Ruscoe, exhibition director for BCPC. "This year’s exhibition is already looking very promising with most of our capacity of 90 stands taken." "We also have a number of interesting displays and demonstrations at the exhibition to attract visitor interest. One of our objectives is to follow the theme of the seminars, which are running concurrently," explains Dr Ruscoe. Herbiseed, the UK-based specialist supplier of weed seed will reflect the water and environment theme. Its display will feature the impact of different water regimes on maize and soyabean using full-sized, living plants that will graphically illustrate the critical need for the right amount of water for crop production. 70% of the water we use is in agriculture, and a massive 40% of this is lost through evaporation. The display will also feature the advantage of using water-retaining soil conditioners and the benefits of trickle irrigation. At the same time, Harper Adams University College takes up the theme of sustainable agriculture. Its living plant display will illustrate growth and management under sustainable systems and will focus on production that is efficient, economically viable and environmentally responsible. With only a few months to go before the event, interested delegates should register early to benefit from early bird registration fees. Full details the seminars programme, how to register and book accommodation can be found now on the multi-lingual BCPC Seminars website at www.bcpc.org/seminars2004 |
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