Dear Colleagues and Friends:
We welcome you to the 9th meeting of the IOBC/WPRS Working Group Integrated Control in Protected Crops, Mediterranean Climate. The meeting will be held on 11-15 October 2015 at the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot campus. The meeting will comprise three days of oral presentations, poster sessions and discussions, and a full-day professional visit to a variety of protected vegetable operations
The theme of the meeting, Pest Management in an Ever-Changing World, reflects the changes that continuously challenge researchers, extension officers, growers and the agro-businesses. These include changes in climate, consumer demand, economy, regulations, technology, and invasions of new pest species. These and other topics, from fundamental research to pest management application, will be discussed at the meeting.
We are pleased to have Dr. Cristina Castañé (IRTA, Cabrils, Barcelona, Spain), and Dr. Gerben Messelink (Wageningen University, The Netherlands) and Dr. Michael P. Parrella (U.C. Davis, USA) as plenary speakers. We know their exciting talks will inspire us all.
The venue of the meeting, program structure and collegial atmosphere are designed to encourage informal interactions, explore common interests and possible collaborations, and facilitate learning and information sharing. Visits to Israeli protected crop operations will provide unique opportunities to explore new technologies and approaches, share knowhow, and interact with growers and extension officers.
We trust you will enjoy the tranquil campus of the Smith Faculty, with its extensive gardens and modern lecture halls. This will also be a wonderful opportunity to explore Israel in all its uniqueness, with its diverse historical landmarks, holy sites and vibrant cities, Mediterranean beaches and striking desert landscapes, and fascinating human cultures and wildlife. Toward this goal, we have organized two sight-seeing tours for you and your families to experience some of this country.
We look forward to hosting you in Rehovot in October, hearing from you about new developments, meeting old friends and making new ones.
The Organizing Committee,
