Conference on Computer Aids for Plant Protection

The EPPO Conference on Computer Aids for Plant Protection took place in Wageningen (NL) and was organized in cooperation with the Netherlands Plant Protection Service. 60 participants from 18 countries attended this Conference and were welcomed by R.J.T. van Lint (Director of Plant Protection Service of the Netherlands) and N.A. van Opstal (Director General of EPPO). The Conference combined 38 spoken presentations with practical demonstrations of computer models, databases and decision support schemes. A session was dedicated to practical demonstrations of computer systems so that participants could try them and share their experience.

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A large number of forecasting models were presented on pests and crops (e.g. Phytophthora infestans, Fusarium on cereals, Plasmopara viticola, Cercospora beticola, insect pests in orchards). Decision-support schemes developed to help growers to better define their control strategies and reduce chemical treatments were also presented.

The use of GIS systems, the difficulties encountered in managing climatic data, the possible impact of climate changes were discussed by the participants. For the first time, computer tools used in Pest Risk Analysis were presented, as well as models designed to help NPPOs to rationalize their activities (inspections, surveillance, information exchange).

This Conference followed in the sequence of EPPO meetings on computer applications in plant protection, which have previously been held in France (1989), Sweden (1992), Germany (1995), Italy (1999) and United Kingdom (2002), and it has been proposed to organize the next one in Turkey in 2009. It was also suggested that the Conference could widen its scope to models predicting entry/establishment of pests, costs/benefit analysis and could as well include the management of meteorological data as a special topic (e.g. for half a day).

Warm thanks are due to Erno Bouma and his colleagues for the excellent organization of the Conference, as well as for the interesting visit to the tropical/desert/marine glasshouses of the Burger Zoo and the most enjoyable dinner at the Castle of Doorwerth where the music was played by the Dutch Plant Protection Services' music band.