Global Plant Protection News

The 3^rd IOBC International Workshop on Biological Control and Management of Parthenium hysterophorus, Bengaluru, India, 27-29 September 2018

 The IOBC Global Working Group (WG) on the Biological Control and Management of Parthenium Weed (Parthenium hysterophorus) was formed in 2009. The 1^st IOBC WG International Workshop on Biological Control and Management of Parthenium hysterophorus was held in 2010 in Nairobi, Kenya, and the 2^nd Workshop was held in 2014 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A set of recommendations was developed at each of these workshops. These workshops bring together researchers working on parthenium weed around the world to disseminate information on the weed and its management, to increase collaboration amongst researchers regionally and globally, and to optimise resources for the control of this invasive plant.

The 3^rd IOBC WG International Workshop on Biological Control and Management of Parthenium hysterophorus will be held during the 1^st International Conference on Biological Control: Approaches and Applications (ICBC 2018), from 27-29 September 2018 at the Hotel Le Meridien in Bengaluru, India. The workshop will review and discuss the recent developments on the biological control and management of parthenium weed around the world, and discuss the future course of action. Presentations related to the biological control as well as other aspects of management of parthenium weed are encouraged. Participants will have an opportunity to visit field sites around Bengaluru to view biological control of parthenium weed in action.

The ICBC 2018 conference will have the following Sub-themes related to biological control:

• Biodiversity and Biosecurity
• Conservation Strategies
• Biotechnological Approaches in Biocontrol
• Production and Utilization of Macrobials for Insect Pest Management
• Production and Utilization of Microbials for Insect Pest and Disease Management
• Biological Control Compatible Approaches
• Biological Control of Invasive Pests and Weeds
• Biological Control: Industrial Perspective and Policy Issues
• IOBC Parthenium Working Group Workshop (Contact <Rmuni@vt.edu> if you want to make a presentation)
• IAPPS Tuta Working Group Workshop (Contact <eheinrichs2@unl.edu> if you want to make a presentation)

Important dates to diarise:

• Conference Registration: from 1 December 2017.
• Abstract Submission: from 18 December 2017 to 31 April 2018.
• Abstract Review: from 1 May 2018 to 15 May 2018.
• Abstract Status Notification: from 16 May 2018 to 30 May 2018.
• Lead Papers and Key Note addresses submission deadline: 31 January 2018.
• Early Bird Registration: 31 May 2018.

Limited funds will be available for IOBC travel grant awards for young scientists who wish to attend the 3^rd IOBC International Workshop on Biological Control and Management of Parthenium hysterophorus, on condition that they: (i) are an IOBC member, (ii) are aged 35 years or younger; grant awards are for students, not for established researchers and keynote speakers, and (iii) present a communication on biological control during the meeting. Grants of up to 400 € for local students and up to 800 € for overseas students are available, not limited by the country of origin. Application instructions will be provided in a second circular.

For information on the 1^st International Conference on Biological Control (ICBC 2018), incorporating the 3^rd IOBC International Workshop on Biological Control and Management of Parthenium hysterophorus, registration details, accommodation reservation, and submission of abstracts for oral and poster presentations, visit http://www.icbc2018bengaluru.com/

We look forward to your participation.