Agricultural biotechnology is one of the most promising developments in modern science and it is generally accepted that GM crops will be one of many strategies needed to feed, clothe and fuel the 9 billion people estimated to be alive in 2050. There are already 134 million hectares of GM crops grown by 14 million farmers in 25 countries worldwide (ISAAA, Feb 2010). However, the vast majority are ‘first generation’ herbicide tolerance or Bt events and research is urgently needed to identify new targets for high-yielding crops with sustainable inputs and nutritious output characteristics.
This two-day conference will bring together scientists using GM technologies in the main European crops. There will be sessions on novel transgenic technologies, GM risk assessment and authorisation in EU, candidate gene research for input and output traits in crop species and novel GM approaches to pest and disease management.
The conference is targeted at academic scientists and PhD students using transgenic approaches in crop research as well as more applied biotechnologists, regulators and policy makers.
Confirmed invited speakers so far include:
Johnathan Napier, Rothamsted Research, "Rational metabolic engineering of transgenic plants for omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis"
Philippe Vain, JIC, "Brachypodium T-DNA collection and its use for functional genomics research"
Prof Maurice Moloney, Director Rothamsted Research, title tbc.
Prof Howard Davies, SCRI, "GM risk assessment in the EU: current perspective"
Prof Claire Halpin Dundee University, "Manipulating lignin for bioenergy applications"
Dr Tina Barsby, NIAB, "GM crops: where do we go from here?"