PREFACE

In 1979 two Working Parties were held in preparation for the Dublin symposium. One, on "Computers in greenhouse climate control" was convened by G.P.A. Bot and W.P. Mulder at Wageningen, The Netherlands, in June, and the other, on "Growth optimisation through control of microclimate under protected cultivation" was convened by J. Damagnez at Senanque, France, in October. Both successful meetings, which were supported financially by the Commission of the European Communities, laid valuable foundations for the symposium in Dublin.

The developing interest in the subject of the symposium was reflected in the large number of participants, totalling 142 scientists from 25 countries. Seventy-five papers were presented, and as at Alnarp this necessitated the holding of parallel sessions. A book of summaries of the papers was available at the opening of the Symposium to assist participants in choosing which session to attend. In a final plenary session on "Future outlook and research needs" speakers from five countries presented short contributions on this topic, and a lively and fruitful discussion ensued.

Visits took place to see research work and commercial developments related to the use of energy in protected cultivation, while events of social and cultural interest were interspersed with the technical activities.

Deepest thanks are due to very many people who played vital parts in the organisation of the symposium, especially the members of the advisory and organising committees, and many members of the staff of the Irish Agricultural Institute. Acknowledgment is also made of generous financial support from several companies and organisations, among which special mention has to be made of Bord na Mona (Irish Peat Development Authority), the Electricity Supply Board and the Commission of the European Communities. It is hoped that the information exchanged at the symposium will lead to early adoption of more profitable methods of energy use in the many countries represented.

T. O'Flaherty
Kinsealy Research Centre
Dublin 5,Ireland


OPENING ADDRESS

Mr. Ray McSharry, T.D., Minister for Agriculture, Republic of Ireland.

The theme of the symposium "More profitable use of energy in protected cultivation" is most appropriate to the present time. Compared with general agriculture, protected cultivation is a large consumer of energy and in this age of high energy costs faces a tremendous challenge. Ten years ago energy costs were low and we did not have this problem. For example the cost of the energy input in tomato production in Ireland has increased five-fold in that period. We now have to accept the, perhaps, unpleasant reality that at least for the next decade or so energy will continue to be expensive. Many of the concepts and techniques that are in current use are no longer appropriate in the present situation of high energy costs. This poses an enormous challenge to the researcher, the adviser and most important of all the producer who has to use energy profitably.

During your stay you will have an opportunity of seeing same of the work being done in this country on alternative energy sources and on energy conservation. Your programme, I see, includes visits to Kinsealy Research Centre and to Lanesboro. You will have an opportunity to see at first hand the work being done at Kinsealy on the use of wind energy, thermal screens and double clad plastic structures. A practical step in the commercial application of using reject heat has been taken at Lanesboro. Here two one-acre commercial glasshouse units are heated by reject heat from a peat fired electricity generating station. While this is only a first step in reducing energy waste it is a very encouraging one.

Of course using reject heat from power stations is not a panacea for high energy costs in protected cropping. All aspects of energy resources and utilization need to be examined in a co-ordinated way. The possibility of greater use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy would appear to be very attractive. However, I understand there are considerable engineering problems to be solved before either of these energy sources can be used commercially on a wide scale. The immediate task is to make more efficient use of the existing energy sources.

There is obviously a great responsibility on the protected crop sector to use energy efficiently and profitably. New techniques in crop production will have to be adopted rapidly and of course the managerial skills will have to be developed to new levels of efficiency. The development of micro-electronics the so called micro-chip revolution - has provided a new tool for management. At present there may be a feeling that the protected cultivation sector of horticulture is facing a very severe challenge. Indeed it is. But there are developments taking place in crop production techniques, the breeding of new varieties more suitable to the present situation, better designed structures for crop production and of course micro-electronics all of which offer tremendous opportunities. This symposium, I am sure, will give some pointers to the more profitable use of energy in the time ahead.