ISHS Acta Horticulturae 191: Symposium on Protected Cultivation of Solanacea in Mild Winter Climates
PREFACE |
| Authors: | A.&o.;n. Monteiro, Carlos M. Portas, H.B. TUKEY |
| Abstract:
The number and quality of the papers included in this volume of Acta Horticulturae give us great satisfaction as there is big interest for mild winter cropping among the horticulturists. Papers and posters are published indistintly and grouped in 6 sessions according the main themes studied during the symposium. All these contributions have been approved by the Scientific Committee of the symposium regarding their scientific and formal value. We look forwards other symposia can be organized dealing with this specific type of protected cultivation once I.S.H.S. have just created a new working group denominated Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates. On behalf of the Organizing Committee it is pleasure to adress a few words to all my dear collegues, scientists, and technicians from so different countries in the opening session of this symposium. My first word is to say thank you to all of you who did come to Albufeira and whose contribution with papers, posters, and I antecipate with discussion is the ultimate reason for this meeting. We are very proud of having such an high qualified and large attendance which demonstrates the increasing importance of the subject we have chosen to be treated here. A special mention should be made to the International Society for Horticultural Science. In addition to have sponsored this symposium it is an honor for our country, and let me say, also a personal pleasure to welcome its President, Prof. Tukey Jr. and its Chairman and Vice-chairman of the Commission Protected Cultivation, Doctor Denise Blanc and Ir. Vijverberg. A truly reference is opportune to the Algarve greenhouse growers, the first to start with protected cultivation in Portugal and in attention of whom the symposium was organized here. We must also thank to many institutions, public or private, whose donors improved substantialy our budjet. A personal gratefulness to many friendly people, specialy the members of the secretariate, for the work they have done organizing generously this symposium. On promoting this meeting one major aim to be fullfilled should be the study of protected cultivation in mild winter conditions although restricted to solanacea crops. The mild winter concept we have proposed and that we hope may be adopted in the near future will be fully discussed during the next days. It is related with protected cultivation is favourable climatic conditions using cheap and specific technology but having very particular constrains not suitable to be listed now. We feel there is a strong need of scientific meetings about these problems to allow the exchange of know-how and mutual experience. However simple technology does not mean easy technology and this is the reason why we have restricted the theme only to one crop family. Broad subjects may reduce the interest and deepness of discussion and are inadequated to reach an high developed status and impact of knowledge. The symposium is structured in 6 working sessions each of them dealing with a main aspect of protected cultivation whenever was possible. Discussion is scheduled not only immediately after paper presentation but also at the end of sessions to allow global discussion of the envolved subjects. Special mention was paid to posters. We consider them an high qualified mean of comunication. The audience could be smaller but usualy is must more interested. We ask participants not to leave poster's authors disapointed for having chosen this system of presentation. Visits are an important part of the programme. During one and a half days we will make accquaintance with the production system in Algarve protected cultivation visiting growers and experimental centers. This symposium have a scientific committee in experimental regimen as it was suggested by the International Society's Council. It is a sieve but without a too narrow mesh and not too much restricted which is supposed to improve the quality of contribution papers and posters. We expect that this experience will result and have beneficial effects on Acta Horticulturae. The Chairman of the Scientific Committee will go on this theme later on. But life is made of happiness and sorrows and so we want to apologize for all the faults directly or inderectly related with the organization that we antecipate will occurr. Now let us wish to all of you a profitable and agreable stay in the Algarve so that this meeting can be one more example of the importance of friendship and communication for the development of horticultural science and technology. First of all that's an honour to Portugal to be the host country of such an international meeting where more than 25 countries are represented and about 180 people attending. Our country has a small community of horticulturists and only a bunch of them working in the field of vegetables, but we are very proud that in the last six years they have organized two international conferences under the sponsoring of ISHS. Therefore this group of scientists and technicians is playing an important role and acts as an united team with all the parts well together. We are sure that a lot of learning will be carried by your papers and their discussion. With your work, technological progresses should be extended as a taste-full fruit to the vegetable's growers of the mild winter areas and finally reflected in better Solanacea for consumers. If Portugal has a restricted group of horticulturists, however our country shows one of the world's highest per capita consumption of fresh fruits and, what is more relevant for this occasion, vegetables. If milk and beef were traditionaly very expensive in our country and so their per capita rather low, vegetables were cheaper and so their consumption rather high. In fact, a relatively mild climate all the year allows to establish more than one cropping cycle per year. And our small irrigated plots are a very appropriate way to fight the irregular rainfall of the mediterranean climate. But the strong internal vegetables's market and the poor transportation system that links Portugal with the cold winter areas of Europa handicapped our export policy. However we became member of EEC and time is ready to challenge this situation. Finally we shall point out that horticulture is strongly linked with the portuguese "diaspora" from the very early days of this very old country. Not only citrus are called "portucale" in large area of the world but also fresh vegetables are characteristic of the small retail business, world-wide established by the portuguese emigrants, from California to Venezuela, Brazil, South Africa, etc. All this considerations are additional reasons to justify such a Symposium in Portugal. That's time to end this speech because time is short and runs fast and you must start to work.
The best results and the larger sucess for your Symposium. It is a great honour for me as President of the International Society for Horticultural Science to attend this opening ceremony and officially open the Symposium on Protected Cultivation of Solanacea in Mild Winter Climates. I am pleased to be here in the Algarve for at least two reasons. First, the sun is shining, the skies are blue, and the temperatures are warm. When I left home in Seattle, which normally has a very moderate climate, we had just had the largest snowfall in history of the city, and 17 inches of snow were on the ground. The Algarve is much nicer. The second, and more important, reason is to bring greetings and congratulations from the International Society for Horticultural Science, which is one of the sponsoring organizations of this Symposium. From its headquarters in Wageningen, The Netherlands, the Society sponsors symposia throughout the world, at which scientific problems in horticultural crop production are discussed and evaluated. This symposia provide a focus for scientists and extension leaders to come together to share information on a common problem. The results of the Symposia are publised in ACTA HORTICULTURAE, and are available for participants and other horticulturists. The Society also sponsors horticultural congresses which meet every four years. The XXII International Horticultural Congress will meet at the University of California at Davis, August 11 – 20, 1986. This Congress, the first in Westhern North America, will be the largest gathering of international horticulturists that has ever been held. The scientific program will include symposia, workshops, poster sessions, and invited papers. Since the Davis campus is located in the midle of one of the most extensive and important horticultural regions of the world, there will be a multitude of professional and social tours preceding, during, and following the Congress, covering all aspects of horticulture. You are invited to attend the Congress, at which my colleagues and I will return the hospitality that has been shown to us at international horticultural meetings in other countries. I am impressed with the organization of this Symposium, and the large number of participants from so many countries. Professor Monteiro and members of this Committee are to be congratulated for making such fine arrangements, and I am looking forward to hearing the many interesting papers that have been submitted. Therefore, it is with greatest pleasure that I declare this Symposium to be in session. | |
