ISHS Acta Horticulturae 292: Recent Advances in Horticultural Science in the Tropics
PREFACE |
| Author: | HEIKO van der Borg |
| Abstract:
The International Horticulture Conference was planned to coincide with the graduation of the first batch of horticulture students at the Universiti Pertanian Malaysia. The idea of having an international meeting in conjunction with such an event received the support of ISHS council members in the region, namely, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia and New Zealand. At the annual meeting of the Executive Committee of ISHS in October 1989 in Cordoba, Spain, it was agreed that UPM and ISHS would jointly organize the conference and that it would be of special relevance to the ASEAN region. The last decade has seen a great deal of development and changes in agricultural productivity, products and production systems in many parts of the world. Horticulture has also increased in importance: with increasing prosperity there is increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables, and greater demand for flowers and natural products in the form of medicinal and aromatic plants. Horticulture is an integrated activity and one of global and regional significance. As an activity involving living materials there is a clear need to integrate other disciplines such as biology and biotechnology. On a global scale, there is a growing need for international contact and rapport. There is also increasing need for coordinated efforts in projects of regional interest. In the ISHS we promote contacts between researchers, producers, and consumers. The society is in a good position to play this role with its six Sections, nine Commissions, and 62 Working Groups and has been actively doing so. The ISHS is proud to have been involved in organizing the International Horticulture Conference.
We are certainly pleased to participate in the publication of this proceedings which is undoubtedly an important contribution to horticultural development of particular importance to the tropics. | |
