Abstract:
Basing on Prof.
Lorenzoni workshop conclusions, it is possible to point out some recommendations especially suitable for the Italian ornamental horticulture.
Some of these recommendations could sometimes seem too rough or not polite to researchers or colleagues who work in this field, but I would underline that they are the result of a suffered reasoning - which took place in the last two days - among Italian representatives and foreign colleagues.
Everybody is invited to consider these recommendations as a critical contribute to improve this sector in Italy.
The following are the main recommendations:
- it seems urgent to create in our country a centre of excellence or at least an association of centres to reach an excellent level.
This centre or association will aim to achieve an indispensable critical mass to solve the complex problems of ornamental horticulture in a coordinate way;
- it seems necessary, however, to quickly start the coordination of Italian present research activities, particularly the applied ones, represented in the sector by an excessive number of national or local institutes and departments singularly having an insufficient critical mass;
- it seems necessary always to include representatives of ornamental horticulture or floricultural associations in scientific committees charged with suggesting plans about applied research.
In this way operations could obtain researchers attention about real problems of ornamental horticulture.
On the other side Italian operators must consider the possibility of concretely sharing in financing applied research;
- it seems essential that growers and research utilizers can take part in the critical evaluation of results obtained thanks to private and public research funds;
- considering the high specialization of ornamental horticulture production, it is necessary aiming at a complete, up to date and nationally spread training of operators;
- it is necessary to rapidly improve extension service in ornamental horticulture, also thanks to substancial financing from the growers;
- it is necessary to adopt a rapid certification system on voluntary basis to guarantee products' quality;
- the most actual research lines are already contained in Dr.
Weststeijn synthesis summarized as follows and regarding:
- plant-pathogen interactions;
- mechanism of action of growth regulators;
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