FOREWARD OF CONVENER

The congress was attended by 104 scientists from 20 countries. Papers involving 202 authors were presented either orally or as posters during the meeting. The papers were presented in 9 oral and 2 poster sessions representing most aspects involving the olive industry. The congress ended with a symposium entitled "The olive industry towards the 21st century" during which future tendencies and the required research were discussed. We made two professional excursions in both the southern and northern olive growing regions of Israel demostrating the cultural practices and the field of research presently in progress. The excursions included also historical and archeological aspects of the olive industry in ancient Israel.

The increasing demand for olive products, mainly oil, but also table olives emphasizes the need for modernizing the cultura practices. The use of modern scientific tools and methodologies of research for advancing the olive industry were well represented in the various reports. It seems that during the years to come considerable breakthroughs in controlling the production and cultural techniques could be expected. The need for better environmental control was well expressed via studies developing integrated pest control an overcoming industrial pollution.

Finally I would like to thank all contributors to this volume for their interesting and well organized papers, to the internationa advisory committee and the international executive of the olive working groups for their valuable suggestions and support during the preparation of the meeting.

I would like also to thank the International and national agencies and authorities such as the IOOC for their support an particularly the ISHS, the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Ministries of Agriculture and of Sciences & Technologies under the auspices of which the symposium was held. Sincere thanks are due to all organizations and companies for their donations and help in the organization of the symposium and the accompanying events.

Special thanks are due to my colleagues of the local organizing committee for their time and efforts and especially to Dr. I. Klein who cooperated in editing this proceedings volume of the Acta Horticulturae. Finally, I would like to thank the secretarial staff at the Institute of Horticulture of the Volcani Center for their massive office help and to the 'Kenes' organizing company and particularly to Mrs. Nitza Cohen and Mrs. Neomi Band for their efforts in the organization before and during the meeting.

Shimon Lavee