WELCOME ADDRESS

On behalf of the Organization Committee. I would like to say welcome to the 2nd ISHS Symposium on Protected Cultivation of Solanacea in Mild Winter Climates organized by Ege and Çukurova Universities and give our best regards and wishes.

We expect that the Symposium will be fruitful to all of the countries possessing similar climatic conditions. We wish the stay of our guests In Turkey will leave long lasting pleasant memories all through their lives. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience that may happen during the organization.

We would like to thank to the International Society for Horticultural Science, and in person Dr. A. Monteiro, the chairman of the working group, for their help and encouragement at every stage of preparation. We also thank to the Rectorates of Ege and Çukurova. We express our warmest thanks to all of the members of the two universities and specially to Prof. Dr. Mithat Özsan, the former principal of Çukurova University. We are grateful also to the Municipality of Adana, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the British Council, the Turkish Scientific Research Organization (TÜBITAK) and the pivate organiztions for their support.

We wish you all the best.

Prof. Dr. Ayten SEVGICAN
Head of the Organization Committee


Ladies and Gentlemen

On behalf of the International Society for Horticultural Science - Commission Protected Cultivation and Working Group Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates - I welcome you to the symposium. I also want to use this opportunity to thank all the institutions involved in the preparation of this meeting for their important sponsoring, in particular the Ege University, the Çucurova University, other Turkish private and public institutions, the FAO of the United Nations, and The British Council.

A special word of thanks to the Organizing Committee, chaired by Professor Sevignan, which had in Dr. Tuzel a very efficient and experienced convener. I must recognize that the Turkish colleagues involved in the preparation of the Symposium have done an excellent job which, I am sure, will continue until the end of the meeting.

It is a honour and a pleasure for the ISHS to organize a symposium in Turkey, a nation with an old history and a magnificent civilization. Also a place where many different culture have melted along the centuries originating a warm and very kind people. However, Turkey was chosen for hosting this symposium owing to its very important horticulture industry, in particular protected cultivation of vegetables and flowers. The 12000 ha of greenhouses in Turkey are a strong argument for us to gather here.

One of the objectives of the ISHS, and of this meeting as well, is the development of scientific horticulture. Horticultural science has been more important in the Northern countries, while horticultural industry is mainly concentrated in the South owing to the favorable climate and socio-economic conditions. However, horticultural science, being an applied science, should walk together with horticultural industry which can only progress with the support of research. Therefore, and effort should be made in mild-winter regions to depend less on empiricism for the improvement of horticultural techniques. The investment on science by developing objective research projects is one possible solution. I wish this symposium can have an important rule on the stimulation of this process by giving the participants the opportunity of sharing information and scientific experience, and by opening new ways for successful research.

The ISHS is interested on promoting activities in southern countries in contact with horticulture industry, with the objective of increasing international scientific cooperation. We often speak of the Earth as a "global village" owing to the power of communication. This concept is easily applicable to scientific and technical horticulture, where the exchange of information, and the contacts and cooperation between research teams are a must. Those who stay isolated will shrink and die.

The ISHS is a wonderful forum for communication in horticulture. It is the place where our common interests can be dealt with. Our society is open to all of you that are not member yet. You can participate in the work of the sections, commissions, and working groups e.g., the commission for Protected Cultivation and the Working Group Protected Cultivation in Mild-Winter climates.

A few words about this 2nd symposium on Protected Cultivation of Solanacea in Mild winter Climates, which follows the first one held in Portugal in 1985. Almost 8 years have passed during which dramatic changes have occurred in the greenhouse solenacea cultivation system. The technology is evolving and an effort should be done to improve the techniques presently used in mild-winter greenhouses. It does not mean just importing the techniques and the methods used in the high tecnhnology glasshouse system of the Northerm countries, but rather development better systems of production adapted to mild-winter greenhouses are facing problems of marketing, labour shortage and cost, environment, etc. The system must be more efficient in the use of inputs, must allow a higher productivity and a better commodity quality, and should be more evironmental friendly. It is our task to help on finding the necessary alternatives.

I finish by wishing that we are able during these days to share our experience and to contribute for the development of solanacear protected cultivation, not only in Turkey, but in our own countries as well.

António Monteiro

Chairman of the Working Group Protected
Cultivation in Mild-Winter Climates