ISHS Acta Horticulturae 373: I International Congress on Almond
OPENING ADDRESS |
| Author: | S. Sansavini |
| Abstract:
It is with pleasure that I extend to this First Almond Symposium the greetings of the ISHS and its Fruit Section, which is pleased to have the Nut Working Group as the 16th one now active within its ranks. The Nut Group is also an experiment that is being followed with keen interest because almond is one of the 8 sub-groups comprising this WG, which is authoritatively chaired by Dr. G. H. McGranaham. The main brief of the Group and its chairman is to coordinate all initiatives and to promote scientific and technical cooperation internationally through all its almond, walnut, pecan, pistachio, hazelnut, chestnut, pine nut, and tropical nut researchers. The Nut Group is also being closely followed because it links up well to Mediterranean research network backing GREMPA for almond and pistachio with the support of the EC and CIHEAM in Paris. This provides the certainty that the ideas, plans and information that come out of this meeting will be collected, coordinated and disseminated through programmes benefitting the international scientific community. Let me recommend, if you will, not to limit your Working Group activities to the Agrigento meeting but to develop an integrated network of cooperation and exchanges to ensure a productive impact and feedback for your efforts. The Group members charged with leadership roles in the international sphere are, and will always be fully backed by the ISHS. I am in this sense very grateful to the Organising Committee, and especially to Dr.
F. Monastra, vice-chairman, and Prof.
G. Barbera, the convener, for their tireless efforts.
Let me conclude my remarks by wishing you a very successful meeting here in Agrigento, which was and fortunately still is the Valley of the Temples and of Almonds, the most treasured of the treasures among the city's ancient vestiges and modern visage and so characteristics of the great Mediterranean civilisation and the foundations of its agriculture. | |
