FOREWORD

We are very pleased and happy to hold the 4th International Congress on Hazelnut in Turkey. I would like to extend our thanks to International Society of Horticultural Science, FAO, and Ankara University, for the technical assistance during organisation of the Congress. I also would like to thank Professor Günal Akbay, President of Ankara University, Professor Yetkin Güngör, Dean of Agricultural Faculty Ankara University, Mr. Mustafa Malay, Governor of Ordu for their support in every stage of the Congress. In addition, I would like to thank Blacksea Exporters' Union, Fiskobirlik, Sagra Food Industry, Orkur Food Industry, Çamsan Company, Commercial Exchange, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chairman of Chamber of Agriculture, and all of the public organisations in Ordu for their financial support of the Congress. Also I have the pleasure of greeting and thanking all participants for their scientific support through their presentation of papers and posters and discussions during Congress.

I would like to present my personal thanks to all institutions supporting us and everybody who have contributed and special thanks go to Scientific and Organising Committee of the Congress.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Turkey has approximately 70 % of world hazelnut production and trade and hence hazelnut is an important income source for Turkey. However hazelnut is not the only income source for Turkish people. During your first trip from Trabzon to Ordu or as you will see during excursion Technical Trip during the Congress, hazelnut grows on very slope, especially the Eastern Blacksea Region. Since this region is very rainy, hazelnut has prevented soil erosion and because of this, it is only plant which has preserved the nature. Therefore, hazelnut will live and develop as either commercial or preserver of the nature in the future, for the East Blacksea Region. In other words, natural conditions force the people of East Blacksea Region to grow hazelnut.

Hazelnut is grown in an area of 166.000 ha in Ordu. Estimated hazelnut production for 1996 is approximately 138.000 tons in this province. This value is equal to the productions of Italy and USA combined.

Although Ordu province is quite small and has limited facilities, we have organised this Congress in Ordu because we wanted to show you the realities of Turkey and the Blacksea Region.

Of course it was possible to give you better facilities by organising this Congress in another province such as Ankara or Istanbul which have better means and transportation facilities. In that case, unfortunately it would not have been possible to show you the realities of Turkey's hazelnut production. Due to our limited facilities, please tolerate inconveniences that you might experience during the Congress.

I believe that this Congress will increase exchange of information among hazelnut researchers in the world and will offer possibilities for learning the developments on hazelnut in the world, especially for hazelnut researchers, growers and the people related with hazelnut trade and industry.

I also hope that this Congress will be successful and interesting for all of you.

Thank you very much for your attention.

Prof. Dr. A. Ilhami KÖKSAL
Convener of the Symposium

OPENING REMARKS

Friends, Colleagues and Honoured Guests,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the IV th International Congress on Hazelnut. It is now six years since the founding of the Working Group on Nut Crops as a part of the Fruit Section of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS). Over that relatively short period of time we have seen highly successful international symposia on hazelnut (Italy, 1992), almond and pistachio (with GREMPA, Italy, 1993), chestnut (Italy, 1993), pistachio (Turkey, 1994) and walnut (Portugal, 1995). With this IVth International Congress on Hazelnut we enter the second cycle of ISHS- sponsored nut crops symposia. A joint almond-pistachio congress will be held at Davis, USA in 1997, the chestnut group will meet in France in 1998, and the IVth International Walnut Congress is planned for Bordeaux in 1999. Clearly, we are well on the way toward establishing the ISHS Nut Crops Working Group as the vehicle of choice for international networking in nut crops research and development.

As a world leader in hazelnut production and the place of origin of two important Corylus species, it is highly appropriate that this Congress is being held in Turkey. The scientific program will cover all aspects of hazelnut culture and management, including crop protection and utilization. In addition to the oral and poster sessions there will be opportunity for participants to visit orchards and processing facilities. Thus, I am fully confident that this present congress will contribute importantly to the further development of hazelnut in all countries where this crop is important.

However, I would like to focus my remarks today on some other important objectives or outcomes of a meeting such as this.

First and foremost, it is the objective of all ISHS-sponsored meetings and publications to promote international cooperation in horticultural science. Our symposia and congresses bring together scientists from many countries, whether these countries are considered rich or poor, technologically advanced or “developing”. As one can see from the participant list, this present Congress will certainly be seen as a success in that regard. The conveners have achieved the desired international mix.

Scientists here this week also represent a cross-section of ages, experience and interests. There are researchers and academics presenting their first paper to an international audience. Other scientists have major achievements and years of experience. Still others, representing industry, are here to see a new part of the world and a crop they know so well being produced in ways that differ significantly from their normal experience. The mixing of these people in an atmosphere of genuine interest and a spirit of comradery will result in lasting friendships and productive associations. I commend Dr. Ilhami Köksal, Dr. Yesim Okay, and the entire Organizing Committee for their recognition of this important “networking” objective. They have appropriately “set the stage” for such an outcome.

A second important product of this meeting will be the proceedings, published by ISHS as a volume of Acta Horticulturae. This book has great value to the participants as a permanent record of the event. As such, it must be a goal of the Convener and the Editorial Committee to include all of the talks and posters presented at Ordu and to complete the preparation of the Acta as quickly as possible.

However, the Acta must also be thought of as an important product for promotion and distribution by the ISHS Secretariat to libraries, to scientists unable to attend the symposium, and increasingly, to producers and others in industry and commerce. In fact, post-Congress sales of Acta help to sustain the operations of the Society and we must keep in mind that the reputation of all ISHS publications is influenced by every volume.

I look forward to working with the editorial committee, the covener, and with the Working Group leaders to ensure that the volume of Acta Horticulturae arising from this meeting is an accurate and complete record of what was presented here, is carefully edited to remove errors, ensure clarity of presentation and adherence to the prescribed format, and is attractively and professionally published.

The final kind of outcome that I would like to mention here is the opportunity provided by events such as this for young scientists to gain recognition and to develop the leadership skills that will bring them increasing professional stature over the years. I have seen many young scientists move to positions of increasing influence as a result of regular participation in ISHS affairs such as workshops, and symposia; the Society's quadrennial International Horticultural Congress (next in Brussels, August 2–7, 1998); and by becoming involved in the leadership of ISHS Working Groups, Sections and Commissions. Maintaining annual membership in the Society, of course, is the best way to stay informed of all these opportunities!

Let me say in closing that I am pleased and proud to represent a Society so clearly dedicated to the advancement of horticultural science in all of the ways mentioned above. I am especially proud of the dedicated individuals that make the Society work; people like Dr. Shawn Mehlenbacher, Leader of the Hazelnut Group since 1992, Dr. Francesco Monastra, Vice President of the Nut Crops Working Group and a tireless worker for the ISHS, Dr. Francisco Vargas, who edits the NUCIS Newsletter and heads the FAO Research Network on Nuts, and Prof.Dr.Ilhami Köksal for the strong leadership provided in organizing this important event in the life of the Society. I have said many times that organizing and hosting an international conference is one of the most generous contributions that one can make in the course of a professional career. It is important that the benefaction of scientists like Prof. Köksal receives the recognition it deserves.

Finally, I extend my sincere thanks and very best wishes to all of you who made the effort to come to Turkey for this event. Your enthusiasm and active participation will make this a meeting to remember. For my part, I will do all I can to see that this series of nut crops symposia continues to have a promising future and that the volumes of Acta Horticulturae arising from these meetings are of a standard that deserves international attention and respect.

I wish for each of you a productive and enjoyable stay in Turkey!

Normal E. Looney, PhD, FASHS, Chair, ISHS Fruit Section.