ISHS Acta Horticulturae 480: I International Symposium on Fig
FOREWORD |
| Author: | U. Aksoy |
| Abstract:
The 1st ISHS International Symposium on Fig which brought together nearly 100 participants from 19 countries was a realisation of a dream. When I was about to start a research work on figs as a PhD. student, I was “warned”, by few of my experienced colleagues, on the topic and the species. My request to have a literature survey made on figs to the documentation center of the Turkish Scientific and Technical Council (in those days electronic transfers or Internet were issues mentioned only in science fiction books), was replied as “Why do you start on a topic related to figs, there are only very few papers” “published”. After twenty-two years, it is really a fulfilment of a dream to have researchworkers, extension specialists, growers or tradesman from four continents gathering to discuss various issues on figs. For future collaboration, knowing each other or even forming a “Fig Club” will help to form strong bridges. One other aspect shared by many of the participants was the revival of a species that was grown for thousands of years mainly around the Mediterranean. All the participants believe that different issues discussed during the symposium will form a basis for further research work. The proceedings will be an address book for young researchers. The Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza (IAMZ) of the International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) led the way to organise an international symposium and adhoc “Advanced Course on Fig” by forming the “Underutilized Fruit Crops” network in 1994 on fig, pomegranate, loquat, persimmon and prickly pear. The International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) especially the Fruit Section and Commission on Tropical and Subtropical Horticulture added onto the success of the Symposium. As a consequence of the Fig Symposium, a working group on Fig is established in 1998 under Fruit Section of ISHS. It will surely help in the worldwide networking. The Symposium, adhoc course and the final proceedings published as a special issue of Acta Horticulturae were realised as an output of teamwork. I would like to express my cordial thanks to the Scientific and Organising Committee members and the editors Dr. Louise Ferguson and Dr. Serra Hepaksoy for their endless efforts. I wish to extend my full appreciation to the Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council (TÜBITAK), Aegean Exporters Union, NABISCO, TARIS (Union of Agricultural Sales Cooperatives), Fig Research Institute of the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture, Rhone-Poulenc, Uludag Exporters Union, Yasar Holding and Basak Depoculuk for their financial support and Ege University Faculty of Agriculture and Turkish Society for Horticultural Science as the hosting institutions. Looking forward to meet as a more crowded FIG CLUB in Spain in 2001 at the 2nd International ISHS Symposium on Fig. | |
