Abstract:
The International Symposium on Growing Media and Hydroponics held at Sani, Kassandra, the beautiful peninsula of Halkidiki, from August 31 – September 6, 1999, has given us a real pleasure to welcome about 140 scientific workers from 28 different countries, to discuss and exchange ideas on the new developments of the highly specialized field of Growing Media and Hydroponics. Ninety different papers of forty-two oral and forty eight posters were presented covering subjects relative to the substrates in horticulture the irrigation management according to microclimatic conditions under protection, the nutrition and the recycling of the solution as well as the variety control during the last decades.
The greenhouse vegetable nutrition management, the use of sustainable hydroponic systems in relation to environmentally friendly disinfection methods, the container plant production practices, as well as the optimization of HPS supplemental lighting are still very important subjects and were discussed by distinguished invited speakers.
The trend of most contributions addressed the first development model of a sustainable production system taking into account consumer and environment safety.
Apart from the scientific lectures and discussions participants appreciated highly the opportunity to discuss more applied horticultural problems and evolutions during the two workshops organized in parallel with the sessions, one on the methodology of the analysis of Growing Media (CEN Working Group) and the second on the research carried on the substrate culture in the Mediterranean Region (FAO Thematic Working Group of Soilless Culture).
Finally, we would like to express our gratitude to the organising and scientific committee, the secretariat support, the technicians and the employees of the Conference Center of Sani Beach Holiday Resort.
Believing that getting together, to exchange ideas, collaborate and entertain is the perfect combination for great results, we wish that we all meet again in Sweden on autumn 2001.
The editors
Eleni Maloupa
Dimitris Gerasopoulos
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