Palermo 2024, July 11th and 12th
Innovations For Sustainable Crop Production In The Mediterranean Region
ISPAMed 2024 International Conference
We are pleased to announce the second edition of the ISPAMed International Conference. This conference will take place for the second consecutive year in the city of Palermo in July 11th and 12th. The conference aims to continue the discussions and dialogues started last year, providing an important moment for debate and knowledge exchange in the field of sustainable agricultural development. It represents a unique opportunity to delve into the most current and relevant issues for industry professionals, scientists, students, and enthusiasts. The conference will include plenary sessions, presentations of scientific posters, and networking moments revolving around the theme of sustainability and ecological transition, addressing it in the light of five main thematic areas.
Scenario
Agriculture is an economic sector of the utmost importance, as it can meet the food needs of a growing world population and generate income. However, the application of high-input agricultural techniques in recent decades has led to a decline in soil fertility, an increase in desertification, excessive pressure on water resources, an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, unsustainable use of non-renewable energy resources and a loss of biodiversity. Agriculture thus contributes to climate change but is also itself vulnerable to its effects. Therefore, innovations in production methods are needed to increase the sustainability of agricultural production. The goal of the conference is to define the state of the art in terms of environmental impacts in agriculture and to promote possible innovations to increase the sustainability of agricultural products. The event will be focused on tree fruits, crops, protected horticulture and plant protection.
Topics
The programme is divided into five thematic sessions:
- Mediterranean Region - Biodiversity, Crop Productions, Livestock Systems and Environmental Sustainability
- Medicinal Plants and Industrial Crops - Towards Sustainable Management
- Food and Health - How the research of Well-being passes through the Agri-food Production System
- Entomology and Pathology - Pesticide which scenario for the next future in a contest of the new European Green Dial?
- Innovative approaches for agricultural water management in a climate change
Mediterranean Ecosystem: Biodiversity, Primary Productions, Livestock Systems, and Environmental Sustainability
- - Growing systems and orchard management for improved efficiency of horticultural productions in a low input agriculture context.
- - Precision farming.
- - Genetic resources as a tool to alleviate abiotic stresses in crop systems.
- - Social, environmental and economic impact of climate changes on crop yield and quality.
The focus of this first thematic area will be oriented towards assessing interventions and strategic actions for the proper resource management, with specific attention to raw materials and primary productions, in both herbaceous and woody crops. Discussions will cover strategies to promote sustainable livestock feeding, exploring actions for animal health promotion and the reduction of pharmacological treatments, presenting alternative approaches to intensive farming, analyzing the associated benefits and challenges. Debates will also address waste management, valorization of by-products, sustainable water resource management, and the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the role of the latest technological innovations in agronomy will be examined, aiming to balance economic needs with environmental and social considerations.
Medicinal Plants and Industrial Crops: Towards Sustainable Management
- - Medicinal and aromatic plants as a new opportunity for the Mediterranean area
- - Industrial crops for a more resilient agriculture in Mediterranean Basin
- - Improvement of agronomic techniques for medicinal plants and industrial crops production in a climate change scenario
- - Industrial crops as a way of agriculture adaptation to climate change in a semi-arid environment
The section will encompass insights into the medicinal and industrial uses of medicinal plants, along with the analysis of the industrial applications of crops intended for the production of manufacturing materials Sustainable agronomic practices will also be explored, with a particular focus on eco-friendly techniques. The discussion will extend to the importance of biodiversity in these crops and strategies to preserve it. Additionally, the latest technological innovations applied to the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of these plants will be presented. Finally, future perspectives in the sector will be explored, along with the identification of current and future challenges requiring innovative solutions.
Food and Health: How the research of Well-being passes through the Agri-food Production System
- - Dietary interventions to slow-down the aging process
- - Foods’ allergies, intolerances and sensitivities
- - Superfoods
- - Molecular and immuno-nutrition
- - Food as diseases prevention strategies
This session aims to create a comprehensive framework that combines agronomic research, practical innovations, and medical considerations to promote an integrated approach to food, nutrition, and health. The thematic session seeks to explore fundamental pillars such as Nutraceuticals, Functional Nutrition, and Nutrigenomics, with the goal of analyzing the relationships between genes, diet, and health, as well as the nutritional and therapeutic aspects of foods in enhancing health and preventing diseases.
Entomology and Pathology: Pesticide which scenario for the next future in a contest of the new European Green Dial?
- - Sustainable Agrifood in a contest of Climate change
- - Green Dial, Farm to Fork: new prospective on pesticide
- - One health from plant crop and tree: New prospective for crop management
- - Smart diagnosis and precision agriculture: a tool for early sustainable crop protection strategies
This session will be dedicated to delving into the topics of biological control through agronomic practices that minimize the use of chemical pesticides and promote sustainable crop management. Plant defense against diseases will be addressed through advanced research and pathology strategies, along with the selection of crops resistant to attacks from insects and pathogens. The session will also feature the presentation of new technologies and advanced tools for monitoring and managing entomology in agriculture.
Innovative approaches for agricultural water management in a climate change
- - Adaptation of conventional water management techniques to climate change.
- - Integrated simulation models for agricultural water management.
- - Green technologies for sustainable wastewater and seawater management.
- - Unconventional water reuse in agriculture.
- - Smart irrigation systems for precision scheduling and monitoring.
The dramatic depletion of freshwater reserves in the Mediterranean region, resulting from climate change, calls for urgent and sustainable solutions to avoid water crises in various productive sectors, particularly in agriculture. This session aims to illustrate and identify innovative solutions and technologies aimed at optimizing water management and applicable agronomic strategies to enhance the efficiency of water resource utilization within the irrigation sector. The goal is to improve environmental sustainability and address water scarcity induced by increasingly sparse precipitation and above-average temperatures, especially in the most vulnerable areas such as the Mediterranean semi-arid regions. Special attention will be given not only to more efficient irrigation systems but also to the use of "unconventional" water resources through the utilization of low-impact environmental technologies. Furthermore, this session will also explore the future challenges that agriculture must face in the water sector regarding the achievement of sustainable development goals.
Programme
Registration
Welcome, Opening and Addresses
SESSION 1
Mediterranean Region: Biodiversity, Crop Productions, Livestock Systems and Environmental Sustainability
Chair: Prof Tiziano Caruso, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences – University of Palermo, Italy
Keynote lecture: Dr Leonardo Verdi, Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Italy
SESSION 2
Medicinal Plants and Industrial Crops: Towards Sustainable Management
Chair: TBD
Keynote lecture: Prof Ana Luisa Fernando, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
Short Presentation
Chair: Prof Albino Maggio, Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Napoli, Italy
Registration
Welcome, Opening and Addresses
SESSION 3
Food and Health: How the research of Well-being passes through the Agri-food Production System
Chair: Prof Giuseppina Candore Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Italy
Keynote lecture: Prof Antonio Garcia Rios, Sofia University Hospital/University of Cordoba, Spain
SESSION 4
Entomology and Pathology: Scientific Insights for Sustainable Management
Chair: Dr Slavica Matic Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council, Turin, Italy
Keynote lecture: Prof Gianfranco Romanazzi, Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
SESSION 5
Innovative approaches for agricultural water management in a climate change
Chair: TBD
Keynote lecture: TBD
Short Presentation
Chair: Dr Giovanni Gugliuzza, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, Italy
Abstract Submission
ISPAMed invites you to submit an abstract to the International Conference Innovations for Sustainable Crop Production in the Mediterranean Region.
Our esteemed abstract chairs and reviewers will evaluate the best abstracts that will be considered as oral abstracts. All abstracts selected for presentation will be physically presented in Palermo.
Abstract Submission
Regular Abstract submission open until 15 June 2024.
Submission Guidelines
- Abstracts can only be submitted online via the following Indico tool.
- Abstract submission must be in one of the different tracks. The tracks are subdivided into 22 abstract topics.
TOPIC 1 - Mediterranean Region: Biodiversity, Crop Productions, Livestock Systems and Environmental Sustainability
- 1. Growing systems and orchard management for improved efficiency of horticultural productions in a low input agriculture context.
- 2. Precision farming.
- 3. Genetic resources as a tool to alleviate abiotic stresses in crop systems.
- 4. Social, environmental and economic impact of climate changes on crop yield and quality.
TOPIC 2 - Medicinal Plants and Industrial Crops: Towards Sustainable Management
- 1. Medicinal and aromatic plants as a new opportunity for the Mediterranean area
- 2. Industrial crops for a more resilient agriculture in Mediterranean Basin
- 3. Improvement of agronomic techniques for medicinal plants and industrial crops production in a climate change scenario
- 4. Industrial crops as a way of agriculture adaptation to climate change in a semi-arid environment
TOPIC 3 - Food and Health: How the research of Well-being passes through the Agri-food Production System
- 1. Dietary interventions to slow-down the aging process
- 2. Foods’ allergies, intolerances and sensitivities
- 3. Superfoods
- 4. Molecular and immuno-nutrition
- 5. Food as diseases prevention strategies
TOPIC 4 - Entomology and Pathology: Pesticide which scenario for the next future in a contest of the new European Green Dial?
- 1. Sustainable Agrifood in a contest of Climate change
- 2. Green Dial – Farm to Fork: new prospective on pesticide
- 3. One health from plant crop and tree: New prospective for crop management
- 4. Smart diagnosis and precision agriculture: a tool for early sustainable crop protection strategies
TOPIC 5 - Innovative approaches for agricultural water management in a climate change
- 1. Adaptation of conventional water management techniques to climate change.
- 2. Integrated simulation models for agricultural water management.
- 3. Green technologies for sustainable wastewater and seawater management.
- 4. Non-conventional water reuse in agriculture.
- 5. Smart irrigation systems for precision scheduling and monitoring.
Scientific Committee
|
Prof Tiziano CarusoUniversity of Palermo, Italy – Chair |
Prof Giuseppe Di Miceli
University of Palermo, Italy
Prof Georgia Ntatsi
Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Prof Marzia Traverso
Institute of Sustainability in Civil Engineering, RWTH Aachen Germany
Prof Mario Licata
University of Palermo, Italy
Prof Johannes Novak
Department of Farm Animal and Public Health in Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Austria
Prof Carmelo Maucieri
Department of Agronomy Food Natural resources Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Italy
Prof Nazim Şekeroğlu
Department of Food Engineering, Advanced Technology Application and Research Center, Aralik University, Turkey
Prof Yaojun Zhang
School of Life Sciences, Henan University Kaifeng, China
Prof Giorgio Testa
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, ItalyOrganizational Committee
|
Prof Giuseppe Di MiceliUniversity of Palermo, Italy - Chair |
Prof Salvatore Davino
University of Palermo, Italy
Prof Claudio Leto
University of Palermo, Italy
Prof Filippo Sgroi
University of Palermo, Italy
Prof Leo Sabatino
University of Palermo, Italy
Dr Simona Prestigiacomo
University of Palermo, Italy
Prof Teresa Tuttolomondo
University of Palermo, Italy
Prof Salvatore La Bella
University of Palermo, Italy
Dr Lucia Dinolfo
University of Palermo, Italy
Dr Nicoletta Lala
University of Palermo, ItalyOrganizational Secretariat
Consorzio di Ricerca per lo Sviluppo di Sistemi Innovativi Agroambientali
Italy
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences
University of Palermo, ItalyYoung Researcher Program
We are pleased to announce the Young Research Programme, designed to recognize and empower the brightest young minds.
Twenty junior scientists will be carefully selected by a Scientific Committee.
In order to be eligible for this award, junior scientists must be the lead and presenting authors of the submission and under the age of 35.
This initiative aims to propel the advancement of exceptional young minds and foster their brilliant careers in agriculture.
To participate, simply submit your abstract for the ISPAMed International Conference During the submission process, make sure to indicate your interest in the Young Research Programme Award by checking the appropriate box. By doing so, you confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria and accept the terms and conditions.
Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to network with experts, showcase your research, and contribute to the innovations driving sustainable crop production in the Mediterranean region.
Please note that the deadline for abstract submissions has been extended until June 15th, providing ample time for the preparation and submission of your abstract.
We look forward to seeing you in Palermo!!!
Organizing Committee
Registration Request
Registration is now open.
Attendance at the conference sessions requires mandatory registration.
Registration is exclusively available online.
The registration fees are outlined as follows:
EARLY |
LATE |
|
| Until May 31st | Starting June 1st | |
| Full Conference Registration | €200 | €300 |
| Young Conference Registration* | €100 | €150 |
(*) The age limit is 35 years.
To promote the involvement of students, PhD students, and young researchers in the ISPAMed 2024 International Conference, a discounted participation fee is available.
The discounted fee covers the same benefits as the full conference fee.
Please note that there are no reduced fees for partial attendance at the conference.
All fields are mandatory
Things to Do:
Feast Of Saint Rosalia – Palermo 14/15 July
The Feast of Santa Rosalia (U Festìnu), wich is one of the most important in Sicily, takes place from July 10 until July 15, and it is a real tourist buster in Palermo. The topic of the feast is on July 14th. The feast is dedicated to Saint Rosalia, also called La Santuzza (Little Saint) or Rusulia (in Sicilian dialect), the patron saint of Palermo. According to local faith, in 1624 Santa Rosalia saved the city’s residents from a dreadful plague after her relics were found in Monte Pellegrino. U Fistinu (the feast), starts on the 10th of July, and during the night between 14-15 July reaches its peak. Thousands of people follow the parade led by a giant iron made chariot, from the Cathedral to the Foro Italico. Folklore and religion meet and explode into traditional fireworks, making you believe the sun is shining. On July 15th at 7:00 pm, a second procession takes place which carries the relic of the Saint through the streets of the city. The 2024 edition marks the 400th iteration of the event.
Calendar of events:
The procession, led by the Archbishop and the Mayor of Palermo, starts on the evening of July 14 in front of the Cathedral of Palermo, and ends near the sea, culminating with an impressive and amazing firework display. The central point of the procession is a vessel-shaped chariot, built different every year, carrying the Statue of Saint Rosalia. The chariot is ten meters high and almost as long, decorated with roses and angels, and pulled by oxen. The feast continues the next day, July 15, with the solemn procession of the relics of the Saint, contained inside a silver urn. During the feast, you can buy food on the street that is part of the popular tradition of the city: pasta with sardines, babbaluci (snails boiled with garlic), sfincione (a thick Sicilian pizza), boiled octopus and watermelon.