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 six 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
- Innovative approaches for agricultural water management in a climate change
- Entomology and Pathology: Scientific Insights for Sustainable Management
- Food and Health: How the research of Well-being passes through the Agri-food Production System
Mediterranean Ecosystem: Biodiversity, Primary Productions, Livestock Systems, and Environmental Sustainability
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 and Industrial Plants: Towards Sustainable and Multifunctional Management.
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.
Innovative approaches for agricultural water management in a climate change
description pending
Entomology and Pathology: Scientific Insights for Sustainable Management
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.
Food and Health: How the research of Well-being passes through the Agri-food Production System
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.
Programme
Under Construction
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.
- Abstract submission must be in one of the different tracks. The tracks are subdivided into 20 abstract topics.
- Mediterranean Region: Biodiversity, Crop Productions, Livestock Systems and Environmental Sustainability
- Medicinal Plants and Industrial Crops: Towards Sustainable Management
- Innovative approaches for agricultural water management in a climate change
- Entomology and Pathology: Scientific Insights for Sustainable Management
- Food and Health: How the research of Well-being passes through the Agri-food Production System
Scientific Committee
Under Construction
Young Researcher Program
Under Construction
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 30 | from June 1 until July 12 | |
| 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.