Biological control of plant diseases and the soil microbiome, which are transforming agricultural crops, will be discussed during the 42nd São Paulo Phytopathology Congress, which will take place on September 14th and 15th, 2022, at Embrapa Meio Ambiente (Jaguariúna, SP).
The environmental and social impacts of food production are, to a certain extent, known to consumers who, increasingly, demand sustainability from the means of production. A thriving “innovation ecosystem” is developing, with innovative companies emerging or strengthening. This technological and social convergence, which is the trend for all sciences and includes phytopathology and biological control, will be addressed at the inaugural conference by Embrapa Meio Ambiente researcher Marcelo Morandi. "Biological control has long ceased to be the 'ugly duckling' of plant health", he believes. "Today it is a robust and recognized science, as well as an effervescent market."
According to Morandi, "technological solutions to the challenges of implementing biological control in the field are in full development in research institutions and companies." Advances in computational biology, molecular biology, natural product chemistry, biostatistics, nanotechnology, information technology, artificial intelligence, among others, are allowing the convergence of knowledge that unites "bits, genes, neurons and atoms” and allows understanding and even planning the interactions between plants, microorganisms, insects and other elements of nature.
According to Wagner Bettiol, researcher at Embrapa Meio Ambiente and president of the Congress organizing committee, “at the São Paulo Phytopathology Congress, organized in 2012 by Embrapa Meio Ambiente and the São Paulo Phytopathology Association, biological control was discussed intensely. New knowledge obtained by science in recent years has allowed biological control to grow by more than 15% per year. Therefore, it is extremely important to expand discussions on the topic directly and those intrinsically involved so that society can increasingly benefit from sustainable technologies."
To see the full schedule and registration forms, visit here
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