The Second International Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture for Subtropical Regions

(ISSASR-2)

Second Announcement

(Call for papers)

Changsha, China

September 15-18, 2010

Organized by：
The Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China,

and Naresuan University, Thailand

The subtropical zone includes 41 countries, most of which are lesser developed and are increasingly facing pressures from a rapidly growing population and from poverty. The sustainable increase of agricultural productivity is vitally important to address these issues, which are compounded by limitations and ineffective use of land resources and fertilizers, and soil and environmental degradation. Because farming systems in the subtropical zone are usually small-scale, agricultural production is usually more complicated and often receives less technical support, compared to other zones. Also, implicating what are perceived by some to be ineffective agricultural systems in the emission of ‘green-house gases’ and their effects on climate change will increasingly focus attention on agricultural practices in food-producing areas, including the subtropics. Therefore, measures, including policy, science and technology, and extension, are urgently needed to further develop and sustain agricultural systems in the subtropical zone, in terms of both increasing their productivity and reducing their impacts on the regional environment and global change.

This symposium will address the production and environmental issues that are central to the future development of sustainable agriculture in the subtropical zone worldwide.

Themes and papers

The symposium will aimto bring together agricultural and environmental research and management specialists, and policy makers concerned with key issues on agricultural productionand the environmentin the subtropical zone worldwide, with the main themes as follows:

Sustainable crop production systems and food security

Resources and management for sustaining agricultural eco-systems

Integrating crops and livestock

Impacts of agricultural production on the environment and global change

Three special keynote papers by invited speakers will address current issues and future challenges in sustaining agriculture in subtropical zones. The topics are likely to cover the role of the subtropics in meeting the needs for increased food production, the challenges to agriculture presented by climate change, and ecological and environmental conservatuion issues in the subtropical zone. 

Additional keynote papers will then address major issues associated with each of the four themes; voluntary oral papers will follow. Poster sessions will also be arranged. Voluntary papers submitted will be reviewed by a publication committee consisting of the thematic conveners and keynote speakers. Abstracts of all papers will be published in a technical proceeding of the symposium. We will also sponsor and arrange for the publication of selected papers as a special issue in an international journal or as an edited book.  

Date and Venue

The symposium will be held on September 15-18, 2010 inChangsha City,Hunanprovince, China. An optional three-day tour will follow.  

Programme

Opening ceremony

(Chaired by Professor J. Keith Syers and Professor Jinshui Wu)

Welcome speeches from Professor Kelin Wang, ISA and Dr. Chanin Umpornsatil, Naresuan University.

Special Keynote Papers

(Chaired by Professor Bojie Fu and Professor Dr. Achim Dobermann)

1. Meeting increasing world food needs: A role for the subtropics

2. Challenges in adapting agricultural practices to climate change in the subtropics

3. Conserving environmental quality whilst increasing agricultural productivity in the subtropical zone

Theme I:  Sustainable crop production systems and food security

(Conveners: Professor Phillip C. Brookes and Dr. Clemencial Manzur)

Keynote and voluntary papers for regional issues and progress in the development of sustainable agricultural systems.

Theme II: Resources and management for sustaining agricultural eco-systems

(Conveners: Dr. Luc M. Maene and Professor Shiming Luo)

Keynote and voluntary papersfor issues and progress in the use and management of land, water, and nutrient resources, for increasing agricultural productivity.

Theme III: Integrating crops and livestock

(Conveners: Dr. Patrick Wall and Professor Huanchun Chen)

Keynote and voluntary papers for the effective use of crop resources for livestock production, the management of animal wastes for environmental safety, and re-cycling of nutrients from animal production systems.

Theme IV: Impacts of agricultural production on the environment and global change

(Conveners: Professor Anthony G. O’Donnell and Dr. Kim Kyoung Woong)

Keynote and voluntary papersfor issues and progress in the cycling of nutrients in agro-eco-systems, impacts of agricultural production systems on local environment, ecological systems, and the emission of trace gasses.

Abstract guide

Abstracts should not exceed 300 words and should list the title, the name of author(s) and affiliation. They should be typed with double spacing on A4 size paper using Times New Roman 12 font.

Abstractsshould be submitted electronically to meeting@isa.ac.cn, or http://issasr.isa.ac.cn. The deadline for receipt is May 15, 2010.

Registration

A registration fee is required for participants who do not receive financial support from the organizers. This covers publications, travel during the symposium, food, and a banquet provided by the symposium. The cost of accommodation and the optional 3-d tour is additional. Early registration is recommended because of the limitation on participantnumbers and accommodation.

The standard registration fee is US$ 150 (free for students).

To register please complete the registration form, which is available with this brochure and at the symposium web-site (www.isa.ac.cn),and submit itelectronically to meeting@isa.ac.cn, or http://issasr.isa.ac.cn, or fax it to 0086-731-84619736. Registration is possible during the duration of the symposium.

The deadline for registration and abstract submission is on June 30, 2010.

Accommodation

A 4-star hotel in the downtown area of Changsha City will be arranged with other hotels also available in the city.

Field Tours

1) A half-day field excursion relating to agricultural systems and the local environment in Changsha City.

2) A three-day tour following the symposium to Zhang-Jia-Jie National Park.

Participants may choose their field tour option, as indicated in the registration form.

Financial Support

The Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture will provide financial support to the invited speakers, some members of the International Scientific Advisory Committee (if required; please indicate this on the registration from). Participants from Africa, Asia, and Latin America may apply for financial support to the secretariat through meeting@isa.ac.cn, or http://issasr.isa.ac.cn, or fax 0086-731-84619736. The Institute of Subtropical Agriculture will make all decisions on  financial support.

Organizing Committee

Chair: Professor Kelin Wang, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, China

Co-chair: Professor J. Keith Syers, Naresuan University, Thailand

Executive Chair:Professor Jinshui Wu, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, China

Symposium Secretary: Professor Ziliang Tan, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, China

International Scientific Advisory Committee

Phillip C Brookes, Professor, Rothamsted Research, BBSRC, UK

Achim Dobermann, Dr., Deputy Director (Research), International Rice Research Institute, CGIAR, Philippines

Bojie Fu, Professor, Research Center of Ecology and Environment, CAS, China

Alastair Hicks, Dr., former FAO Senior Regional Officer, Australia

Kevin D. Hyde, Associate Professor, School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University. Thailand

Luc M. Maene, Dr., Director General, International Fertilizer Industry Association, France

Clemencial L. Manzur, Dr. Agriculture Department, FAO, Rome

Paul Maughan, Dr., Massey University, New Zealand

Rod Lefroy, Dr., Regional Research Leader, CIAT in Asia, CGIAR, Lao PDR

Shiming Luo, Professor, South China Agricultural University, China

Anthony G. O’Donnell, Professor, Dean, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Western Australia, Australia

Terry L. Roberts, Dr., President, International Plant Nutrition Institute, USA

J. Keith Syers, Professor, Consultant to the President (International Development), Naresuan University, Thailand

Chanin Umpornsatil, Dr., Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Naresuan University, Thailand

Patrick Wall, Dr., CIMMYT, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, 　
CGIAR, Zimbabwe

Kelin Wang, Professor, Director, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, CAS, China

Qinxue Wang, Professor, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan

Kyoung-Woong Kim, Professor, Former Director, International Environmental Research Center, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea

Iain Wright, Dr., Regional Representative, Asia, International Livestock Research Institute, CGIAR, India

Jinshui Wu, Professor, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, CAS, China

Yulong Yin, Professor, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, CAS, China

Longpin Yuan , Professor, National Center for Hybrid Rice, China

Correspondence

Dr Tida Ge

The Secretariat of ISSASR-2

Chinese Academy of Sciences

Changsha City

Hunan Province 410125

People’s Republic of China

Email: meeting@isa.ac.cn

Website:  http://issasr.isa.ac.cn

Tel: 0086-731-84619736

Telephone: 0086-15973155879

Fax:  0086-731-84619736