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The 3rd Meeting of the Section of Agronomy and Physiology of EAPR – Riga, Latvia September 26-29, 2016

Image author: No AREI arhīva

The 3rd Meeting of the Section of Agronomy and Physiology of EAPR was held in Riga, Latvia on September 26-29, 2016.

The meeting was organized by the staff of the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics (AREI). Dr. agr. Ilze Skrabule was a chairperson of the Scientific Committee. Organizing Committee was chaired by Ilze Dimante.

The meeting was attended by more than 50 participants from 15 countries. Seven scientific sessions were devoted to the latest findings on potato agronomy and physiology. Three keynote lectures were presented to participants.

Prof. Dr. ir.  Anton J. Haverkort from Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands shared his expertise on global issues in sustainability and footprinting of potato. Dr.agr. Christian Bruns from the University of Kassel, Germany, presented the results of the recent research with interdisciplinary approach - nitrogen nutrition in organic potatoes and interaction with yield relevance of late blight. Dr.ir.  Jean-Pierre Goffart (the Walloon Agricultural Research Centre (CRA-W) of Gembloux, Belgium) introduced participants to the latest findings on precision agriculture. The results of the project “iPot: Industrial Potato monitoring in Belgium based on remote sensing and crop growth modelling” was provided.

Two workshops were organized during the meeting. Collaboration Plan between International Potato Center (CIP) and European Association for Potato Research (EAPR) was presented during the first workshop. Future prospects on collaboration were discussed and new possible cooperation challenges were recognized.

The second workshop was devoted to potato production and processing in Latvia.  Special attention was paid to development of organic agriculture in Latvia.

Participants of the meeting visited Priekuli Research Center of AREI during the scientific excursion The potato breeding program and initial seed production were presented as well as short introduction with agricultural research done in Priekuli was provided. Direktor of Aloja Starkelsen Mr. Jānis Garančs explained and presented process of organic potato starch production. Participants had an opportunity to visit one of the largest organic farms in Vidzeme region „Ozoliņi ZL”. One of the main working directions of the farm is production of organic potatoes for processing into organic starch. Participants had an opportunity to visit Turaida castle and later to enjoy during the social program with Latvian folk musicians.

Several of the meeting presentations will be temporary available at the meeting website. After submitted abstracts evaluation the Scientific Committee gave a recommendation to a number of participants to prepare an article for submission to “Potato Researh” journal.

 During the closing ceremony many good words regarding the scientific quality of the meeting were said by the participants. Most of them visited Latvia for the first time and the meeting was a great chance to see our country and meet our people

Organizing Committee of the meeting is very thankful to all people involved in the organizing of the meeting. As well, we send many thanks to our supporters and sponsors.

Submitted on: 31/10/2016