BSPP2021 – Our Plants, Our Future (OPOF) – Joint conference from BSPP and the EFPP
6th December 2021 - 8th December 2021
£180.00 – £460.00
Edgbaston Conference Centre, University of Birmingham, UK.
First announcement
This major joint meeting, postponed from last year, will address scientific, practical and policy aspects of plant health. Inspired by the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH), the meeting is aimed at a wide audience, from plant scientists to plant health practitioners. This will be a fantastic opportunity at a premier conference centre to meet and mingle with colleagues from across Europe.
The three day programme will feature invited speakers from the original OPOF, scheduled for early 2020 at the Royal Society, including:
- Neil Boonham | U Newcastle
- Anna Brown | Forestry Commission
- Ruth Bryant | RAGT Seeds
- Richard Buggs | Royal Botanic Garden, Kew
- Katherine Denby | U York
- Chris Gilligan | U Cambridge
- Baldiserra Giovanni | European Plant Protection Organisation
- Sarah Gurr | U Exeter, UK
- Saskia Hogenhout | John Innes Centre, Norwich
- Jonathan Jones | The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich
- Ralf Lopian | Ministry of Agriculture, Finland (IYPH)
- Estrella Luna Diez | U Birmingham
- Richard Oliver | Curtin University, Australia
- Gerry Saddler | Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture
- Diane Saunders | John Innes Centre, Norwich
- Richard Shaw | CABI (global)
- Lisa Smith | Dept for the Environment and Rural Affairs
- Alessandra de Souza | IAC, Brazil
- Nicola Spence | Dept for the Environment and Rural Affairs
- Nick Talbot | The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich
- Ian Toth | James Hutton Institute
The meeting has a broad agenda, from fundamental and applied research to plant health policy and practice. The varied sessions will address emerging challenges in plant health, disease risks associated with trade and climate change, the development of national and international policies to mitigate those risks, alternatives to pesticides, including biocontrol, strengthening tree health resilience, and the potential of new partnerships and cross-sectoral approaches (such as One Health) to manage known and new plant diseases.
The winner of the RKS Wood Award for excellence in plant pathology will give an invited talk.
Competitions
The meeting will include the PH Gregory Award for first-time speakers and the J Colhoun Award for postgraduate posters. These are organized by the BSPP and are worth £500 each. For more details see the BSPP website under ‘Conferences’. Please indicate when you register if you wish to take part in these competitions.
Support Grants for BSPP members
The BSPP is committed to inclusivity and offers support for members with additional needs, including but not limited to those with impaired mobility, hearing or sight and young babies. Details of the Carer Support Grant are available on the BSPP website. Please let us know of your requirements so we can do our best to enable you to attend and enjoy the conference. Travel grants are also now available for attending BSPP conferences.
Covid-19
The Edgbaston Conference Centre and meeting organizers will be running events in compliance with existing UK regulations. We are optimistic that, despite current restrictions on travel and assembly, we will be able to run a full meeting.
Registration
The meeting is sponsored by the BSPP and the EFPP and offers reduced rates to members of both societies. Accommodation has been reserved at the Edgbaston Conference Centre. Places are limited, so you are encouraged to complete your registration as soon as possible.
Early-bird rates are available until the 30 September. After this the costs of registration will increase, as shown below. We are unable to refund fees unless UK government policy on Covid-19 forces cancellation or because the conference centre is closed.
Offered Contributions
In addition to the invited speakers, there will be opportunities for offered talks related to the broad themes outlined above. Poster sessions on all aspects of plant health will also be available.
Click here to view and complete the abstract submission form.
Complete the form below by 31 October at the latest.
Costs/Tickets
For ticketing options, please scroll down.
All fees will increase by 20% after the 30 September.
Travel Assistance
The BSPP Travel Fund is open to members of the Society to assist with expenses for conferences, study tours and visits. Students are particularly encouraged to apply. Awards will be made by a Committee of the Board whose decision shall be final. In judging applications, the Committee will take into consideration the nature of the visit in relation to the work of the applicant and the aims of the Society. All applications will be considered on their merits. Click here to read more and apply.
Remote access
We plan to make speaker sessions available online. Further details and costs to be announced at a later date.
Sponsors and trade stands
Please get in touch with Dr Eric Boa (meetings@bspp.org.uk) for further details.
Poster
You can download a poster to print in either A4 or A5 format.
