Recipient Organization
VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
(N/A)
BLACKSBURG,VA 24061
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Plant diseases caused by bacterial pathogens reduce crop yield and quality in the U.S. and around the world and, therefore, negatively affect food security, lower farmers' income, and threaten U.S. biosecurity. At the same time, beneficial bacteria are being used to control crop diseases and thus can increase farmers' income and improve food security. The 15th International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria and the 5th International Symposium of Biological Control of Bacterial Plant Diseases will be held as a combined conference, ICPPB & Biocontrol 2024, in Blacksburg, VA, from July 7-12, 2024. The goal of the conference is to communicate and share new scientific insights into the biology of plant pathogenic and beneficial bacteria, mechanisms of how they interact with each other and with plants, and technological advancements that enable translation of basic research into tools that detect, prevent, and control bacterial plant diseases in the field and increase agricultural biosecurity. To reach this overarching goal, the specific objectives are: I. Offer an interdisciplinary scientific program presented by domestic and international speakers, II. Support career development of early career scientists from diverse backgrounds, III. Facilitate networking to build and strengthen research collaborations, including scientists in animal biosecurity. By reaching these objectives, ICPPB & Biocontrol 2024 can be expected to significantly contribute to the improvement of plant health and biosecurity, which will positively impact not only U.S agriculture and biosecurity but food security worldwide.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Overarching GoalsICPPB & Biocontrol 2024 will bring both conferences into one space with the overarching goal of communicating and sharing new insights into the biology, evolution, ecology, and biosecurity of plant associated bacteria. This includes the technological advancements that enable basic knowledge discovery and their translation into tools that prevent and control bacterial plant diseases to feed a growing world population in the face of climate change. The technologies range from bioinformatics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, remote sensing, to machine learning. We expect 200 to 300 attendees from diverse national and international geographic locations; academic, industry, and government affiliations; and career stages, from undergraduate and graduate students, to full and emeritus professors. It is important to the organizational team and to the benefit of science to have a diverse group of presenters and participants in one space sharing their knowledge, new scientific discoveries, and developing ideas to translate basic and applied science into real world solutions. This meeting will also serve as a great networking venue for all participants where conversation and advice on professional development can be shared by all.Specific aimsAim I. Offer an interdisciplinary scientific program that highlights new finding on bacteria-bacteria, bacteria-plant, and bacteria-phytobiomes interactions and how to translate basic science into solutions that support plant health and biosecurity as part of the bioeconomyAim II. Support career development of early career scientists from diverse backgroundsAim III. Facilitate networking among attendees to stimulate new ways of thinking and build strong research and mentoring collaborations that amplify the need for basic science to find pathogen management solutions that improve plant health and biosecurity.
Project Methods
Choice of Institution, location, and datesICPPB & Biocontrol 2024 will be hosted by Virginia Tech (VT) in Blacksburg, Virginia. VT has a long history in both the plant sciences in general and in plant pathology specifically.Conference facilities: the conference will be held at the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center, which opened in 2005 and is located adjacent to the VT campus. The Conference Center has 24,000 square feet of flexible meeting spaces including its largest room, the 8,832 square-foot Latham Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 300 people. Additionally, there are many medium-sized rooms, the largest of which is the Assembly Hall, which can accommodate 135 people. The Skelton Conference Center is equipped with state-of-the-art AV systems. Not less importantly, it also has the infrastructure to provide continuous coffee and snacks throughout the day. It houses an active kitchen and friendly staff to serve lunches, receptions, and banquet dinners. In summary, the Skelton Conference Center is a modern, comfortable, and welcoming venue and will allow us to host up to 300 attendees in general sessions, parallel sessions, and poster sessions.The Inn at Virginia Tech is in the same building as the conference center with 147 hotel rooms, a fitness center, and a restaurant. Other hotels can be found across the street or at walking distance and we have reserved a total of 75 rooms at these Hotels. As registration starts in January 2024, we can increase or decrease the number of rooms as needed. There are also several other hotels a short drive away from the Inn.Blacksburg is a town of 45,000 people with a downtown area with a diversity of restaurants within walking distance from campus and the conference center. Blacksburg is located in the New River Valley. Besides its natural beauty and opportunities for outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, and water sports, the area is well connected by road, rail, and plane through Interstate 81, the Roanoke Amtrak Station (with two daily trains from and to Washington DC), and the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (with daily flights to international airports in WashingtonConference attendees will be introduced to the agricultural, historic, cultural, and geographic aspects of the area halfway through the conference during an all-day excursion. The excursion will include a visit to Kentland Farm, the university farm. Participants will not only learn about the agricultural research going on at the farm today but also about its history as a plantation and the enslaved people working at the farm. Another stop will be at Mountain Lake Resort, location of many movie scenes of the iconic 80's movie Dirty Dancing, a hike in the Rocky Knob Recreation Area on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and an evening filled with Bluegrass music in the town of Floyd, known for its Friday night jamboree.The year, 2024, and dates, July 7-12, of the conference were chosen through an online survey of attendees of ICPPB 2020 and Biocontrol 2019 to avoid conflicts with other conferences on similar topics.The Scientific Advising CommitteeIn alignment with the goal of the conference to maximize diversity of attendees and speakers in regard to scientific disciplines, career stage, gender, race, and country of origin, we assembled a scientific committee that reflects that diversity:Carolee Bull, Professor, The Pennsylvania State University (Co-chair)Virginia Stockwell, USDA-ARS and courtesy appointment at Oregon State University (Co-chair)Steve Lindow, Professor Emeritus, University of California, BerkeleyChiaraluce Moretti, Associate Professor, University of Perugia, ItalyRoberto Buonaurio, Professor, University of Perugia, ItalyGiorgio Balestra, Professor, DAFNE Università della Tuscia, Viterbo, ItalyGabriele Berg, Professor, Graz University of Technology, AustriaKhumbuzile Bophela, Lecturer, University of Pretoria, South AfricaAntonet Svircev, Principal Scientist, Agriculture CanadaJoel Vanneste, Principal Scientist, The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, New ZealandLocal Arrangement CommitteeThe local arrangement committee consists of volunteers of VT faculty working in different aspects of bacterial plant pathogens and biocontrol (Boris A. Vinatzer, Mark Williams, Bingyu Zhao), two faculty from nearby institutions who volunteered to help because of their experience in conference funding and/or planning to organize future conferences (Alejandra Huerta, NCSU, and Brian Kvitko, University of Georgia), a leader in applied research with expertise in industry collaborations (Scott Lowman, IALR), and two graduate research assistants in the Vinatzer lab to provide the perspective of trainees (Mariah Rojas and Kassaye Belay).Conference website"icppbbiocontrol2024" with an org domain was purchased to forward to the conference website. Initially, the website contained the first announcement of the conference with information about the scope, venue, and dates of the conference. In November 2023, we will add details on the program, invited speakers, deadlines, travel, lodging, and anticipated travel award opportunities. Registration and abstract submission will become accessible on the website in mid-January 2024.Conference logoThe conference logo reflects the topic of the conference showing a diseased plant and the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in which vicinity the conference will take place and that will be visited during the excursion organized for the third day of the conference. The logo was designed by an undergraduate student researcher, Ariana Enriquez, in Tiffany Lowe-Power's lab at the University of California, Davis.