December 5th, 2024
Organized by: Plant Health Modelling Research Center, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Plant health modelling has historical roots, dating back to the first empirical observations on the relationships between environmental variables and the development of harmful organisms, then translated into simple rules. This field has since developed considerably in terms of improved knowledge of biological and ecological processes, development of methods for simulating these processes, development of tools and techniques for the automatic collection and processing of meteorological and biological data. Mathematical models have been widely used in crop protection, to the point where they are an integral part of IPM (Integrated Pest Management) tools and the EC directive 128 on Sustainable use of plant protection products. Mathematical models are now an integral part of Decision Support Systems (DSS) within Agriculture 4.0. Still, there is the need for: giving continuity to scientific research on plant health modelling; creating knowledge networks on methodological approaches, developments and applications of models between researchers and model users; promoting educational activities for the staff within the field; raising awareness and involving Public Administrations and Private Facilities in the rational development and use of models.
IN ORDER TO MEET THOSE NEEDS, UNIVERSITÀ CATTOLICA ESTABLISHED A SPECIFIC RESEARCH CENTER CALLED “PLANT HEALTH MODELLING” PHEM, DRAWING ON THE GAINED EXPERIENCE IN PLANT HEALTH MODELLING.
The main purpose of the center – which has a Board of Directors and a Scientific Committee – is to promote and perform basic and applied scientific activities in this sector and in a “One Health” context. The activities embrace every plant health aspect, from the point of view of causal agents (pathogens and mycotoxigenic fungi, phytophages, weeds, abiotic stress), of plants (growth and development models, damage and response mechanisms to harmful organisms) and of mitigation/protection means (fungicides models, biocontrol agents). It is also interested in mathematical, statistical and computer technologies for model development, calibration and validation, as well as aspects of crop environment monitoring that are functional to the acquisition of data that feed the models.
PHEM ORGANIZES A MEETING – DEBATE ON “MODELLING AND PLANT HEALTH: RESEARCH AND APPLICATION” ON DECEMBER 5th, 2024.
During the morning, members of the Scientific Committee will debrief about the state of the art and research prospects in this field.
In the afternoon, users of the models (experts in technical assistance, companies offering Agriculture 4.0 solutions and technical means) will discuss their needs and sector prospects.
SPONSORED BY AIAM, AIPP, SIN, SIA, SOI, SIPAV, SICA
PROGRAM
Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences – Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore – Piacenza
9:30 / 9:45 Opening and welcome by the Dean of Faculty
9:45 / 10:15 Evolution of plant pathology modelling and plant protection applications (Prof. Vittorio Rossi, Board of Directors )
I SESSION: RESEARCH ON PLANT HEALTH MODELLING
10:15 / 12:15 State of the art and perspectives
ENVIRONMENT MONITORING AND SENSING
(Prof. Daniele Trinchero, Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Politecnico di Torino)
PLANT DISEASE EPIDEMICS
(Prof. Paul Esker, PennState College of Agricultural Sciences)
FOODSTUFF SPOILAGE AND MYCOTOXINS
(Prof. Angel Medina Vaya, Director of Environment and Agrifood Theme, Cranfield University)
ARTHROPOD PESTS
(Dott. Luca Rossini, Automatic and Systems Analysis Service, Free University of Brussels)
PLANT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
(Prof. Pier Paolo Roggero, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Sassari; Prof. Stefano Amaducci, DiProVEs, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Piacenza)
12:15 / 12:45 Discussion
12:45 / 14:15 Lunch break
II SESSIONE: PLANT HEALTH MODELLING APPLICATIONS
14:15 / 14:45 AGRITECH vision – National Research Centre for Agricultural
Technologies
(Prof. M. Lorito)
14:45 / 15:45 Round table (coordinating Dr.ssa Costanza Fregoni): Dr. Riccardo Bugiani (Emilia-Romagna Plant Protection Service); Dr.ssa Chiara Corbo (Smart AgriFood Observatory); Dott. Diego Scudellari (OP Grandi Colture Italiane); Dott. Mauro Coatti (Federchimica – Agrofarma)
15:45 / 16:15 Debate
16:15 / 16:45 role of the Plant Health Modelling Research Center (Prof.ssa Paola Battilani, PHEM director).
Participation is free of charge upon registration. For further information, please contact:
vittorio.rossi@unicatt.it o segreteria-phem@unicatt.it
