The XVIth EUCARPIA Congress Edinburgh, Scotland 2001 By G.R. Mackay MBE, Past President of EUCARPIA

EUCARPIA's XVIth General Congress was held in the prestigious Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC).  Opened as recently as 1995, the EICC has established a global reputation for its excellent services and state of the art facilities; the organising committee and delegates were most appreciative of the quality of services provided.  Edinburgh is Scotland's capital and home to the Scottish Parliament and EUCARPIA gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department.  Edinburgh was awarded World Heritage status in 1998 and, as a seat of learning and culture since the Middle Ages, offered delegates an ideal environment for our Congress.

The overall theme of the Congress was 'Plant Breeding: Sustaining the Future'.  This reflected the organisers desire to encourage discussions and the sharing of ideas between delegates as to how plant breeding and associated disciplines may continue to make the contribution to the benefit of humankind in the 21st century, that it made during the 20th, whilst doing so in an environmentally sustainable way.

The Congress was honoured by the presence of Mr Ross Finnie, Minister for the Environment and Rural Affairs, who delivered a welcoming address at the opening ceremony.  He was then followed by Professor Richard B Flavell, FRS, former director of the John Innes Centre, Norwich and now Chief Scientific Officer of Ceres-Inc., USA., who delivered an extremely interesting and thought provoking keynote address entitled 'Plant Breeding and the Decade Ahead', thus setting the tone for the rest of the meeting.  The congress was divided into five plenary sessions, each addressed by an invited keynote speaker, followed by poster sessions and concurrent discussion or focus groups led by invited chairpersons with brief papers drawn by the scientific committee from those offered by delegates.  A special thank you is called for all the theme keynote speakers and focus group chairpersons but the organisers were particularly grateful to Dr Mike Gridley, who so ably stepped into Professor Peter Lillford's shoes to deliver the address which opened the session on Quality, Nutrition and Human Health, due to the latter's indisposition, and to Dr Andrew Cockburn who similarly made the presentation on Opportunities for Nutritional Enhancement, on behalf of Dr Maureen Mackey, who was unable to join us due to the tragic events which took place in the USA on 11 September.

The quality of the keynote addresses was excellent and the chairmanship of the focus groups provided the stimulus for discussion that made these concurrent sessions so interesting and interactive.

Keynote speakers

In addition to our own programme, the congress also provided the venue for a workshop of the International Triticeae Mapping Initiative on the afternoon of Wednesday 12 September, and scientific tours to the Scottish Agricultural College, the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, and the Scottish Crop Research Institute on Friday 14 September.

The Open Forum on the Future of Biotechnology, 'Plants, People and Biotechnology' attracted an audience of over two hundred, which included members of the public and representatives of other organisations.  The panel was very ably chaired by Mr Robin Harper MSP and the panel, which consisted of Professor Richard Flavell, Dr Rodomiro Ortiz, Professor Peter Ruckenbauer, Dr Bruce Pearce, Ms Julie Hill, Mr Neville Craddock, Mrs Helen Millar and Professor Joyce Tait, dealt in a very balanced and informative manner with numerous questions and points raised by members of the audience, mainly addressing issues relating to the introduction and use of GM technology to crop improvement.  We are very pleased to acknowledge the support of the Biological and Biotechnological Research Council's department of public affairs and the Edinburgh Science Festival Organisation's support for this forum.  The debate was lively in part but healthy and rational.  Judging by reports in the press it seems that, in organising this event, EUCARPIA may have moved the debate on GM crops forward on to more rational grounds.  If so, the organisers will have achieved their objective.

In addition to the scientific programme, there were of course several social events, culminating in the congress gala dinner held in the magnificent main hall of the Royal Scottish Museum, a truly superb finale to the meeting.

In addition to those aforementioned, thanks have to be given to the many unnamed individuals and organisations that made this, the XVIth congress, such a success for those who attended.  In particular, Mrs Nan Chapman, Managing Director and her staff at Charisma, the professional conference organiser who was responsible for the day-by-day management of the event.

It was a truly international event, attended by delegates from over 30 countries.  It was, however, unfortunate that the total number of registered delegates did not achieve that which was anticipated.  It is of concern that attendance of members of the association at this and the previous XVth Congress was so disappointing.  This is a matter that the board and executive will attempt to address in the coming years but, in the meantime, congratulations are due to Professor Peter Ruckenbauer, who was unanimously elected President at the General Assembly on Wednesday 12 September.  I wish him all the very best during his presidency and thank him and the executive committee for the support they have given me throughout mine.  I do hope that the success of the XVIth Congress will encourage more of our members to commit themselves to attending the XVIIth Congress in Austria in 2004.  An association such as EUCARPIA is only as strong as its members and it is important that you make every effort to support your association by participating fully in its meetings, including the Triennial Congresses.  I look forward to seeing you in Austria in 2004.