ISPMF Newsletter 6: July 2016

The 2nd ISPMF Conference: May 25-27th 2016, Ghent. This very enjoyable and relaxed meeting was organized by Ann Depicker, Vikram Virdi, Paloma Juarez, Veronique Boudolf, Sylvie De Buck, Annick Bleys and held at the Technologiepark, Gent-Zwijnaarde. All together, we were 161 participants (104 ISPMF members), 25 from industry and 136 affiliated to Universities and Institutes.

The ‘official’ 2016 ISPMF conference photo

…but I think this ‘unofficial’ photo also captures the relaxed feel of the meeting

Australia 1%

Austria 2%

Belgium 20%

Brazil 2%

Canada 5%

Czech Republic 1% Denmark

1% Finland 2%

France 5%

Germany 19% Iran

2%

Israel 1%

Italy 6%

Japan 2%

Korea 6%

Netherlands 3%

Norway 1%

Portugal 1%

South Africa 5%

Spain 2% UK

12%

USA 1%

ISPMF Newsletter 6: July 2016

The meeting was a truly international occasion with 22 countries represented

A full programme saw 28 invited speakers present their expertise and know-how in 30 minute talks , 28 speakers giving shorter 10 minute talks and 9 participants rose to the challenge of 2 minute elevator pitches with further participants explained their results with a poster. In total we had 57 posters filling the big hall of the Fiers-Schell-VanMontagu building in the Technologiepark, 927. The full programme and abstract book is available to down load from the website http://societyformolecularfarming.org/node/47 After a full day of interesting talks on Wednesday 25th of May, the free Thursday morning on the 26th of May was well appreciated for Networking or to visit the Knowledge for Growth conference on the biotechnology research or to visit the Food Pilot at ILVO (Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries research). Also the talks on Thursday afternoon and Friday were diverse and eye openers in many aspects. Furthermore, the coffee breaks, the receptions as well as the poster walks and dinners were providing opportunities for interaction and discussion. Thanks to the registration fees and the sponsors for making all of this possible!

ISPMF Newsletter 6: July 2016

Organising Committee members 2016-2018 President George Lomonossoff Secretary Joachim Schiemann Treasurer / Membership Secretary Julian Ma Communications Officers Inga Hitzeroth / Penny Hundleby Website manager Heribert Warzecha Biennial meeting organiser* (see below) Kirsi-Marja Oksman-Caldentey Society awards manager Ann Depicker * The next ISPMF meeting will be held in Helsinki

The society AGM: was also held in Ghent during the ISMPF conference. Highlights of the

meeting included news that for the 3rd year running the society membership numbers have continued to rise, and we now boast membership of 148. Most of whom were represented at the Ghent meeting. The website continues to enjoy a good number of visitors (with up to 2000 hits per month), please take further advantage of this and send us more news to promote. Membership fees in 2014/2015 enabled us to again secure discounted rates to members for PBVAB, sponsor a reception event at the meeting and provide bursaries for 13 members. Membership fees together with sponsorship went towards the Ghent ISPMF meeting, and in addition bursaries were given for 10 members. Further details of the accounts and the full minutes of the meeting have now been circulated to the members. Requests were made by members to have access to the ISPMF logo and an ISPMF poster to advertise the society. Both of which are now available to download from the website. During the meeting the organising committee was re-elected with George Lomonossoff accepting the role of new Society President, taking over from Julian Ma. Julian was much thanked for having the vision and drive for getting the society off the ground. We are delighted that Julian will remain on the committee and will serve as the new Treasurer/ membership secretary. The new committee members and roles are listed below:

George Lomonossoff and Julian Ma

ISPMF Newsletter 6: July 2016

If you have items for the next ISPMF newsletter please send to penny.hundleby@jic.ac.uk

3rd ISPMF conference 2018 VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Helsinki invites you warmly to attend the third ISPMF congress in June 2018. Besides an exciting scientific program we will put together, you will be offered t he possibilities to visit VTT, the largest multidisciplinary RTO in Nordic countries and/or companies and science park having plant-related activities in Helsinki area.

Please reserve some extra time either before or after the congress to get familiar with Finnish design, sauna, and enjoy beautiful, pure Finnish nature and night-less nights. You are cordially welcome! Kirsi-Marja and Anneli

Other upcoming meetings perhaps of interest:

http://www.aiche.org/sbe/conferences/international-conference-on-plant-synthetic-biology-and-bioengineering/2016

VIRUS-LIKE PARTICLE & NANO-PARTICLE VACCINES 22-24 June 2016, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands