The latest research into eradicating the need for artificial herbicides to combat weeds in crops is among the topics for discussion at an international, scientific conference to be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) later this month.

 

In a coup for CSU, the University won the right to organise the Fourth World Congress in Allelopathy in Wagga Wagga from Sunday 21 to Friday 26 August.  

 

Under the theme “Establishing the Scientific Base”, the triennial conference will examine plant allelopathy from the ecological, chemical, breeding and genetics, and commercial aspects.

 

Along with Australian experts, the Fourth World Congress in Allelopathy at the CSU Convention Centre will feature 120 allelopathy scientists from 28 countries, including the USA and the UK, as well as delegates from Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

 

Allelopathy is essentially the chemical warfare that often takes place between neighbouring plants as they seek a competitive advantage over rival plants within their available growing space.

 

Because modern agriculture has relied heavily in recent years on synthetic herbicides to deal with the substantial problem of weeds, repeated herbicide use has resulted in the widespread problem of weed herbicide resistance and pesticide residues.

 

“The understanding of plant allelopathy and its management and chemical make-up offers a novel and promising means of natural weed control to supplement the useful but limited range of procedures available in current weed management systems,” said Dean of CSU Faculty of Science and Agriculture Professor Jim Pratley.

 

“The staging of this conference is a credit to the University and important in the development of an internationally respected research and teaching profile, which is relevant to the regions which we serve,” said Professor Pratley.

 

The Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Senator Richard Colbeck will officially open the conference at 9am on Monday 22 August in the CSU Convention Centre.  The President of the International Allelopathy Society, Professor Azim Mallik from Canada will also speak at the opening from 9.20am.

 

A forum and civic reception, open to the public, will be held at the Civic Theatre in Wagga Wagga from 3.30pm on Tuesday 23 August when outstanding contributions to the field of allelopathy will be recognised.