A course in collaboration with the CUSO Doctoral Programs in Ecology & Evolution (E&E), Molecular Plants Science (MPS) and Microbial Sciences.

Organizers: Prof. Ted Turlings, Prof. Pilar Junier, Prof. Betty Benrey.

Venue: Neuchâtel 

To learn about and reflect on the challenges for a sustainable agriculture that provides food security for future generations.

• Segenet Kelemu, Director General & CEO of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Kenya
• John Pickett, Cardiff University, UK
• Ulrich Kuhlmann, Plantwise, CABI, Switzerland
• Manuele Tamò, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Benin
• Salvatore DI FALCO, School of Economics and Management, University of Geneva, Switzerland
• Lucius Tamm, FiBL, Switzerland
• Ruth Buteme (MAS Alumni)
• Wilson Nabakwe (MAS Alumni)
• Shoba Marimuthu (MAS Alumni)

The objective of this workshop is to learn about and reflect on the challenges for a sustainable agriculture that provides food security for future generations.

During the workshop you will be confronted with the challenges that researchers and policy makers are facing in their efforts to assure food security for future generations in a sustainable manner.

The focus will be on developing countries and the workshop will also be attended by students from the master module Sustainable Agriculture and by foreign alumni who completed the Master of Advanced Studies in Integrated Crop Management (MAS-ICM, in collaboration with CABI, Delemont).

The workshop will mix talks from experts, roundtable discussions and group work on defined topics which will be chosen during the workshop.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4^th

Room F200

9:00 - 9:30         Registration

9:30 - 9:45          Ted TURLINGS, University of Neuchâtel

      Welcome and introduction to the workshop

9:45 - 10:25        Ulrich KUHLMANN, CABI, Delémont

     “PlantwisePlus – empowering smallholders to confidently face challenges of plant health threats through the promotion of sustainable approaches to crop production”

10:25 - 11:00      Coffee break

11:00 - 12:30      Online presentations from graduates of the Masters of Advanced Studies –

      Integrated Crop Management

      Ruth BUTEME - “Agricultural challenges in Uganda”

      Wilson NABAKWE- “Agricultural challenges in Kenya”

      Shoba MARIMUTHU - “Agricultural challenges in Trinidad and Tobago”

      + 10 min discussion

12:30 - 14:05      Lunch Break (EPFL Microcity building restaurant)

14:20 - 15:00     Segenet KELEMU, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology icipe, Kenya

    "Sustainable food systems"

15:00 - 15:40     Manuele TAMÒ, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Benin 

             “Science-driven, nature-based pest management for cowpea cropping in West Africa”

15:40 - 16:15     Tea break

16:15 - 16:45      Discussion

THURSDAY, MAY 5^th 

Room F200

9:00 - 9:30          Registration

9:30 - 10:10        Claudio SCREPANTI, Syngenta, Basel, Switzerland
                           “Supporting chemical innovation for sustainable agriculture by investing in soil health”

10:10 - 10:50      Lucius TAMM, FiBL, Switzerland

“Organic Agriculture today: Contributions to the development towards agroecological farming systems”

10:50 - 11:15     Coffee break

11:15 - 11:55     John PICKETT, Cardiff University, UK

"Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture: Evidence and new opportunities from chemical ecology”

11:55 - 12:35     Salvatore DI FALCO, University of Geneva, Switzerland

             “What ’s Conservation Agriculture Worth: Experimental Evidence from Ethiopia”

12:35 - 14:00    Lunch Break (EPFL Microcity building restaurant)

Room A017, A317, B104

14:15 - 14:45   Round table discussions (With everybody)

14:45 - 16:45   Group discussions (In 4/5 groups mixing IPM master students, and PhD students. Each group will include experts)

FRIDAY, MAY 6^th

Room F200, E326, GE14

9:00 - 9:30         Registration

9:15 - 12:00       Group work: preparation of presentations (Each presentation coordinated by one PhD student)

12:30 - 14:00     Lunch Break (EPFL Microcity building restaurant)

14:15 - 14:45      Group 1 presentation (15 min talk + 15 min discussion)

14:45 - 15:15     Group 2 presentation (15 min talk + 15 min discussion)

14:30 - 15:00     Break

Room F100

15:00 - 15:30     Group 3 presentation (15 min talk + 15 min discussion)

15:30 - 16:00     Group 4 presentation (15 min talk + 15 min discussion)

16:00 - 16:45     Final discussion and closing remarks

Dates: 4-6 May 2022 (3 days)

Schedule: 9.00-17.00

Venue: University of Neuchâtel room F200, (and A017, A317, B104 for group discussions).

ECTS : 1.5 for PhD students (Scientific activities). For other participants: contact the organisers.

Evaluation: Full attendance and active participation

Information: Please contact Prof. Ted Turlings or the doctoral program coordinator

Registration fee: free for all PhD students of the doctoral programs DPOB, CUSO E&E and CUSO MPS, CUSO Microbial Sciences and IPM master students.

This course is open and free to PhD students (DPOB + CUSO E&E + CUSO MPS + CUSO Microbial Sciences), and mandatory to UniNE IPM master students. External prospect participants can register, but priority is given to DPOB, CUSO E&E, CUSO MPS & CUSO Microbial Sciences PhD students until 20.04. 2022

Maximum number of participants: 40

Registration through the CUSO Microbiology website: Registration 

Please note the cancellation policy (CHF 30).

Deadline: 20.04.22