Symposium

The “First International Symposium on Applied Biotechnology in Horticulture 2008 – Connecting Bioscience and Economy in China” aims to show examples and to initiate discussions on the best ways to connect Science-to-Economy in the field of plant biotechnology and genomics in China taking a focus on horticultural crops. For this purpose it brings together researchers and breeders in this arena from both Chinese and European university and company backgrounds. We invite posters and presentations presenting either the latest advances in applied biotechnology in horticulture and/or the prospects and hurdles of application of this technology in China and abroad. The meeting will provide a meeting platform for European and Chinese scientists and breeders and will provide an excellent opportunity for partnering to especially Dutch horticultural research and some of the largest companies active in breeding of horticultural crops.

The preliminary program with titles of speakers are published and have been updating on the website www.wur-hau.org. The program will run from Wednesday morning – Friday morning 16-18 April 2008.

Invited Foreign speakers:

·         Augustin Thieffry, Long Ping High Tech - Vilmorin & Co., Sino-French seed company, Changsha, Hunan, China.--- When two leaders join their efforts for the benefit of chinese growers.

·         Prof Arjen van Tunen, director Keygene NV, molecular marker company, Wageningen, The Netherlands.--- Next generation plant biotechnologies: Sequence Based Breeding.

·         Prof Hans Dons, Prof of Entrepreneurship in the Life Sciences at WageningenUR and director Bioseeds, Wageningen, The Netherlands.--- World-wide developments in the vegetable seed business.

·         Dr Wietze van der Aa, Director of the Wageningen Business School, The Netherlands.---Running business plans and Masterclass and biobusiness-a case study in HUA

·         Prof Evert Jacobsen, Dept Plant Breeding, Wageningen UR, The Netherlands.--- Cisgenic approaches to the commercial introduction of disease resistant potato.

·         Henk de Groot, VBN United Flower Auctions, The Netherlands.--- Introducing flower auctions into China: cultural and educational factors determining the success of the auction system.

·         Jos Leeters International Horticulture & Marketing, Van Hall-Larenstein, University of Professional Education, Wageningen UR, The Netherlands.---A 2+2 joint model on hort. education between WUR and Chinese agricultural universities

·         Andre Smaal, Director Agriom BV, flower breeding company, The Netherlands.--- Challenges and opportunities of Technology Cooperation with China for a floricultural company.

·         Poula Reinhoud, Agriom BV, flower breeding company, The Netherlands---Flower breeding in Agriom

·         Dr Anke de Jong, Genetwister BV, biotechnology company, Wageningen, The Netherlands---Biotech. and molecular assisted breeding for vegetables quality innovation

·         Dr Karin Posthuma, Enza R&D BV, vegetable seed company, Enkhuizen, The Netherlands

·         Dr Ruud van de Bulk, Manager business development, Plant Research International, Wageningen UR, The Netherlands.--- How to develop bioscience related business in a research organisation

·         Prof Harro Bouwmeester, Dept Plant Physiology, Wageningen UR, The Netherlands--

·         Dr Edwin van der Vossen, Plant Research International, Wageningen UR, The Netherlands

·         Dr Maarten Jongsma, Plant Research International, Wageningen UR, The Netherlands.--- Research collaborations generating mutual benefits in flowers and vegetables.

·         Thierry van Helden, EVD, The Hague, The Netherlands---Project management for Asia facility for China

Invited domestic speakers from China:

·         Prof Xie Conghua, Vice-president of Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei, Wuhan.--- (1) Internationalization of education and research at HAU；（2） Potato industry and biotechnology in China

·         Prof Huang Jikun, Director Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing. ---Development and Impacts of China 's Agricultural Biotechnology.

·         Prof Tang Kexuan Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Director Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. ---Prospects of plant metabolic engineering and potential collaboration with industry in China

·         Prof Li Shaohua, Director of CAS-WH Botanical Garden, Wuhan.---Link research and bioindustry ---a case study in grape crop.

·         Dr Du Shengli, Director Tianjin Cucumber Institute, Tianjin.--- Perspectives of a chinese breeding company in a global economy.

·         Prof Dr Bao Manzhu, Dean of College of Horticulture & Forestry Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan.--- Hybrid flower breeding – a role for university research

·         Prof Ye Zhibiao College of Horticulture &Forestry Science, Huazhong Agricultural University.---Link biotechnology research and biobusiness in China- a case study for tomato .

·         Prof Zhou Deyi, College of Economic & Management, Huazhong Agricultural University.--- Biobusiness education – educating the educators.

·         Prof Zhong Yuan, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong, Tai’an.---What Regulates Ethylene-insensitive PCD/Senescence of Iris Flowers.

·         Prof Wang Caiyun, College of Horticulture &Forestry Science, Huazhong Agricultural University

--- Linking education and research to international standards