Springer Knowledge and Technology Transfer for Plant Pathology: 4 (Plant Pathology in the 21st Century, 4)

This book contains fuller versions of the papers and posters presented in the Knowledge and Technology Transfer and Teaching Plant Pathology sessions at the 9th International Congress of Plant Pathology held in Turin, Italy in 2008. Communication is an essential area for plant pathologists and it is not just the publication of results in the scientific press that is important. In a world where there is a major shortage of food and where a significant amount of it is destroyed by pests and diseases before it ever reaches the consumer, it is important to provide support to those who produce the food in order to reduce the losses. Reducing crop losses not only has an impact on health, but also wealth and, therefore, the ability to survive. With an ever-increasing demand on food supplies due to increases in population, and changes in life-style associated with rising incomes in certain parts of the world, plant pathologists have a pivotal role to play in contributing to global food security. Aspects of crop protection have lost favour with the general public because of concerns about environmental pollution and genetic modification of crops. This has had a ‘knock on’ effect in the recruitment and training of crop protectionist in g- eral and a concomitant impact on courses available at universities. However, it has never been more important to train people with good communication skills and an ability to solve problems to tackle the complexities of pathogen and plant interactions. Review From the reviews:“Volume 4 … with only 9 papers, addresses Knowledge and Technology Transfer for Plant Pathology. … They bring together a summary of work across the whole field of plant pathology … . They thus enable specialists to see their specialism as part of an integrated whole, and for students and those at the start of their careers they provide an invaluable summary of what is going on, who the key players are and where the knowledge lacunae lie.” (David Ingram, Food Security, Vol. 3, 2011) From the Back Cover This book contains fuller versions of the papers and posters presented in the Knowledge and Technology Transfer and Teaching Plant Pathology sessions at the 9th International Congress of Plant Pathology held in Turin, Italy in 2008. Extension/advisory plant pathology and teaching are about relationships: the relationship between the advisor and grower and the teacher and student. It is about the building up of trust in the advice given and the enthusiasm of, and methods used by, the teacher. Extension plant pathology had been described as ‘plant pathology with a human face’. It is aspects of these personal relationships that are explored in this book. Also covered are the value of participation in decision making, plant clinics and teaching approaches, both in industry and at universities. The book is aimed at those who have an interest in providing advice to farmers and growers and in teaching the subject to those who are to provide that advice. About the Author Dr Hardwick gained a PhD from Imperial College, London. He worked for government as an advisory plant pathologist and researcher on diseases of arable crop plants in Zambia and the UK. He's a past president of the British Society for Plant Pathology. Maria Lodovica Gullino is a professor of plant pathology at the University of Torino and President of the International Society for Plant Pathology. She has long term experience in plant disease management.