International Conference Innovations For Sustainable Crop Production In The Mediterranean Region (ISPAMED)


We are pleased to announce the first edition of the international conference “Innovations for Sustainable Crop Production in the Mediterranean Region”. The event has been taken place at the Main Lecture Hall “Gian Pietro Ballatore” of the Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, from 12th to 13th July 2023.

Agriculture is an economic sector of the utmost importance, as it can meet the food needs of a growing world population and generate income. However, the application of high-input agricultural techniques in recent decades has led to a decline in soil fertility, an increase in desertification, excessive pressure on water resources, an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, unsustainable use of non-renewable energy resources and a loss of biodiversity. Agriculture thus contributes to climate change but is also itself vulnerable to its effects. Therefore, innovations in production methods are needed to increase the sustainability of agricultural production. The goal of the conference is to define the state of the art in terms of environmental impacts in agriculture and to promote possible innovations to increase the sustainability of agricultural products. The event will be focused on tree fruits, crops, protected horticulture and plant protection.

The programme is divided into five thematic sessions:

  • Climate Change, Biodiversity and Mediterranean Production.
  • Enhancement of Water Resources and Food Safety.
  • Economic aspects, sustainable crop production and Consumption Models.
  • Advances in plant diseases and arthropod pests management in a context of climatic change.
  • Sustainable greenhouse production systems for vegetable crops.

In particular, the results of the INTESA project (Italy-Tunisia 2014-2020) “Innovation in technologies to support the sustainable development of agribusiness” will be presented in the 5th session.

The Scientific Committee is chaired by Prof. Tiziano Caruso, assisted by national and international scientists. Each session will be introduced by an invited keynote speaker.

We look forward to seeing you in Palermo!!

International Conference
Innovations For Sustainable Crop Production In The Mediterranean Region
(ISPAMED)

Download programme

Wednesday, 12 July 2023

8:30 Registration

9:30 Welcome, Opening and Addresses

  • Prof Tiziano Caruso, Scientific Committee Chairman
  • Prof Massimo Midiri, Rector University of Palermo
  • Dr Dario Cartabellotta, Director General of Agriculture Sicily Region
  • Dr Luca Sammartino, Vice President of Regional Government

10:00 SESSION 1 – Climate Change, Biodiversity and Mediterranean Production

Chair: Prof Tiziano CARUSO, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences – University of Palermo, Italy

Keynote lecture

New fruit species adapted to a changing climate
Prof Florin STANICA, Faculty of Horticulture, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Romania

Invited speaker

Tomato cultivation in Sicily: from tradition to innovation
Dr Rosario Paolo MAURO, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Italy

Algae-based biostimulant positively affects germination and seedling vigour in durum wheat under salt stress conditions
Dr Angelo ROSSINI, Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Italy

Agronomic response and leaf gas exchange of old Sicilian wheat populations
Dr Sebastiano Andrea CORINZIA, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Italy

Bringing value to Albanian biodiversity: the case of MAPs challenges for the future.
Dr Alban IBRALIU, Department of Crop Production, Agricultural University of Tirana, Albania

Exploitation of durum wheat agrobiodiversity: yield performance and quality of the grain and flour of Sicilian landraces
Dr Silvia ZINGALE, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Italy

13.00 Light lunch

14.30 SESSION 2 – Enhancement of water resources and food safety
Chair: Prof Maurizio BORIN, Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and the Environment, University of Padova, Italy

Keynote lecture

Sustainable water resources management to enhance food security: innovation and strategies
Dr Federica CARUCCI, Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Italy

Invited speaker

Treated wastewater irrigation of oregano crop in a Mediterranean environment: effects on growth, yield and essential oil compounds
Dr Mario LICATA, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy

Sustainable mitigation strategies to enhance tomato performance under nitrogen and water deficit: the role of silicon and plant breeding
Prof Susana CARVALHO, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal

Low-cost systems for precise and sustainable orchard irrigation management: combining proximal and remote approaches
Dr Roberto MASSENTI, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy and Dr Mariana MARTINES, Graniot, Spain.

Identification of Putative Biomarkers Involved in Defense Response to Spilocea oleagina in olive by using a RNAseq approach
Dr Annalisa MARCHESE, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy

Farmers’ perceptions and attitudes in using treated wastewater and desalinated water for irrigation: Yuck factor vs sustainability
Prof Sandra RICART, Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering – Politecnico di Milano, Italy

17.00 Short presentation
Chair: Prof. Youssef ROUPHAEL, Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Napoli, Italy

Ecklonia maxima-derivate seaweed extract supply as mitigation strategy to alleviate drought stress in chicory plants
Dr Beppe Benedetto CONSENTINO, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy

Life Cycle Assessment of Tomatoes Cultivated in an Innovative Soilless System: A Case Study in Sicily, Italy
Dr Simona PRESTIGIACOMO, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy

Synergistic Effect of a Plant-Derived Protein Hydrolysate and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Eggplant Grown in Open Fields: A Two-Year Study
Dr Lorena VULTAGGIO, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy

Exploring factors affecting Medicago intertexta L. seed yield in the Mediterranean Environment: an evaluation
Dr Lucia DINOLFO, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy

Using native Mediterranean plants to mitigate anthropogenic impacts in urban areas
Dr Simona APRILE, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, Italy

Preliminary studies on somatic embryogenesis from floral explants of Sulla coronaria L.
Dr Monica AUTERI, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy

Estimating leaf and plant water status with phylloclip, a new low-cost sensor to estimate leaf vapor condensation
Dr Alessandro CARELLA, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy

Vegetable protein hydrolysates and mycorrhizae inoculation to cope water stress effects on nursery potted Corylus avellana L. young plants
Dr Giuseppe Carlo MODARELLI, Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, Italy

Growing Genovese basil in a Mediterranean environment: influence of multiple pre-harvest factors on production and functional and sensory quality
Dr Michele CIRIELLO, Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, Italy

Wine to Power: production of synthetic methane exploiting the C02 produced during wine fermentation
Dr Mario RAGUSA, Istituto Regionale Vini e Oli di Sicilia – IRVO

20:30 CONFERENCE DINNER, “Viridarium trecentesco” del Complesso Monumentale dello Steri, Piazza Marina, 60, 90133 Palermo PA

Thursday, 13 July 2023

9:00 SESSION 3 – Sustainable Production and Consumption Models

Chair: Prof Pietro COLUMBA, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy

Keynote lecture

Credence Goods and the Formulation of an African Commodities Sustainable Strategy
Prof Vincenzo PROVENZANO, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche, Aziendali e Statistiche, University of Palermo

Invited speaker

Environmental sustainability and economic viability in Mediterranean agriculture
Prof Gioacchino PAPPALARDO, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Italy.

Enzymatic activity like a crucial indicator of the soil health
Prof Geanina BIREESCU, Institute of Biological Research, Romania

Consumer preferences and attitudes toward Mediterranean production: Arancia Rossa di Sicilia PGI
Dr Carla ZARBÀ, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Italy

Consumption patterns and supply of food markets in the Mediterranean
Prof Francesc FUSTÈ-FORNÈ, University of Girona, Spain.

11:30 SESSION 4 – Advances in plant diseases and arthropod pests management in a context of climate change

Chair: Prof Salvatore Walter DAVINO, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy

Keynote lecture

Can global warming accelerate virus evolution and emergence of resistance-breaking isolates
Prof Luis RUBIO, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Valencia, Spain

Invited speaker

Application of innovative techniques for the detection of plant pathogens
Dr Slavica MATIC, Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, CNR, Italy

Tomato brown rugose fruit virus outbreak in Sicily: the evolution of its management after its first introduction in 2018
Dr Andrea G. CARUSO, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy

Effects of abiotic stresses and climate change on plant-fungi symbiosis
Dr Livio TORTA, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy

Climate change and insects in agroecosystems
Prof Gabriella LO VERDE, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy

14:00 Light Lunch

15:00 SESSION 5 – Sustainable horticultural crops for greenhouse production: presentation of INTESA project results

Chair: Prof Leo SABATINO, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy

Keynote lecture

Redefinition of sustainable vegetable production through the exploration of cutting-edge cultivation management practices and DSS application
Prof Georgia NTATSI, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

Invited speaker

Use of the solar energy for sustainable environmental solutions
Prof Zied DRISS, Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Sfax, Tunisia

Agriponic: a sustainable cultivation model for soilless tomato production
Dr Giovanni GUGLIUZZA, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, Italy

Sustainable Approaches of Protected Vegetables Cultivation in Indian Arid and Semi-arid Regions
Dr Pradeep KUMAR, Central Arid Zone Research Institute of Jodhpur, India

Climatic change and development of new horticulture models in Tunisia
Dr Slim ZOUARÌ, Union tunisienne de l’agriculture et de la pêche, Tunisia

17.00 Short presentation

Chair: Prof Riccardo LO BIANCO, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy Tuta absoluta potential vector of the emerging Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus
Dr Roberto RIZZO, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, Italy

Use of solar seawater distiller to provide clean water for irrigating tomato-cultivated greenhouses
Dr Ridha BOUDHIAF, Laboratory of Electro-Mechanic Systems (LASEM), National School of Engineers of Sfax, University of Sfax, Tunisia

Consumer preferences regarding beef consumption: an analysis in the Mediterranean area
Dr Federico MODICA, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy

The Correlation between the Economic Development of Agriculture and Tourism: the Case Study in Southern Sicily
Dr María José LÓPEZ-SERRANO, Department of Economics, Business and Statistics, University of Palermo, Italy

Biodesinfection in Spanish horticultural crops as a profitable and efficient alternative: a step towards circular economy
Dr Ana BATLLES-DELAFUENTE, Department of Economics and Business, University of Almería, Spain

Sustainability in precision irrigation
Manlio GRUTTADAURIA, Netafim Italia S.r.l.

Nectar-inhabiting bacteria: effects on egg parasitoids of invasive stink bugs
Dr Evgenia SARAKATSANI, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy

Biological control strategy in Sicily: the Biofactory of Ramacca (CT, Italy)
Dr Giuseppe GRECO, Ente di Sviluppo Agricolo della Regione Siciliana

Functional food: our experience with mineral biofortification
Dr Sonya VASTO, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Italy

19:30 CONCLUSION


ISPAMed invites you to submit an abstract to the International Conference Innovations for Sustainable Crop Production in the Mediterranean Region.


Our esteemed abstract chairs and reviewers will evaluate the best abstracts that will be considered as oral abstracts. All abstracts selected for presentation will be physically presented in Palermo.



Scientific Committee


  • Prof. Tiziano Caruso, University of Palermo, Italy – Chair
  • Prof. Giuseppe Di Miceli, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Prof.ssa Georgia Ntatsi, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
  • Dott. Giovanni Gugliuzza, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, Italy
  • Prof.ssa Geanina Bireescu, Institutul de Cercetări Biologice Iaşi, Romania
  • Prof. Vittorio Farina, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Prof. Zied Driss, Department of Mechanical Engineering at National School of Engineers of Sfax (ENIS), Tunisia
  • Dott. Roberto Massenti, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Prof. Saadia Zrira, Department at Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Morocco
  • Prof.ssa Marzia Traverso, Institute of Sustainability in Civil Engineering, RWTH Aachen Germany
  • Prof. Mario Licata, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Prof. Alban Ibraliu, Agricultural University of Tirana, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment
  • Prof.ssa Simona Bacarella, University of Palermo, Italy

ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITTEE

  • Prof. Giuseppe Di Miceli, University of Palermo, Italy – Chair
  • Dott. Giovanni Gugliuzza, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, Italy
  • Prof. Salvatore Davino, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Prof. Claudio Leto, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Prof. Riccardo Lo Bianco, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Prof. Filippo Sgroi, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Prof. Leo Sabatino, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Dott. Pio Federico Roversi, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, Italy
  • Dott. Nicolò Iacuzzi, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Dott. Davide Farruggia, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Dott. Beppe Benedetto Consentino, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Dott.ssa Simona Prestigiacomo, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Prof.ssa Teresa Tuttolomondo, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Dott. Francesco Salamone, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Dott. Federico Modica, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Prof. Salvatore La Bella, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Dott.ssa Teresa Totaro, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Dott.ssa Lorena Vultaggio, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Dott. Antonio Giovino, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, Italy
  • Dott.ssa Annalisa Marchese, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Dott.ssa Lucia Dinolfo, University of Palermo, Italy
  • Dott.ssa Nicoletta Lala, University of Palermo, Italy

ORGANIZATIONAL SECRETARIAT

  • Consorzio di Ricerca per lo Sviluppo di Sistemi Innovativi Agroambientali, Italy
  • Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy

Young Research program

Elevate Your Career with the Young Scientist Award!

We are pleased to announce the Young Research Programme, designed to recognize and empower the brightest young minds.

Twenty junior scientists will be carefully selected by a Scientific Committee.

In order to be eligible for this award, junior scientists must be the lead and presenting authors of the submission and under the age of 35.

ISPAMED will finance the APC of manuscripts from the selected young researchers with a contribution of € 500,00 per manuscript, offering free attendance, free accommodation, and a certificate of attendance. In addiction, MDPI Agronomy will offer you a discount of 15% for a full paper to one dedicated special issue in Agronomy.

You can find all the information following the link:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy/special_issues/9BGEGH5P8H

This initiative aims to propel the advancement of exceptional young minds and foster their brilliant careers in agriculture.

To participate, simply submit your abstract for the International Conference “Innovations for Sustainable Crop Production in the Mediterranean Region” (ISPAMED), taking place in the city of Palermo at the Main Lecture Hall “Gian Pietro Ballatore” from July 12th to 13th, 2023. During the submission process, make sure to indicate your interest in the Young Research Programme Award by checking the appropriate box. By doing so, you confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria and accept the terms and conditions.

Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to network with experts, showcase your research, and contribute to the innovations driving sustainable crop production in the Mediterranean region.

Please note that the deadline for abstract submissions has been extended until June 15th, providing ample time for the preparation and submission of your abstract.

We look forward to seeing you in Palermo!!

Organizing Committee

Venue

The Event Will Take Place At The Main Lecture Hall “Gian Pietro Ballatore” Of The Department Of Agricultural, Food And Forest Sciences (SAAF), University Of Palermo, From 12th To 13th July 2023.

Palermo is a city in southern Italy, the capital of the region of Sicily. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy. Palermo has managed to preserve the fascination of the peolpe who lived here: Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Swabians, Angevins, and Spaniards all left their imprint on the city’ s art and life.

THINGS TO DO:

Feast Of Saint Rosalia – Palermo 14 – 15 July

The Feast of Santa Rosalia (U Festìnu), wich is one of the most important in Sicily, takes place from July 10 until July 15, and it is a real tourist buster in Palermo. The topic of the feast is on July 14th. The feast is dedicated to Saint Rosalia, also called La Santuzza (Little Saint) or Rusulia (in Sicilian dialect), the patron saint of Palermo. According to local faith, in 1624 Santa Rosalia saved the city’s residents from a dreadful plague after her relics were found in Monte Pellegrino. U Fistinu (the feast), starts on the 10th of July, and during the night between 14-15 July reaches its peak. Thousands of people follow the parade led by a giant iron made chariot, from the Cathedral to the Foro Italico. Folklore and religion meet and explode into traditional fireworks, making you believe the sun is shining. On July 15th at 7:00 pm, a second procession takes place which carries the relic of the Saint through the streets of the city. The 2023 edition will be the 399 edition of the event.

Calendar of events:

The procession, led by the Archbishop and the Mayor of Palermo, starts on the evening of July 14 in front of the Cathedral of Palermo, and ends near the sea, culminating with an impressive and amazing firework display. The central point of the procession is a vessel-shaped chariot, built different every year, carrying the Statue of Saint Rosalia. The chariot is ten meters high and almost as long, decorated with roses and angels, and pulled by oxen. The feast continues the next day, July 15, with the solemn procession of the relics of the Saint, contained inside a silver urn. During the feast, you can buy food on the street that is part of the popular tradition of the city: pasta with sardines, babbaluci (snails boiled with garlic), sfincione (a thick Sicilian pizza), boiled octopus and watermelon.