With the event focusing on bioprotection, the organisers explain: “Agroecology is now presented as a realistic alternative to conventional agriculture based on the use of fossil inputs. Agroecological crop protection (ACP) is the application of agroecological principles to crop protection. It is based on two founding principles of agroecology - enhancing biodiversity and strengthening soil health - as well as on the original principle of crop protection which emphasises preventive measures against crop pests.

“Biological control (BC), which is characterised by the use of living organisms to reduce populations or damage of crop pests, is central to this agroecological approach, aiming to restore bioecological balances between plant and animal communities in cropping systems. In addition to biological control, solutions exist that use non-living, nature-based, substances.

“The combination of these two fields (living organisms and non-living, nature-based substances) is now considered under the ‘umbrella’ of bioprotection (BP). The different areas of bioprotection are the categories of biological control (conservation BC, classical BC, augmentative BC) against animal pests, plant pathogens, weeds, as well as the categories of non-living substances, such as semio-chemicals, plant extracts, biopesticides, etc.”

The event has the backing of the French Embassy in Vietnam and is part of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Vietnam. It also has financial backing from CIRAD (France and Vietnam) and marks the 30th anniversary of CIRAD's scientific cooperation in Vietnam. Further funding is coming from the Agroecology in South-East Asia research and training partnership platform. This means participation is free of charge, with participants invited to submit oral or poster papers in English. The deadline for abstracts is May 15.

For more information:

• Visit the conference website here
• Download and share the first announcement:
  ICBPSA23 First annoucement - Save the date [pdf - 310.88 kB]
• Download and share the second announcement:
  ICBPSA23 Second annoucement [pdf - 1.34 MB]