ABIOTIC STRESS 2000: AN ELECTONIC NETWORK FOR PLANT STRESS

Division of Genetics and Environmental Biotechnologies, Dept Environmental Sciences, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 11/A 43100 Parma, Italy

Abiotic stress is a major cause in limiting worldwide the food production worldwide as a major cause. Temperature, water, radiation and nutrient stress are responsible for as much as a 50% reduction of the potential yield of the 10 top crops. In addition pollution stress is assuming an increasing relevance because of the levels of organics and heavy metals contamination in some soils In the same way the monitoring of above ground levels of ozone higher than those allowed by actual legislation are also becoming increasingly frequent. We still do not know if there will be a period of continuous worsening in the climatic conditions of our planet (global change) or if what we are assisting to is only a cyclic modification of the earth meteorology. The research in the field of global weather forecast can help agriculture and farmers to finalize their intervention (sowing, treatment, watering). However, only the improvement of the plant material for stress tolerance and adaptation can guarantee the agricultural activities from an uncertain future. ABIOTIC STRESS 2000 is a thematic network which is born with the purpose of creating a forum in the field of agrobiotechnology by bringing together experts from different disciplines like: plant biologists, meteorologists, experts in global changes, plant breeders, economists, physiologists, biotechnologists, experts of planning and management, social scientists and educators. The thematic network wishes to moderate the discussion of the various experts on the various subjects from the global change and advanced meteorology to crop production around the world and genetic engineering with a particular emphasis to the developing countries and to extreme environments and climates. The thematic network will also seek for all the financial support necessary to organize workshops and meetings as well as teleconferences and computer assisted demonstration programs. For this reason a detailed program of objectives, activities and needs is prepared and will be submitted to some of the major granting agencies for consideration.