China: 5th International Symposium on Tropical and Subtropical Fruits

International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet) is an independent and self-financing global network set up under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). It is both intergovernmental and inter-institutional in nature, with the mandate and role to promote sustainable global development of the tropical fruit industry in relation to production, consumption and trade. It is membership-based, with members acting through one lead agency on inter-country decisions. It is based in Malaysia.

TFNet is an expanding network with 145 members from 38 countries, 11 of them are country members: Bangladesh, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Philippines, Sudan, Syria, and Vietnam. It also has 15 associate members composed of companies and organizations and 119 ordinary members.

Activities of TFNet include conducting consultancies and studies, project implementation, and organizing workshops, conferences, and seminars. The latest of which is a workshop in Bangladesh for tropical fruit smallholders. Workshops on various topics are also set to be conducted this year in Sudan, the Philippines, and Fiji. An African TF regional network was established in April 2011 and the Latin America and Caribbean TF regional network will be established in November 2012, subsequent to a workshop in Costa Rica.

The 5th International Symposium on Tropical and Subtropical Fruits (5th ISTSF) to be held in Hua Tai Hotel, Guangzhou, China on 18-20 June 2012, is jointly organized by the Fruit Tree Research Institute, Guandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet), International Society for Horticultural Sciences, Hunan Agricultural University, and Guangdong Fruit Association.

The symposium aims to highlight recent research and development in production and post-harvest fruit technologies; discuss current issues on consumer demand, market access, and trade; provide a forum for information exchange and strengthen network linkages among researchers, producers, academicians, traders, policy makers and other stakeholders in the tropical and subtropical fruit industry.

Participants are encouraged to contribute to the symposium in oral and poster presentations under these themes:
• Germplasm diversity and breeding
• Molecular biology and biotechnology
• Production Technology and Physiology
• Postharvest and Processing Technology
• Pest and Disease Management
• Economics, Marketing, and Trade

More than 500 participants are expected to attend the symposium. To register, log on to www.istst2012.com/register.php

For more information:
Christian Anthony T. Cangao
Tel.: 603-8941-6589
Fax.: 603-8941-6591
www.itfnet.org