The IR-4 Strategic Planning Conference- December 9-10, 2008
The purpose of the Strategic Planning Conference is to obtain advice and feedback from IR-4’s stakeholders, customers, and partners as we draft a five year (2009-2013) Strategic Plan.
Of great importance to IR-4 is your input regarding the most pressing issues, problems, concerns and potential opportunities in specialty crop pest management and minor uses of pesticides. We are seeking input on how the IR-4 Project can address these issues and reach these opportunities.
IR-4 values your knowledge of minor uses of pesticides and specialty crop pest management. Your input at the Conference will play an important role in the process that determines the IR-4 Project’s direction for the future.
Some questions that will be discussed during the Conference include:
- Should the relative balance of effort and resources within existing IR-4 research programs (food, ornamental horticulture, and biopesticide) be modified and if so, how?
- How will the lack of resources (funding and research personnel) for applied pest management research at the state agriculture experiment stations and USDA-ARS affect the future productivity of IR-4? How can the lack of resources be offset?
- How can IR-4 better serve the needs of existing stakeholders?
- What is the role of IR-4 in funding and conducting broad comparative product performance screening trials to identify pest management solutions for specific pests?
- What role should IR-4 take in harmonizing US and international regulations and crop protection chemical and biopesticide clearances?
- To what extent should IR-4 develop data to support the listing of conventional crop protection chemicals and biopesticides with USDA Organic Material Review Board for use in organic production?
- What role should IR-4 have in the management of invasive species?
- Are there new areas IR-4 should consider for the future and how can IR-4 obtain new resources for these areas without compromising resources for existing priority research objectives?
The conference will play an important role in the process that determines IR-4 Project’s future directions.
It will be held at the Doubletree Hotel Crystal City-National Airport. A block of rooms is being held until November 6, 2008 at the rate of $185.00/single; $205.00 double. Attendees can call 703-416-4100 or central reservations at 1-800-222-TREE to reserve a room. Reference the 3 letter code IRP or mention Rutgers University IR-4 Project of Princeton when making your reservation.
A registration fee of $50 will be charged to attendees until November 24, 2008. Beginning November 25, 2008 the fee will be $100.
For more information:
Contact Cheryl Ferrazoli at ferrazoli@aesop.rutgers.edu or call 732.932.9575 ext.4601
* This notice is not intended to imply a commitment for travel funding assistance by IR-4.