This book contains fuller versions of the papers and posters presented in the Knowledge and Technology Transfer and Teaching Plant Pathology sessions at the 9th International Congress of Plant Pathology held in Turin, Italy in 2008. Communication is an essential area for plant pathologists and it is not just the publication of results in the scientific press that is important. In a world where there is a major shortage of food and where a significant amount of it is destroyed by pests and diseases before it ever reaches the consumer, it is important to provide support to those who produce the food in order to reduce the losses. Reducing crop losses not only has an impact on health, but also wealth and, therefore, the ability to survive. With an ever-increasing demand on food supplies due to increases in population, and changes in life-style associated with rising incomes in certain parts of the world, plant pathologists have a pivotal role to play in contributing to global food security. Aspects of crop protection have lost favour with the general public because of concerns about environmental pollution and genetic modification of crops.
This has had a knock on effect in the recruitment and training of crop protectionist in g- eral and a concomitant impact on courses available at universities. However, it has never been more important to train people with good communication skills and an ability to solve problems to tackle the complexities of pathogen and plant interactions.
Preface; Nigel V. Hardwick.- 1. Plant Healthcare for Poor Farmers around the World: Gathering Demand and Innovative Responses; Eric Boa.- 2. Participatory Approaches and Plant Diseases in Less Developed Countries; Janny Vos.- 3. Technology Adoption: Classroom in the Cocoa Block; David Guest.- 4. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Projects in Plant Pathology; Darin Eastburn.- 5. Technology Transfer in Extension: Experience in the United States of America; Paul Vincelli.- 6. Diagnostic Networks for Plant Biosecurity; Jim Stack.- 7. Plant Clinics and Phytopathology Training; Henri Maraite.- 8. Training in Plant Pathology from and Industry Perspective; Ulrich Gisi.- 9. Sustainable Crop Protection and Environment Protection: Eight Years of Technology Transfer between China and Italy; Lodovica Gullino.