Wednesday 27 September, 09:30 – 17:00
The Fowden Hall, Rothamsted Conference Centre

Join our Sustainable Agriculture Special Interest Group (SIG) for a day delving into the full agricultural entomology life cycle, from monitoring to management and beyond. Sustainable agriculture is faced with a multitude of challenges in the coming decades, from increasing pressure to produce for a growing global population, to climate change and the associated range shift of pests. Since insects are central to our food systems as protectors, pollinators and pests, entomological research is optimally placed to monitor and manage these challenges.

This meeting will cover all aspects of entomology for sustainable agriculture, and will specifically focus on biomonitoring, translation of research into practice and engagement of practitioners and the public. Alongside invited talks from some exceptional leading researchers across these topics, we will hold an interactive session on current advances in biomonitoring, how this subfield may evolve into the future and the implications of this for land management and policy. We are also inviting abstracts for both oral and poster presentations from any registered attendees.

Key themes

• Biomonitoring of pests and beneficials
• Translation of research into practice
• Engagement of practitioners and the public

Keynote speakers

We are delighted to welcome the below leading researchers within the field, each providing a detailed oversight of the key themes of the conference.

James Bell
Rothamsted Research

Sarah Beynon
The Bug Farm

Larissa Collins
Fera

Abstract submission

Please note, abstract submission is now closed.

Registration

Registration is now open at the bottom of this page. We offer significantly reduced rates for RES members, so if you aren’t already a member, join today!

We have a limited number of spaces available for tours at Rothamsted Research. Spaces will be filled on a first come first served basis, please add this to your booking if you would like to attend. Find out more below.

Registration deadline: 17:00 (BST), Friday 15 September

Tours

We have a limited number of spaces available for tours at Rothamsted Research. Spaces will be filled on a first come first served basis. Site tours will showcase the insect science at Rothamsted Research, encompassing the Rothamsted Insect Survey, the Insectary, and the on-site suction trap and light traps.

The Rothamsted Insect Survey (RIS) has been running two trap networks since 1964. Its long-term data are unique providing information on aphids, larger moths and many other migrating insects to scientists, growers, conservation organisations, individuals and policy makers. As such, the networks represent the most comprehensive standardised long-term data on insects in the world and have a wide range of fundamental and applied uses. Visitors can see the insect survey lab, and hear how the team processes samples from the suction trap and light trap network, then see examples of the traps in situ.

The Insectary is a specialised facility that maintains a range of both indigenous and exotic insect species for scientific purposes. Visitors can view the insect rearing and insect behaviour study rooms, designed to provide controlled temperature, lighting, humidity and airflow. The facility holds DEFRA plant health licences for importing, maintaining and working with many exotic insect species. Most compartments are licensed for the effective containment of quarantined species and insecticide-resistant strains.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch: info@royensoc.co.uk