INTRODUCTION

New policies must be adopted under potential climate-change risks to secure sustainability of agricultural crop production. Unfortunately, the available climate and crop-growth simulation models have not been used yet to support agricultural decision-making in practice. While researchers at high-level centres (“developers”) have produced relevant simulation tools; regional agricultural research centres (“users”), those who should apply these tools for local agricultural decision-making, are often not familiar with the available tools.

THE AGRIDEMA WORKSHOP GOAL

This AGRIDEMA workshop is dedicated basically to the “users” audience, as well as stakeholders and politicians. We aim to illustrate the usefulness of the available tools through practical examples. The “State of the Art” in the application of climate and crop-growth simulation tools to agricultural decision-making under climate change conditions will be pointed out. Furthermore, we will focus on what limits the introduction of such tools in practice, providing general guidelines to promote their practical use in the future. The final goal is to launch a network, comprising “developer” and “users” of the simulation tools.

LOCATION AND TIME TABLE

AGRIDEMA workshop will be held inValladolid, Spain, from 27 to 29 June 2007.

WORKSHOP TOPICS

1.       General background and policies regarding climate-change impacts in agriculture

2.       Climate modelling tools

3.       Crop-growth modelling tools

4.       Applications of the simulation tools in agricultural climate-change impact assessments.

INVITED LECTURERS

·          Francisco J. Doblas-Reyes, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF),  Reading (UK)

·          Marcello Donatelli, Research Institute for Industrial Crops (ISCI),  Agriculture Research Council (Italy)

·           Jose M. Gutierrez, Applied Mathematics Dpt., University of Cantabria (Spain)

·          James Hansen, International Research Institute for Climate and Society, The Earth Institute, Columbia University (USA).

·          Gerrit Hoogenboom, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering The University of Georgia (USA)

·          Ana Iglesias, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Agronomy School (Spain)

·          Anastasios Kentarchos, Environment and Climate System Unit, DG-Research, European Commission.

·          Joop Kroes, Alterra, Centre for Water and Climate, Wageningen (The Netherlands)

·          Mikhail Semenov, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden Herts (UK)

ROUND TABLE

A Round Table entitled: What limits the introduction of climate and crop-growth modelling tools in agricultural decision-making under climate change conditions?, will be held at the end of the workshop. The round table aims to encourage the introduction of the simulation tools, identifying which issues limit such introduction. Politicians, stakeholders and leaders of important farmer’ associations are specially invited.

FIELD VISIT

A field visit to the Irrigation Community at Geria-Simancas-Villamarciel channel will be conducted during the workshop. The visit aims to show current irrigation modernisation investments conducted in Spain, as well as the production conditions of farmers. The workshop participants will have the opportunity to interact directly with farmers, pointing out their interests regarding mitigation measures under potential climate-change risks.

SOCIAL ACTIVITY

Participants are invited to a guided city-walk through Valladolid in the 28^th June night. The walk comprises the most remarkable city monuments, comments about Castilian and Spanish history, as well as visits to typical places of Spanish wines and “tapas”.

CALL FOR PAPERS AND REGISTRATION

Interested persons are kindly invited to submit Abstracts as Microsoft Word or PDF attached files to the following e-mail address:

riorombl@itacyl.es

Files must include author’s name and affiliation, as well as an email address. Authors should indicate which workshop topic they are applying and if they prefer to present oral communications or posters.

Deadline for abstract submissions is May 24, although poster contributions could be received up to June 7. Applications in the fourth topic are strongly encouraged. The Scientific Committee will decide conveniently and inform authors by May 31.

The full workshop fee is 100.00 €. The fee comprises workshop participation and documentation, as well as meals, field visit and the foreseen social activity. Registered participants will be informed about payment modalities.

Reduced fees are:

Local participants fee (meals are excluded):          50.00 €
Students:                                                           30.00 €

Payment must be done through Bank transfer to the account: 20960120693182404804, IBAN ES80, SWIST ESPA ES2L