College Events

International Conference on

Postharvest Technology and Quality Management in Arid Tropics

Under the Patronage of His Excellency, Dr Saud Nasser Al-Riyami, President of Sultan Qaboos University

Distinguished Guest of Honour, Sheik Salim bin Hilal Al-Khalili, Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries

Venue: College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University
Date:   24-26 January 2005

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

       Please click here to see the Conference Programme

BACKGROUND

The development and application of innovative postharvest technology is critical to the successful handling and marketing of good quality, safe and traceable food products. In Oman and similar arid climates, many local fresh agricultural, horticultural and seafood products do not compete favourably with imports due to inconsistency in both quality and supply. This first International Conference on postharvest technology in the region will provide a global forum to discuss and share information on the latest technological developments and scientific innovations for reducing losses, maintaining product quality and adding value to food and agribusiness supply chains.

PRELIMINARY REPORT

Already, more than 90 participants from 26 countries have registered to attend this Conference and more registrations are being received. Keynote Speakers from leading international postharvest technology centers of excellence will deliver lectures on the latest developments in postharvest research and technology application. We invite researchers, policy makers, academicians, postharvest operators and marketers, food industry practitioners as well as postgraduate students to register and join us in this exciting scientific gathering in the Sultanate of Oman.

CONFERENCE THEMES

The major themes of the conference include:

• Pre-harvest factors affecting postharvest quality and losses

• Postharvest handling systems, ergonomics and damage reduction

• Optimal refrigerated and controlled atmosphere storage systems

• Drying and packaging technology

• Postharvest physiology; innovative treatments to maintain quality of food and ornamentals

• Postharvest pathology; advances in controlling diseases & disorders

•  Focus on Seafood Postharvest Technology

• Quality and supply chain innovation

• Food trace ability and safety

• Postharvest economics, marketing & market access issues

• Value-adding and innovative agro-processing technologies

• Education and training issues in postharvest technology

• Impacts of postharvest research and interventions

CONFERENCE LANGUAGE

English will be the official language during the Conference

SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION SPONSORS

• International Society of Food, Agriculture and Environment (ISFAE)

• International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) Commission on Quality and Postharvest Horticulture

• CIGR Section VI on Postharvest Technology and Processing Engineering

• Asian Association of Agricultural Engineering (AAAE)

• Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA)

SQU ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Dr Linus U. Opara Chairperson

Dr Shyam Sablani Secretary

Dr Hamed Said Al-Oufi

Dr Salem Ali Al-Jabri

Dr Osman El Mardi

Dr Stephen Goddard

Dr Stefan Kasapis

Dr Saud Musallam Al-Jufaili

Mr Said M. A-Hinai

Mr Mohammed Al-Belushi

Mr Salim A. Al-Hinai

Mr Juma Al-Handhali

INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Prof Adel Kader University of California, Davis, USA
Emeritus Prof Errol Hewett Massey University, New Zealand
François Mazaud FAO of the United Nations, Rome, Italy
Prof Margrethe Serek University of Hannover, Germany
Prof Yibin Ying Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P.R. China.
Dr Frank Bollen Lincoln Technology, Hamilton, New Zealand
Prof. Ahmed Al-Badawy United Arab Emirates University, UAE
Prof Da-Wen Sun University College, Dublin, Ireland.
Prof Vilas M. Salokhe Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand.
Dr Ramdane Dris World Food Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
Dr Greg Johnson ACIAR, Canberra, Australia
Prof Sirichai Kanlayanarat KMUTT, Thonburi, Thailand
Prof Fabio Mencareli Università della Tuscia, Italy
Dr Chris Dake AgResearch Ltd, Hamilton, New Zealand
Prof Lise Korsten University of Pretoria, South Africa
Prof John Mawson Massey University, New Zealand
Prof Zora Singh Curtin University of Technology, Australia
Prof Hanny Khalil Cal Poly State University, California, USA
Dr Awad Hussein University of Alexandria, Egypt
Daniele Giovannucci The World Bank, Washington DC
Prof Bart Nicolai Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
Dr Shaun Ferris CIAT-Africa, Uganda
Prof Stanley Prussia University of Georgia, Griffin, USA
Prof Chris Watkins, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA
Prof Arun Mujumdar National Univ. of Singapore, Singapore

CALL FOR PAPERS

Over 70 scientific abstracts for oral and poster presentations have already been received for the Conference. We invite potential participants to indicate their interest to attend the conference by completing and returning the attached form. Participants are also invited to submit a paper and/or poster to the Organizing Committee by providing a title of the paper and an abstract of no more than 300 words. There will be dedicated sessions for Poster presentations. There will be Special Awards for Overall Best Poster and Best Poster by Student. Full manuscripts of papers/posters presented will be reviewed for publication. In addition to the publication of a refereed Conference Proceedings, selected papers presented at this Conference will be published in a special issue of the International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation.

EXTENDED DEADLINES

   Abstracts submission:    30 October 2004

   Notification of abstracts acceptance:    10 November  2004

   Submission of full paper:    30 November 2004

COSTS

The registration fee will be US$ 100.00 (or 40 Omani Rials) and a reduced rate of US$ 40.00 for students. Members of ISFAE, ISHS, CIGR and AAAE may register at a reduced fee of US$ 80.00 (or 30 Omani Rials). [Pls Quote your Membership Number].
 
The registration fee covers a symposium pack, admission to all sessions, book of extended abstracts, a copy of the conference proceedings, lunches, coffee and tea, the Conference Dinner and Post-Conference Tour. 

ACCOMMODATION

Special hotel rates for conference participants have been negotiated with Golden Tulip, which is located very close to the Seeb International Airport (www.goldentulipseeb.com). Please indicate if you would like accommodation to be arranged for you, or contact the hotel directly: Email: reservation@goldentulipseeb.com

When you make your reservation, indicate to the hotel that you are attending the Postharvest Technology Conference at SQU. Transport will be provided from the hotels to the Conference venues.

ABOUT SQU AND OMAN

The Conference will be held at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), the premier university in the Sultanate of Oman. The university is situated on a modern campus, located about 15 km from the International Airport. The 'solid' architecture and beautiful landscape, in an otherwise stony desert environment, contribute to the unique characteristics of this built environment.
 
The Sultanate of Oman lies at the crossroads of Africa, Europe and Asia. The capital city, Muscat, provides a captivating blend of the old and new characters of this ancient civilization. Increasing numbers of tourists are taking advantage of the desert and coastal scenery, the spectacular mountains and marine eco-tourism. January is a good time to venture the sands and seashore of Oman, with pleasant weather conditions (20-28ºC and low humidity).

The currency of Oman is called the Omani Rial (1 R.O. = 1000 Baisa). 1 R.O. is approx. US$ 2.58. Notes come in 50, 20, 10, 5, 1 Rial and 200, 100 Baisa. Coins are minted in 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 Baisa. 

REGISTRATION FORM

Download forms here

Please fax/post these forms or email your registration details to:

  Conference Secretariat

  Attn: Assoc Prof Linus U. Opara

  College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

  Sultan Qaboos University

  PO Box 34, Al-Khod 123, Sultanate of Oman

  Fax: + 968 2441 3418, Tel: +968 2441 5228, +968 2441 5226

  E-mail: linus@squ.edu.om