The XV ISBCW is aiming to bring together practitioners, scientists and regulators working in the field of weed biological control to share their experiences, network, foster collaborations, and discuss emerging issues that affect invasive plant management. This field of research touches on several diverse aspects, such as insect and pathogen-plant interactions, evolutionary processes, socio-economics and international regulations. Special emphasize during the upcoming Symposium will be placed on presenting and discussing new methods to determine the efficacy, environmental safety and predictability of biological control, including the role of chemical ecology, modelling, evolutionary processes, and the –omics field, with the general aim to advance the science and success of weed biocontrol.
Although biological control of weeds has been practiced since over 100 years, it is still a much neglected tool in managing alien invasive weeds in Europe. Taking advantage of the fact that the XV ISBCW will take place in Switzerland, we will encourage presentations addressing the specific opportunities and constraints that classical biological control of weeds faces in Europe.

Keynotes
https://isbcw-2018.com/index.php?cat=keynotes

Website
https://isbcw-2018.com

Local Organizer:

Hariet Hinz, CABI Switzerland

CO-Organizer:

Heinz Müller-Schärer, University of Fribourg, Switzerland

Scientific committee:

Hariet L. Hinz (chair), CABI Switzerland
Marie Claude Bon, USDA ARS EBCL, France
Graeme Bourdôt, AgResearch Lincoln, New Zealand
Massimo Cristofaro, BBCA, Italy
Gaylord Desurmont, USDA ARS EBCL, France
René Sforza, USDA ARS EBCL, France
Daisuke Kurose, CABI UK
Heinz Müller-Schärer, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Michelle Rafter, CSIRO, Australia
Urs Schaffner, CABI Switzerland
Marion Seier, CABI UK
Lincoln Smith, USDA ARS EBCL, France
Sonja Stutz, CABI Switzerland
Sarah Thomas, CABI UK
Philip Weyl, CABI Switzerland