IPRRG 2024

2024 Annual Meeting of the International Pest Risk Research Group
in Association with the Spanish National Research Council and University of Malaga

Pest risk assessments: Embracing new technologies and understanding socio-economic impacts of plant pests amidst rapid global change

17^th – 20^th September 2024, Torre del Mar, Malaga, Spain

It is our pleasure to invite you to the upcoming annual meeting of International Pest Risk Research Group that will be held in Torre del Mar. The conference venue will take place at the field research station “La Mayora” 5km east of Torre del Mar and which is jointly owned by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of Malaga.

This conference promises to be an exciting event that will bring together experts from various fields to discuss and exchange ideas on the latest trends, challenges and opportunities in risk assessment. We are confident that this conference will provide you with valuable insights and networking opportunities that will benefit you both personally and professionally.

Host of the meeting:

The Institute for Mediterranean and Subtropical Horticulture “La Mayora” (IHSM-UMA-CSIC) was created in 2010 as a synergy between consolidated research groups from the experimental station “La Mayora” of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones científicas (CSIC) and from the University of Málaga (UMA). The research areas of the institute range from molecular aspects of plants and their pests and pathogens, to crop management. The Institute’s goal is to promote research and innovation in the area of production of subtropical and Mediterranean crops as well as crop protection and sustainability.

Venue:

La Mayora field station: this is a 50 ha field station located in Algarrobo-costa; Algarrobo-costa is found 35 km east of the city of Malaga and 5 km of Torre del Mar where plenty of accommodation can be found. This is a research station 2 km from the shoreline with experimental orchards, state of the art green houses and living germplasm collections of different Mediterranean and subtropical crops. The station has also different laboratory facilities. There is a 80-seat auditorium and two additional meeting rooms places where small discussion groups can be also hosted. It is a quiet and beautiful station in the heart of the main agriculture production area in the east of Malaga, the so called Axarquía and close to the sea. The field station (called La Mayora) is 5 km away from Torre del Mar a full-equipped holiday resort area at the seaside.
Maximum venue capacity: 85 people (auditorium) + 2 small meeting rooms (12 people each).

Transport: a bus-shuttle service will be hired to transport each day the attendees from Torre del Mar to the station and back, as there is no public transport available to get to the field station. See below for details on the shuttle, etc.

Accommodation – Torre del Mar:

Torre del Mar itself is a Costa del Sol mid-budget resort town, known for its flat and extensive seafront, ideal for leisurely walks. The area has a bustling town atmosphere featuring plenty of dining and shopping options. Its proximity to Malaga (connected by a convinient and fast bus) and other cities like Nerja, Frigiliana adds to its charm as a tourist destination. There are many mid-and budget accomodation possibilities all of them at a walking distance from each other and from the main beach promenade and town center.

There are many (mid-low budget) accommodations in Torre del Mar:
List on booking.com

How to get to Torre del Mar:

First by plane to Malaga:

The airport of Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) is the main international airport serving the Andalusian region in southern Spain. Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport offers a wide range of international connections, primarily within the European Union and the United Kingdom. Airlines like Easyjet, Ryanair, Norwegian Air, and Vueling provide numerous low-cost routes, connecting Málaga to various cities across Europe (Munich, Brussels, Nantes, Newcastle, Prague, Rome, Eindhoven, Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Munich, Milano and Zurich) among others. Malaga airport has direct and connection flights with all the main airports in Spain (e.g., Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao) and from May to October has also connection flights with the US and other African and Middle-East destinations.

To travel from Malaga Airport to Torre del Mar by bus:

After arriving at Malaga Airport, follow signs to the exit. The airport has clear signposts directing you to the public transportation area where you can find the ALSA bus stops. The Malaga Airport Bus Stop is in Terminal 3, just as you walk out of the Arrivals hall. When you come out through the main Arrivals exit doors, walk straight ahead through the forecourt to the road. The bus stops are right there on the road, along with the Ticket Office.

Buses to Torre del Mar: There is one direct bus from Malaga Airport to Torre del Mar which runs daily, usually between 13:00 and 17:00. It stops twice along the way, in Malaga City and Malaga Port, before reaching Torre del Mar. For the exact schedule of your travel date, check the Alsa website. The journey takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes. The bus ticket from Malaga Airport to Torre del Mar costs around 7€, and you can purchase tickets at the ticket booth at the Malaga Airport bus stop or online at www.alsa.com. You can board the bus with your booking reference number, an SMS for mobile boarding, or a printed ticket.

Depending on the time and date of your arrival, there might not be a direct bus to Torre del Mar from the airport or you need to wait for a long time until the direct bus is available (e.g., arriving early in the morning or late afternoon). In that case, you can take a bus or a train to the city of Malaga with the LÍNEA EXPRESS AEROPUERTO, which runs every 25 minutes. The LÍNEA EXPRESS stops at the Malaga Bus Station (Estación de Autobuses de Málaga), where you can transfer to an ALSA bus to Torre del Mar. There are also buses to Torre del Mar from the bus station located at Malaga Port (Estación de Autobuses Muelle Heredia). From the city of Malaga until Torre del Mar you have a bus ride of ca. 45 minutes.

Although it is better to buy tickets online, or at the airport booth (where you can pay with cash or by card), you can purchase them directly on the bus and pay with cash. In this case, it is important to have small change or small notes (i.e. 10 euros), as bus drivers often do not have change.

To Torre del Mar by taxi:

Taking a taxi is a very fast and convenient way to get to Torre del Mar. The taxi rank is located within the Arrivals section of Terminal T3, where you can wait in line to take the first available taxi. There are clear signposts directing you to the taxi rank. Usually, there are plenty of taxis available. Please take an official licensed taxi of the City of Malaga, which are visibly signed to avoid scams. You can find information on taxi rates here: https://www.aeropuertodemalaga-costadelsol.com/transportation/taxi-malaga-airport.htm#/search. The average price to Torre del Mar from the Airport is around 90 euros (this depends, of course, on traffic conditions, hour, day, etc.). It usually takes 40 minutes if traffic conditions are good to get to Torre del Mar.

Shuttle from Torre del Mar to the conference venue (Estación Experimental La Mayora):

Arriving by public transportation (if not by taxi) or by foot to the experimental station where the conference will be held is quite difficult as it is a field station. During the days of the conference, a shuttle bus service will be arranged to transport all participants staying in Torre del Mar (in different hotels) to the Experimental Station La Mayora, and back every day. The exact pickup and drop-off location has not been decided yet, depends a bit on the bus company hired, but it will most likely be at Paseo Maritimo de Poniente, next to the Torre del Mar Lighthouse (https://maps.app.goo.gl/LEVYcJpF29sny6tW6). Most hotels are within a 2 km radius of this area, making them within walking distance. The exact hours and the exact location of the pickup time will be announced soon but a tentative schedule for the shuttle bus is here:

Tuesday 17/09:

Pick-up: 13:30 Torre del Mar (near the lighthouse)
Return to Torre del Mar (drop-off near the light house): 18:00

Wednesday 18/09:

Pick-up: 08:00 Torre del Mar
Return to Torre del Mar: 17:00

Thursday 19/09:

Pick-up: 08:00 Torre del Mar
Return to Torre del Mar: 17:00

Friday 20/09:

Pick-up: 08:00 Torre del Mar
Return to Torre del Mar: 13:30

Important: in case your moment of arrival does not allow you to take the shuttle as tentatively scheduled, please let us know ([email protected]) so we can arrange another pick-up moment on that date.

Call for abstracts:

We invite researchers, scientists, practitioners, policymakers, and all stakeholders with an interest in pest risk modelling and mapping to submit abstracts for oral presentations or posters. Given the theme “Pest risk assessments: Embracing new technologies and understanding socio-economic impacts of plant pests amidst rapid global change,” we aim to explore collaborative and capacity-building strategies to enhance our collective resilience against pest threats. This focus is crucial for protecting agricultural and ecological systems globally. The key topics for this year’s discussion include:

Innovations in Pest Risk Modelling
Socio-Economic Impacts of Plant Pests
Adapting Pest Risk Assessments to Climate Change
Policy and Decision Support Tools
Stakeholder Engagement in Pest Management
Case Studies on Successful Pest Management
Emerging Threats in Plant Health
Digital Innovations in Pest Monitoring
Global Networks for Pest Surveillance

Through these discussions, we intend to foster stronger collaborations across research, industry, and policy spheres, building a foundation for a sustainable future. This collaborative effort will enable us to share innovative strategies and best practices, ensuring a proactive approach to pest risk management in the face of global changes.

We encourage abstract submissions that reflect both theoretical and practical aspects of pest risk modelling and mapping, drawing from diverse disciplines and perspectives.

The deadline for submitting abstracts (max 250 words) for both oral and poster presentations at IPRRG 2024 was 31 July 2024. However, we will keep submission open for a little longer; please contact us via the website contact form if you’re submitting your abstract late! As with previous IPRRG meetings, submission is via online form (click below). Only logged-in IPRRG members will be able to access the form. Members can present one oral presentation but are welcome to submit multiple poster presentation abstracts.

Download Programme and Abstract Book

Policy regarding participation of Russian and Belarusian individuals:

Due to the international sanctions regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, neither Russian nor Belarusian individuals will be allowed to participate in IPRRG 2024 in an official or personal (i.e., private) capacity.

Registration:

The IPRRG 2024 registration fee will provide access to all meeting sessions, refreshments during the meeting, a group dinner and a technical excursion.

Registration rates:
Early-bird registration rate (until 30th June 2024): 350€ (Students 275€)
Regular registration rate (1st July – 31st August): 400€ (Students 325€)
Late registration rate (1st September – 8th September): 500€ (Students 425€)

Cancellation policy:
Registrations cancelled by 31st August will receive a 90% refund of paid fees (minus 10% to cover administrative costs). Registrations cancelled after 31st August will receive a 50% refund of paid fees. No refunds will be issued for late registrations.