10th International Working Conference on Stored Product Protection

Dr YongLin Ren travelled to Lisbon, Portugal to attend the 10th International Working Conference on Stored Product Protection (IWCSPP) from 25 July to 3 August. This is the international research conference held every four years and reports advances in this field of research. It is fully focused on stored product insect/pathogen control, monitoring, diagnostic, resistance and quarantine treatment. More than 400 participants were present at the conference.

Dr Ren’s paper has been published in the conference proceedings and he gave two oral presentations at the conference:

• Evaluation of headspace Solid Phase Micro-extraction method for analysis of phosphine residues in wheat (full paper and oral presentations)
• Are the volatile chemicals from wheat and grain insects (Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) and Sitophilus granarius (L.)) related with inter-communication between insects and host? (oral presentations)

Attending the conference allowed Dr Ren to maintain and establish new contact with various scientists from high profile research establishments that are conducting work in similar fields. It was useful to share innovative results, such as collaboration with China to evaluate and develop semi-nano dust for stored product insect control in unsealed farm bin and shipping containers. Dr Ren  also discussed with delegates from the United States and China to establish an international collaborative relationship on the eradication of Khapra beetle and the use of Nitrogen and CA+heat or fumigant for fumigation/sterilization/disinfection of grains and oil seeds. Furthermore, he discussed the possibility of exchangeing students and sharinge curriculum related to the biosecurity of stored grain with Chinese University and Kansas State University delegates.

During the conclusion of conference, the Food and Agriculture Organization raised issues regarding post harvest losses and food and trade security. Dr Ren believed it was very clear at this conference that the IWCSPP has no research strategy on the management of phosphine resistance. However, the 2014 phosphine review is challenging all the grain industry. Very few papers reported using sulphuryl fluoride (SF) for stored grain. It’s main use was reported for flour and structural fumigation.