Moderators : Arnon Dag, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Israel ; Matthew Whiting, Washington State University, US
Global crop production is dependent upon pollination – three out of four crops producing seeds or fruit for human use depend, in part, on pollinators. Indeed, production of most high-value horticultural crops would not exist without pollination. Currently, traditional pollination processes and services are facing increasing threats from global pollinator decline and climate change. There is, therefore, an urgent need to develop innovative solutions for crop pollination to ensure sustainable production in the future. This workshop will highlight research into potential solutions.
The objective of this workshop is to discuss the burgeoning interest in new approaches to artificial pollination for high value horticultural crops. This workshop will be a forum for examining existing and future technologies for improving cross pollination including artificial pollination systems (ground-based using electrostatic sprayers, via UAVs, etc.), air pulses to the selected flowers, online/remote monitoring of pollinator activity, the use of alternative pollinators, and breeding crops that are better adapted for pollination.
