A collaborative effort between Phytoma-España, the Regional Government of Murcia’s Department of Water, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, the Murcian Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Development (IMIDA), and the Águilas City Council will host the International Conference on Tomato Phytosanity: From Current Risks to Fresh Threats on December 11 and 12 at the Infanta Doña Elena Auditorium and Congress Center in Águilas, Murcia.
The conference addresses growing concerns within the global tomato industry, which currently represents the most widely cultivated and economically valuable vegetable crop worldwide. Demand for tomatoes continues to rise, driving increased cultivation, production, and trade. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global tomato production reached 182.3 million tons in 2017, cultivated across 4,848,384 hectares.
Tomato producers are facing escalating phytosanitary challenges, including increased risks of plant pathology spread due to globalization, the impact of climate change on pest cycles and natural enemies, increasingly restrictive regulations on pesticide availability, and evolving commercial demands that complicate integrated pest management. The Mediterranean basin, in particular, has seen a significant increase in tomato-related plant health issues in recent decades, with the emergence of new arthropod pests, fungal strains, and at least eleven viruses, including tomato bronzing, rugose, and cucumber mosaic viruses.
Phytoma-España, which previously dedicated a conference to the Tuta absoluta pest in 2010, is refocusing its attention on tomato cultivation. The event will be held in Águilas, a key location within the largest tomato-producing region encompassing Murcia and the province of Almería. Antonio Monserrat, head of the IMIDA’s Crop Protection Team, will serve as the scientific director of the conference.
The conference is designed for advisors, technicians, farmers, researchers, companies, and professionals involved in tomato and vegetable cultivation. Discussions will center on the increasing difficulty in controlling Tuta absoluta, the re-emergence of pests and diseases, new threats to the crop, soil disinfection strategies, the diversity of viruses affecting tomato plants, and the availability of plant protection products within integrated pest management systems. The event will feature presentations from nationally and internationally recognized experts in plant health, including researchers from Mexico and Italy.
Pre-register to receive complete information about this conference
Interested parties can find information on submitting a technical poster and related guidelines here.
