NEW DEADLINE 29 OCTOBER 2012

Biotechnology from desert microbial extremophiles for supporting agriculture research potential in Tunisia and Southern Europe

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Newsletter

BIODESERT Conference announcement

In the ambit of the European project BIODESERT, we are organizing an international conference dealing with the management of microbial resources in arid lands for the development of a sustainable agriculture. The conference is entitled “Microbial resource management for agriculture in arid lands” and will be held in Tunis, Tunisia from 16 th to 18th December 2012. We expect to have a wide international audience including scientists expert in desert biology, agriculture in arid environments, microbiology of the plant-soil ecosystems, symbiosis and microbiology of extremophiles. The final aim of the conference is to discuss the new advancements in microbiology that can enhance agriculture in arid ecosystems according to a sustainable management.

Microbial diversity in desert extre me environment Workshop announcement

In the ambit of the EU project BIODESERT, a workshop on “Microbial diversity in desert extreme environment” will be held from 9 to 11 July 2012. During this period many topics will be covered. These topics are: (i) Sand and stone dwelling microorganisms; (ii) microbial diversity in saline and halo-alkaline ecosystems; (iii) New “omics” techniques for studying microbial diversity in arid ecosystems.

Objectives

The overall objective of BIODESERT is to provide support to the Tunisian partner for developing high quality research potential for the microbial resource management in arid environments. We believe that this is an essential requirement for the development of safe and sustainable agriculture, and the improvement of the socio-economic needs of the country by addressing the strategies for the establishment of a bio-economy. Four specific objectives will be persued:

i) Acquire new advanced research equipment to the tunisian partner in the front line of technology.

ii) Transfer knowledge through the recruitment by the Tunisian partner of experienced researchers in the area of molecular biology and molecular microbial ecology.

iii) Networking with experienced research teams in the same research areas for enhancing the Tunisia partner know-how and experience through training of experienced researchers.

iv) Transferring knowledge at regional, national and international level.

European Union Funded Project