Scientists from all over the world completed a successful conference in Dundee which focused on one of the key issues of our time - food security. They were all specialists in biometrics, the science of measuring and analysing biological data.

The meeting was held by the 'Biometrics in Plant Breeding' section of a scientific organisation called Eucarpia and was hosted by SCRI.

Most of the conference sessions took place in Dundee's Apex City Quay Hotel.  More than 100 delegates from all over the world were in the city.

SCRI's Dr Bill Thomas, a Eucarpia member whose work focuses on barley and other cereals, said understanding the genetic make-up of crops was essential.  He said: "We need to be able to analyse and understand how genetic factors can interact with each other and the environment to affect the yield and quality of crops.

"It's becoming more and more important as the global climate changes and we try to breed crops that can cope with less water, higher temperatures and possibly new pests and diseases."

Image: Eucarpia delegates are welcomed to Dundee by Lord Provost John Letford at a civic reception in the City Chambers

Maintaining healthy crops and fighting diseases is likely to be vital for the potato industry which is worth £4 billion in consumer terms and £700 million annually at the farm gate. Soft fruit crops could be vulnerable too: the value of the raspberry crop in Scotland alone is put at £12 million annually.

Increasingly very advanced genetic technology is being put to work to help conventional crop-breeding programmes.

SCRI's Director, Professor Peter Gregory, said: "Our research delivers new varieties of potatoes and soft fruit and novel breeding technologies for barley.

"Turning world-class science into products for the marketplace has resulted in SCRI Group returning to Scotland more than £30 per head of population each year via its commercial prooducts to say nothing of the environmental benefits resulting from lower use of pesticides for disease and pathogen control.

"Scotland has become a world-leader in agricultural sciences and we are delighted to have the privilege of welcoming guests to the Eucarpia conference in Dundee...one city - many discoveries!"

The 2009 Eucarpia conference ran from Wednesday 2 September until Friday 4 September.

More information from:

Phil Taylor, Head of Communications, SCRI, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA. Tel: 01382 560044 (direct line), Mobile: 07810 860 701 or

Lorraine Wakefield, Information and Online Service Officer, SCRI, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA. Tel: 01382 560047 (direct line) or 562731 (switchboard).