organized by the:

and the:

the Conference will take place at

As these sciences develop, we can expect to see changes in the organizations and conduct of public or government programs of applied research and in the private industrial sector as well. Important policy questions regarding public research system design and conduct are emerging. These are of particular importance in developing countries. These questions require a long view and an understanding of the scientific revolution that is underway.

As those biotechnology products have become increasingly available, policy issues relating their trade, domestic production and consumption seems to have gained paramount relevance in the national and international agricultural policy arena and have also acquired some more general relevance as well.

The Ravello's Conference will focus on the following topics:

• Impact of agricultural biotechnology on international trade
• Industrial organization
• Public acceptance
• Impact of science
• Intellectual property rights
• Biotechnology & developing countries
• Regulation of biotechnology
• Biomasses and new products
• Governance issues for the biotechnology sector
• Biotechnology, trade and development
• Ecogenomics and ecoproteomics

The Conference will include:

• paper presentation
• round tables
• biowindow
• poster display

Proposals for contributing papers are sought. As for the previous conferences, presented papers will be published in a proceedings volume.

Proposals in the form of a maximum of 500 words abstract incorporating agbiotech applications to one or more of the topics on the previous list of topics should be sent to:

The Conference steering committee (R. Evenson, Yale University; P. Pingali, Fao, Rome; V. Santaniello, University of Rome - Tor Vergata; P.L. Scandizzo, University of Rome - Tor Vergata; E. Tollens, K. U. Leuven) promise a response by February 16, 2004, with accepted papers due May 25, 2004.

Participants at the Conference are encouraged to propose specific issue and panels for the Round Tables. It is strongly suggested that components of the panel include a mix of expertise ( an economist, a scientist, a representative from companies, consumers org., producers org., etc. ).

By 15th April the steering committee will communicate to the proponent if the Round Table has been included in the program.
Each Round Table will last no more then 90 minutes.

All trough the Conference and then in a special session, biotechnologists are encouraged to present the results of their research by posting them in spaces specifically provided for this purpose.

Aim of this session is to favour exchange of views between economists and biotechnologists. This exchange should provide economists an opportunity to acquire additional information on what are the latest developments on biotech sciences and more in general on what is in the biotech pipeline. At the same time biotechnologists would have an opportunity to broaden their appreciation on the economic relevance of their laboratory activities.

Biotechnologists are invited to send a short summary of their presentation to:

A poster session is organised to give the opportunity to discuss on going research works.
ICABR encourages the participation of young scientists and graduate students whose work could be presented and discussed in the poster session.

Summary of the poster content should be sent to the steering committee by April 2, 2003.

The provisional social program includes events in Naples, Amalfi and Ravello, a visit by boat to the bay of Amalfi, a concert at Villa Rufolo and social dinner.

Ravello is a village perched on a 350 meters above the blue sea of Amalfi and is one of the most beautiful places of the Amalfi coast. Ravello has conserved its historical monuments through the ages in a natural setting which has few equals in the world.
Ravello's beauties, were praised by Boccaccio in his Decameron, and by Richard Wagner. Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone are two of the famous villas of Ravello. In Villa Rufolo Wagner found its magical garden of Klingsor for the second act of Parsifal. Wagner said: "I have found the garden of the Klingsor. This place is really a garden of beauties, full of history and art, full of colours and lights, full of flowers". Villa Cimbrone is known for its breathtaking belvedere.
Ravello was founded between the end of the Roman Western Empire and the beginning of the Eastern Empire. When Amalfi became to have a prosperous and important marine republic, Ravello's ships sailed all the Mediterranean.
Ravello is located near Positano, Amalfi, Sorrento and the Island of Capri which are among the most well-known Italian summer resorts. It is within easy reach of Naples and Pompei.
In the website of the Conference, links can be found to the web pages illustrating all those areas and how to reach them.