The conference, entitled ‘The Impact of Plant Pathology of Everyday Lives’, will consider the impact of plant pathology on a wide range of plants and situations, including the effects of plant pathogens on plants grown in gardens. Delegates will have an opportunity to take a tour of the new £60 million Life Sciences building and its state-of-the-art facilities for plant and crop research.

The meeting opens on Sunday 13 September with a presentation from James Wong, author of the internationally best-selling books Grow Your Own Drugs, Homegrown Revolution and RHS Grow for Flavour.

Bristol and the South West have a proud tradition of research into plant pathology, with active research groups at the Universities of Bristol, Bath and Exeter and the University of the West of England. The current BSPP President is Professor Gary Foster from Bristol University’s School of Biological Sciences.