1. Update on and future of the World Catalogue of Agents and their Target Weeds
Facilitators: Hariet Hinz (CABI Switzerland) and other members of the IOBC Classical Weed Biocontrol Working Group along with virtual attendance of Rachel Winston, Michael Day and/or Mark Schwarzländer
Overview:
This workshop will provide an overview of the most recent update to The World Catalogue of Agents and Their Target Weeds. It will also offer an opportunity to discuss strategies on long-term financial sustainability and to identify concrete actions needed to secure resources required for its continued development and maintenance.
2. Enhancing Collaboration on Biocontrol of Weeds in the Pacific
Facilitators: Indigo Michael and Annette Mwayawa (BSI, NZ)
Overview:
This workshop aims to strengthen collaboration across Pacific countries by sharing lessons learned and exploring opportunities for mutual support. It will also be relevant to those involved in biocontrol in other developing countries and to anyone concerned about the same weeds in other parts of the world.
3. Building international collaboration for the biological control of invasive Rubus species
Facilitators: Marion Seier (CABI UK), Raelene Kwong (Agriculture Victoria, Australia), Costas Zachariades (Agricultural Research Council, South Africa)
Overview:
The workshop will begin with a brief overview of the current biocontrol status of problematic Rubus species to foster discussion on identifying collaborative opportunities. The focus will be on finding solutions for how researchers and stakeholders such as growers, conservationists and biosecurity agencies, can work together internationally to accelerate development, testing and implementation of effective biocontrol.
4. PhyloControl: a phylogeny visualisation platform for risk analysis in weed biological control
Facilitators: Stephanie Chen and Alexander Schmidt-Lebuhn (CSIRO, Australia)
Overview:
This hands-on workshop will demonstrate how to use phylogenomics and species distribution models in biocontrol projects. The focus will be on creating a host test list with the PhyloControl tool, using GenBank sequence data, and calculating distance measures such as degree of separation and phylogenetic (patristic) distance.
5. Aquatic Weed Biological Control: Building Connections, Sharing Progress
Facilitators: Philip Weyl (CABI Switzerland), Ana Faltlhauser & Alejandro Sosa (FuEDEI, Argentina), Angela Bownes (BSI, NZ), Melissa Smith (USDA), Julie Coetzee (Rhodes University, South Africa), Corin Pratt & Djamila Djeddour (CABI UK)
Overview:
The facilitators will come together to provide the community with an update on current research, challenges and opportunities in aquatic weed biocontrol. Attendees can look forward to series of engaging short presentations followed by interactive discussions.