Speaker:  Dr Joyce Van Eck, Associate Scientist & Director of the Center for Plant Biotechnological Research at the Boyce Thompson Institute.

Crops need resilience to withstand diseases, insects and weather extremes so that we have sufficient food supply.  In addition, farmers benefit when crops continue to be productive under adverse conditions.  Dr Van Eck will describe current conditions affecting the survival of several key food crops and the paths to improving their defenses.  In addition, she will describe the potential of improving underutilized or orphan crops to diversity our food options.  Some of the model plants she uses in her lab are tomatoes, potatoes, grapes and millet.

Stie:  Sta Catherine of Siena Parish Center

Chair:  Paula Twomey

Hostesses:  Bobbi Schneider*, Sandy Bricker, Valerie Gillott & Kim Hardy-Edwards