News release 5 May 2009

BCPC is delighted to report that work is well underway on its two and half-day Congress - a major event in the international crop production and protection calendar. Running alongside the Congress will be the BCPC Exhibition - the leading trade exhibition for suppliers to the industry worldwide.

An announcement that the BCPC Congress was being relaunched and returning to Glasgow this November was made in February 2009, following the formation of an important industry alliance between the BCPC and UBM (owner of Farmers Guardian, Informex USA, CPhI and Food Ingredients). The two organizations will partner the running of the world's largest gathering of crop science and technology business professionals.

"BCPC is extremely pleased to be partnering with UBM in re-launching the Congress in 2009. We are confident that UBM's reach will enable the creation of exciting events into the future. These will have both scientific and commercial interest for a wide range of participants, throughout the whole of the food, feed, fibre and bio-energy production chain," commented BCPC's chairman, Dr Colin Ruscoe.

Despite the global economic crisis, the threats posed by climate change, and increasing pressures from globalisation, the crop production industry remains buoyant. An ever-growing population continues to ensure unrepentant strains on food supply around the world which poses both challenges and opportunities to agriculture and the wider food supply chain. New crop production techniques, compounds and products are needed more than ever. Research investment and commercialisation continues to challenge the scientific community and this will be one of the main themes of this year's BCPC Congress.

The conference programme, which is being finalised at the moment in consultation with our expert advisory panel, will be announced shortly. Full details of the event, including how to register, can be found on the dedicated Congress website www.bcpccongress.com

Press enquiries should be directed to: Moira Hart, Dewpoint Marketing,

Tel: +44 (0) 1664 822678 Mob: +44 (0) 0796 9788052 moira@dewpointmarketing.co.uk

Notes:
The British Crop Production Council (BCPC) is a non-profit making organisation. Over 50 years it has developed an international reputation for sound science in the fields of agriculture, food and the environment. Its conferences, publications and working groups bring together scientists to form opinion on key issues. Its website www.bcpc.org attracts more than 12,000 visitors a month seeking its opinions, products and services

UBM focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetisation of B2B communities and markets. UBM's businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities - from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewellery traders, from farmers to pharmacists - with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organised into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently. For more information, go to www.unitedbusinessmedia.com

For further information please contact:

UBM: Michael Oakes, Conference Manager: Tel: +44 (0)20 7921 8278 or email michael.oakes@ubm.com

BCPC: Chris Todd, General Manager, Tel: +44 (0)1420 593 200 or email md@bcpc.org