The 10th International Conference on Urban Pests (ICUP), held last month at the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain attracted more than 250 academics, manufacturers, regulators and service professionals representing all sectors of the urban pest management sector.
Delegates came from 28 different counties from as far away as Argentina, South Korea, Australia and India but, as to be expected, there were strong contingents from European countries, in particular Italy, Germany, France and of course, the host country Spain.
Opening the event, Dr Bill Robinson, chair of the ICUP Executive Committee, referred to delegates as ‘the ICUP family’.
Dr Robinson said: “Get out of your box and think laterally about urban pest control. Economics are coming into pest control. The world is changing. We are all safe and sound here in Barcelona, but the world is no longer such a friendly place.
“Some of our East European colleagues are absent. And several of us have had to battle with airline and train cancellations as well as lost luggage.”
Dr Ruben Bueno, chairman of the ICUP Organising Committee welcomed everyone to Barcelona. He highlighted the challenges and new problems faced within Europe, such as the growing threats posed by the spread of West Nile virus and the increase in invasive species such as Aedes albopictus, black flies, Asian hornets and termites.
Right up to the very end of the conference, changes in climatic conditions and the related threats emerging proved one of the conference themes.
Delegates received printed and bound proceedings, which contained the full text of the oral presentations together with abstracts of the 60 posters. These papers and posters will soon be available to view and download, free-of-charge, from the permanent ICUP website, which is located HERE.
The next ICUP Conference will be in three year’s time, in 2025. Further details, including the location, will be announced soon.