CONCLUSIONS FROM THE 1^ST SYMPOSIUM ON SUSTAINABILITY IN HORTICULTURE AND A DECLARATION FOR THE 21^ST CENTURY

During the International Horticultural Congress (IHC) in Toronto, August 12 – 16, 2002, researchers from many different disciplines met to discuss the challenges of sustainability in horticultural systems. Pre-conference concerns that there would be little interest for such a cross-commodity and interdisciplinary subject proved fully unjustified. Economists, physiologists, agronomists, extension officers, directors, project leaders and many other disciplines, all contributed to the discussions with their presentations and comments.
During the last session of the symposium, James Anderson presented a sum¬mary and the conclusions from the meeting, prepared by the international scientific committee of this symposium. Based on these conclusions “The Toronto 2002 sustain¬ability declaration on research needs for a continuous development of sustainable horticultural systems for the 21st century” was put forward. The declaration shall provide some guidance to further activities to support a sustainable horticulture in applied research. Horticulture should take the lead in the sustainability discussion in agricultural science for the sake of the well-being of human societies.