About Event

Day 2

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1:25 pm

Plant viruses are responsible for significant losses in crop production annually. Infections are often exacerbated by mixed infections. One strategy of combatting viral disease spread lies in swift diagnoses so that immediate interventions can be employed to slow or stop their spread. Sweet pepper, hot pepper, and tomato are among the most important cash crops in Jamaica and are constantly threatened by pathogens.

Day 4

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9:20 am

Lead, a well-known neurotoxin, remains environmentally abundant, arising from many natural and synthetic processes which encourage its environmental accumulation and hence, increased interactions with flora and fauna. Therefore, tremendous research efforts have been invested into developing various methods for its analysis and sequestration, however, affordability, sensitivity and selectivity still remain formidable challenges in this area and hence here is room for further exploration.

Day 4

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10:20 am

A major challenge facing farmers in Portland, Jamaica is dry weather, especially during the optimal growing season from April through August. During this five-month period Portland suffered from severe dry spells during the years 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2020. A second challenge is the damage to crops and land as well as loss of livestock due to tropical storms or hurricanes and the associated flooding. Portland farmers have suffered losses due to an active hurricane season numerous times and most recently in the years 2004, 2005, 2012 and 2020.