5^th International Conference on Agriculture and Horticulture June 27-29, 2016 Cape town, South Africa

Agricultural Biotechnology is the combination of scientific tools and techniques including genetic engineering, molecular markers, molecular diagnostics, vaccines, and tissue culture to modify agricultural productivity, quality, diversity and species protection. Agricultural Biotechnology is developed to cope up with current challenges which are usually cannot be solved by traditional practices. Agricultural Biotechnology also helps in climate adaptation, stress management and disease management. Biotechnology has introduced modern technologies to deal with global food crisis.

Agricultural Engineering is developed to make advances in sustainable agriculture which is totally eco-friendly. By the middle of the 20th century, Agricultural Engineering evolved into four types of activity like Power and machinery, Irrigation and drainage, Farm structures and environment, Processing and electrification. Most Agricultural Engineering focused on biological engineering, efficient use of irrigation water, renewable energy and environmental issues. Agricultural Engineering is facing three great challenges: Food safety and Food security, protecting the species and natural resources and reduced employment status. Agricultural Engineering is focused on engineering skills and technologies that take a strong approach to current problems. Food security and crop production will be much stronger if Agricultural Engineering can be developed appropriately.

Soil provides ecosystem necessary for plants and animal life. Soil acts as a base medium provides habitat, water and nutrition to living organisms. Soil is used as a holding and interacting facility for nutrients, microorganisms, plants and water. Soil is responsible for Agro ecosystems and Eco agriculture which indirectly help in food security. Soil purifies ground water, provides nutrients, help in growth of plants and regulate the Earth's temperature. Industrial, household, and non-point source pollution negatively influence soil environment and finally whole ecosystem. In recent decades, scientists have developed new practices which limit the mobility of contaminants which reduce pollution. As a result, land managers now have access to new, innovative soil management strategies that can mitigate soil, water, and air pollution, while also enhancing ecosystem activity.

Agronomy is the science of production and utilization of plants for multidisciplinary use along with soil, crop and water management. Agronomy related to work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, Agrometeorology, and soil science. Agronomy is the application of combined sciences like biology, chemistry, economics, ecology, earth science, and genetics. Agronomy is now an important research field for scientists to study the behaviour of plant in different environmental conditions including climate, soil type and irrigation, fertilization etc. by conducting various experiments in the fields, pots & laboratories. It is also involves application of research in the field or forming suitable packages of practices under a given set of conditions. Agronomists work in identification of different environmental risks and find key solution to avoid those risks. Management techniques developed by agronomists include terracing, strip cropping, and reduced tillage methods to reduce soil erosion. Developments in Global Information Systems (GIS) and site-specific technology are being used by agronomists to more precisely manage soil amendments and fertilizers. This helps to detect proper time for the application of pesticides which reduce ecosystem pollution or contamination. GIS and Remote Sensing are extremely useful in agricultural management.

Horticulture is the study of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of fruits, vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants. It includes production, improvement, marketing and scientific analysis of medicinal plant, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds and non-food crops such as grass and ornamental trees and plants. It also deals with species conservation, landscape restoration, landscape and garden design, management, and maintenance, research and marketing. Horticulturists apply their knowledge, skills, and technologies to grow plants for human food and non-food uses like garden or landscape design, decorations etc. Their field also involves plant propagation and tissue culture to improve plant growth, diversification, quality, nutritional value, and resistance and adaptation strength to environmental stresses. Major horticulture sections are: Arboriculture, Turf management, Floriculture, Landscape horticulture, Olericulture, Viticulture, Oenology, Postharvest physiology. 

Agroforestry is an intensive study on land management system that benefits biological interactions between forest trees or shrubs and agricultural crops and/or livestock. There are five basic types of agroforestry practices have been developed: windbreaks, alley cropping, silviculture, riparian buffers and forest and hill farming. Agroforestry helps to conserve species diversity and protect natural resources, reduce pollution, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife biodiversity. The benefits of agroforestry include: improvement of the growth of agro economy and resource sustainability. Agroforestry practices are also influence agro ecosystem and diversification of endangered crop species. The greatest research need is to develop farm-level analyses to increase potential economic costs, benefits which may reduce risks associated with agroforestry practices and increase market value of products. This is a vital prerequisite to the objective comparison of both production-and conservation-driven agroforestry practices with alternative land use options. Furthermore, awareness should be raised among farmers and labors to improve future market value of regional, national and international markets for commodities that can be produced through agroforestry system. Research o­n tree-crop-animal-environment interactions should be pursued to provide a scientific basis for optimizing agroforestry designs.

Crop Science and Technology is the field dealing with the Selection, Breeding, Crop productivity, Seed production, Organic crops, Crop technology transpiration, Field crops research, and Crop and Irrigation technology. Crop science deals with food, feed, turf, and fibre crops and their management. It is a broad field includes breeding, genetics, production, and management of crops and animal feed. Crop science also takes part in conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources of plants, insects and other invertebrates, and microorganisms. For development and improvement in rural areas, proper awareness and knowledge-intensive programs have been developed in recent decades. Recent research is concentrated on genetic diversification of crops and turf grasses to tolerate drought; management of herbicide resistant weeds and their control, production of organic grains, and grown market of food and sustainable food systems. These will leads to reduction of food crisis of world’s growing population.

Crop protection is the study and practice of managing pests, plant diseases, weeds and other harmful organisms that damage agricultural crops and forestry and thus affect economic value and agri-market. It deals with: Pesticide-based program including herbicides, insecticides and fungicides; Biological pest control approaches such as cover crops, trap crops and beetle banks, Barrier-based approaches, Animal psychology based programs, Biotechnology based researches such as plant breeding and genetic engineering. In developing countries and other agri-based countries, tons of valuable crops get damaged by pests and other environmental stresses. So, crop protection and awareness is very important for agricultural economy and market value. Application of Agro biotechnology with proper management programs are found very beneficial in crop production, yield, quality and species protection. Advance technologies like GIS and Remote Sensing are also developed for protection of crops and their surrounding environment.

Agricultural policy describes a set of laws relating to domestic agriculture and business of foreign agricultural products. Governments usually implement agricultural policies with the goal of achieving a specific outcome in the domestic agricultural product markets. Agriculture policy mainly concerns for poverty reduction, food security, biosecurity, food sovereignty, management skills and labor supply, research technologies and development, infrastructure, marketing challenges and consumer demands, agricultural insurance, farming rights, land tenure and tenancy systems. It also encompasses seed, water, fertilizer, pesticide, land use, environmental issues, food production, agricultural finance, and other aspects of the agricultural processing, business and rural industries. Commercial agricultural operations include many areas such as commercial law, sale of goods, leasing, contract law, secured transactions, and commodity futures trading.

Organic farming is a form of agriculture that includes techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost, and biological pest control. Organic farming uses only natural fertilizers and pesticides (such as bone meal from animals or pyrethrin from flowers), but it strictly limits the use of some applications like synthetic fertilizers and pesticides; plant growth regulators hormones; antibiotic use in livestock; genetically modified organisms; human sewage sludge etc. This farming system ensures sustainability, openness, independence, health, and safety. Organic agricultural methods are applied, regulated and legally enforced by many nations. Since 1990 the market for organic food and other products has grown rapidly, reaching $63 billion worldwide in 2012.This demand has driven a similar increase in organically managed farmland which has grown over the years 2001-2011 at a compounding rate of 8.9% per annum. As of 2011, approximately 37,000,000 hectares (91,000,000 acres) worldwide were farmed organically, representing approximately 0.9 percent of total world farmland. Organic farming deals with biosafety, soil conservation and environmental impacts.

Sustainable agriculture concentrates on three main objectives: environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity. Sustainability rests on the principle that we must meet the needs of the present demands without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Therefore, stewardship of both natural and human resources is of prime importance. Human resources includes consideration of social responsibilities such as working and living conditions of labors, the needs of rural communities, and consumer health and safety both in the present and the future. A systems approach also implies interdisciplinary efforts in research and education. This requires not only the input of researchers from various disciplines, but also farmers, farmworkers, consumers, policymakers and others.

Agricultural extension is a general term meaning the application of scientific research and new knowledge to agricultural practices through farmer education and rural development programs. The field of 'extension' deals with communication and learning activities organized for rural farmers to expose them to proper knowledge about profitable and sustainable farming system. Extension practitioners can be from different backgrounds including agriculture, market, environment, and health and business studies and usually they work for government agencies. They are represented by several government and non-government organizations, networks and extension journals. Agricultural extension agencies in developing countries receive large amounts of support from international development organizations such as the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Livestock Farming is an agricultural practice to produce commodities such as food, fibre, leather, wool and labor by raising domestic animals like poultry, cow, cattle, fish and other mammals. In recent years, livestock farming is very well managed as animals are provided with proper nutritional food and shelter. Now a days stress management is also a part of livestock farming as it finally improve product yield and quality. Pigs and poultry are reared intensively in indoor environments. However, indoor animal farming has often been criticized for multiple reasons - on grounds of pollution and for animal welfare reasons. Livestock farming plays major role in the agricultural business and economy of major developing countries. They take important part in crop agriculture. Most farms in the developing world are too small to avail tractor or other machinery facilities and their main alternative is animal power. The innumerable benefits of livestock farming can positively effect in growth of agronomy, agroeconomy, biological ecosystem and other agricultural fields.

A global platform aimed to connect Entrepreneurs, Proposers and the Investors worldwide. It's intended to create and facilitate the most optimized and viable business meeting place for engaging people in constructive discussions, evaluation and execution of promising business ideas. Through Agri 2016 an investor could be able to find out the highest potential investment opportunities in the field of Agriculture. For entrepreneurs, this would be an ideal place to find out suitable investors and partners to start or expand their business.