Abstract

The 2019 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and accompanying Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Plant Metabolic Engineering will build on the successes of previous GRCs that have focused on pathway discovery and strategies to effectively engineer metabolite production in plants with a strong focus on development and applications of fundamental research. We will have presentations from leading exponents of engineering fuel, fiber, pharma, feed, fragrance, flavors and food in plants, to highlight important future technologies that will facilitate both plant metabolic engineering itself and implementation strategies to engineer crops or plant cell cultures as bio-production systems. In addition to invited contributions, we will be selecting oral presentations from submitted abstracts as well as having interactive poster presentation sessions. The Plant Metabolic Engineering GRC will be held for the first time in Europe, at the Renaissance Tuscany, Il Ciocco, Italy between June 16th and June 21st, 2019. The objective is to build stronger networks between those working on plant metabolic engineering in the USA, Europe and in Asia, and the European venue will attract new participants. We hope the meeting will provide an exemplar of how effective research networks can blossom through meetings with the GRC format; collegial atmosphere, deep discussion sessions, and informal gatherings. It will provide a unique forum for cross-disciplinary networking and will forge relationships supporting career development, facilitated by the wonderful environment of Il Ciocco in Tuscany. The GRC will be preceded by the GRS on June 15-16, where PhD students and early-stage researchers will have their own opportunities to describe their research, initiate collaborations, build their networks and hear from experts on how to pursue careers in the field of plant metabolic engineering.