invited keynote speech delivered by Jozef Van Assche, Executive Director International Society for Horticultural Science in Bloemfontein, South Africa on the occasion of the SASHS 2010 Combined Congress, January 18-21, 2010

1. Opportunities for Horticulture and Horticultural Science in a Global Context Ing. Jozef Van Assche, ISHS Executive Director in collaboration with Dr. Norman E. Looney , ISHS President and Prof. Ian J. Warrington , ISHS Vice President January 2010 Bloemfontein, South Africa

17. Horticultural scientists study the biology, management and utilization of these high value plants and gain an appreciation of how they can best serve humankind Horticultural science has academic Department status within most Colleges of Agriculture around the world

18. The Growing Importance of Horticulture

25. Telefood UTF GCP & GDCP Support to Field Projects TCP

26. African Horticulture on FAO’s Agenda IARCS . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) FAO Programme of Work and Budget Regional Conference for Africa Committee on Agriculture Committee on Food Security FAO Council and Conference Support to national policies/programmes National Governments Intergovernmental Fora NGOs

34. The Challenges for and Response of the Scientific Community

49. Individual Members 2.382 4.568 7.346

56. Commissions

61. See you again