Economic losses caused by insect-borne diseases on crops are much higher than those caused solely by insects or diseases. Insect-borne diseases may influence food security (production issues) and food safety (pesticide residues issues). So far, no simple ways to deal with these diseases. The integrated management strategy has been considered a good practice for disease prevention at present, including eradication of infected plants, insect control and breeding of disease-resistant crops. Unfortunately, early symptoms of insect-borne diseases are similar to those of physiological disorders caused by lack of nutrients or water deficiency. Misdiagnosis, therefore, occurs easily. Until the insect-borne diseases are confirmed, in most cases, it is too late to initiate appropriate and timely remedies. That is why the development of the techniques for the integrated management of insect-borne diseases has become an important and urgent issue worldwide.

    The effective techniques of the integrated management for insect-borne diseases can benefit both producers and consumers. To maximize the performance of these techniques it requires the consideration of the characteristics of crop growth, manure management, and climatic conditions. Additionally these methods should be appropriated for and recognized by farmers. When applied at right time, the use of suitable control methods would achieve both economic benefits and environmental safety concerns.

    For this purpose and under the International Agricultural Cooperation Act of 2013, the Council of Agriculture (COA) is interested in providing funds to support this international symposium. The symposium is co-organized by COA, Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) and Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ). Topics discussed at the meetings include current state of important vector-borne diseases, innovation of new technologies, techniques of the integrated management and ecology and classification of insect vectors. Eleven experts from the United States, Australia and Japan and six scholars from local institutions have been invited as keynote speakers. The scientific findings and recommendation in the papers contained in this volume are contributions of all participating scientists and published as a special publication of TARI.

    On behalf of TARI, I wholeheartedly welcome our distinguished speakers as well as all participants. I look forward to witnessing this symposium becoming a communication platform for domestic and international scholars that undertake the study of insect-borne diseases and insect vectors. Papers published in this proceedings would be a good reference for agricultural authorities to develop a plan for the integrated researches of insect-borne diseases and insect vectors. Foreign scholars are in particular encouraged to keep contact with researchers in Taiwan. Together we can build up the fundamental knowledge of insect-borne diseases that leads to reduce the economic impact of diseases and insect vectors in agricultural industry.

Junne-Jih Chen, Ph.D.
Director General
Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute
Council of Agriculture, Taiwan ROC
August, 2013