There is a wide gap between the advanced molecular biology research on biological nitrogen fixation in developed countries and the concern of agronomists in developing countries about high yields necessary to feed starving populations, even at the expense of food quality and environmental soundness. Whereas organic farming has limitations and only well-to-do citizens can pay for its products, the biological nitrogen fixation technology is still taken lightly in low-input farming systems. Is it not a pity that more than a century after the first use of rhizobial inoculants (1896), billions of tons of chemical fertilizers are still used where biological nitrogen fixation can be a safe and sound alternative? Clearly a poor integration exists between un-informed farmers, plant breeders, agronomists, economists, extension specialists, public health authorities and even policy makers.

Nevertheless, improvement is in sight since there are some serious attempts worldwide to integrate lab research, greenhouse tests, field trials and programmes of technology transfer with efficient feed/feedback systems to make the biological nitrogen fixation technology a cornerstone in economic and environmental friendly fertilization programmes.

1. To exchange experiences about how to find a way to overcome constraints facing the technology,
2. To throw light on success stories in which the technology became or is on the right track to become an important component of sound fertilization programmes, and
3. To enhance direct contacts and multinational integration between science and technology, actively and efficiently.

1. The current Biological nitrogen fixation concerns in developed and developing countries, how to integrate?
2. Agronomic and Socio-economic constrains facing biofertilization, description of problems and proposed solutions.
3. Experiences in the use of modern applicable informatics and technology transfer systems for promotion of the biofertilization technology in low input farming systems.
4. Examples of success stories in the adoption of biological nitrogen fixation technology: the track followed from test tube to dinner table that altered the unadventurous farmer mentality to a new fertilization philosophy within modern agronomic practices, environmentally sound and economically talented.

14.00 - 14.25

Ivan Kennedy (Sydney, Australia): Constraints and spurs to application of biological nitrogen fixation in the global ecosystem

14.25 - 14.50

Jean Jacques Drevon (Montpellier, France): Nodular diagnosis for integrated improvement of legume symbiotic nitrogen fixatioN

14.50 - 15.15

Marina Roumiantseva (St Petersburg, Russia): Alfalfa-Rhizobium salt tolerant symbioses: achievements and opportunities

15.15 - 15.40

Coffee break

15.40 - 16.05

Philippe de Lajudie (Montpellier, France): Investigating and promoting new local legume symbioses for development in West African and Mediterranean countries

16.05 - 16.30

Youssef Yanni (Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt): Performance of common bean and fababean-rhizobial combinations under water stress east and west of the Nile delta

16.30 - 17.00

General Discussion and Conclusions