SMARTER Ophraella recognition card
The SMARTER Ophraella recognition card has been produced in English and translated to several languages. It is available for download in PDF format on this webpage.
Atopica scientists announce “Pollen is in the air: invasive plants and allergy in our changing environment”
The two-day conference of the EU funded project Atopica will take place in Brussels on March 5-6th, 2015.
The conference is about the combined impact of changes in climate, land use and air pollution on the highly invasive weed Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed) and its consequences on health.
It will take place at the Committee of the Regions, with the Atopica consortium reporting to journalists, policy makers, members of parliament and interested citizens. The conference will be a two-day event featuring talks by Atopica members, invited speakers and will include workshops, posters and round table sessions. Registration is now open on http://conference.atopica.eu or on www.atopica.eu/conference. Registration and attendance for the conference are free! For updated information please visit the conference website.
2014 International Ragweed Day
General Assembly 2014
Congratulations for the Society’s new leaders!
President: Dr. Maira Bonini, Italy
Vice President: Dr. Uwe Starfinger, Germany
Secretary General: Dr. Michel Thibaudon, France
Treasurer: Marie-Agnès Chapgier-Laboissiere, France
Further members of the Committee: Dr. T. Komives, Dr. R. Albertini, P. Comptois, L. Makra, H. Muller-Scharer
Welcome to our organization
The Society has been created by researchers studying the common ragweed plant.
The main cause of allergy and pollen asthma in North America and Central Europe is pollen from ragweed (Ambrosia) a widespread genus in the Asteraceae. In Europe short or common ragweed (A. artemisiifolia) is prevalent.
This situation requires a tight monitoring of he plant and the implement of strong control strategy involving not only farmers but also the staff managing natural areas, road sides, building- and gravel industries.
The destruction of many single plant foci may help reducing the number of seeds produced and may slow therefore the spreading of ragweed.