MANHATTAN, Kan. – More than 250 scientists from throughout the world will be attending the second International Wheat Quality Conference, scheduled May 20-24 at the Holiday Inn in Manhattan.

The meeting will draw participants from 38 countries, including several invited speakers who are the world’s top authorities on wheat issues.

"This conference is an international gathering to share our knowledge, experiences and concerns about wheat quality ... with our global colleagues," said Okkyung Kim Chung, a conference co-chair and president of the International Association for Cereal Science and Technology (ICC).

The International Wheat Quality Conference is organized by the Grain Industry Alliance, a consortium of the American Institute of Baking, Kansas State University, DPRA, Inc., and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Grain Marketing and Production Research Center – all based in Manhattan.

The conference is endorsed by the American Association of Cereal Chemists, the American Society of Agricultural Engineers and the ICC.

"The 2001 conference will feature an excellent group of world-renowned speakers and participants," said James Steele, the conference co-chair with Chung.

Ron Madl, director of the K-State Wheat Research Center, said registration is open "as long as space remains available." The registration fee is $180 per day, or $450 for the entire conference.

"The program is focused toward discussing and promoting wheat quality standards and world trade. International discussions in such a forum will lead to improved trade opportunities," Madl said.

Some of the topics that will be discussed are:

* Issues and concerns of end-users (such as millers and bakers);

* Wheat breeding and biotechnology;

* Quality assessment methods;

* Quality preservation and food safety;

* International quality standards and marketing procedures;

* Economics of wheat trade in the world; and

* Advances in wheat processing technology.

Technical sessions feature speakers from Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico, The Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. There is also a poster session with 80 papers; social events; and guided tours.

The conference Website is located at http://stars.kansas.net/iwqc-ii. For additional information, interested persons may call Chung at 785-776-2702, or send e-mail to iwqc@stars.kansas.net.