The International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), Universidad Técnica Federico Santa Maria and the Regional Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), cordially invite you to attend to the International Symposium: Organic Matter Management & Compost Use in Horticulture to be held in the beautiful city of Santiago, in Chile, October 21 - 24, 2013.

Founded in 1541, Santiago de Chile is a city of contrasts, where the history and the modernism mix in the most exquisite way. Santiago speaks through their neighborhoods, parks, squares, buildings, museums and monuments. The eastern is the most modern zone of the city, which highlights the Golf, the new business district of the city; Alonso de Córdova, the Boutique's Avenue of Santiago; and Providencia, which clearly shows the evolution of the capital from mid-century XX. Historically, the most representative places are the Cerro Santa Lucia, the National Library, the Government Palace , the Central Station, the Equestrian Club, the University district, Plaza de Armas, the Central Market and the National Museum of Fine Arts. Likewise, Bellavista is the bohemian area of Santiago where you can find restaurants and handcraft markets and Cerro San Cristóbal is the natural viewer of the city.

Close to Santiago, the visitor can find the most famous wineries to know, first hand, the process of winemaking and to taste the world' best wines.

About 110 km west of Santiago , through a modern highway, the visitor can reach the coastal cities of Valparaiso and Viña del Mar , mix of tradition and modernity. 

We would be glad of receiving your contribution in one of the following subjects:

• Organic and biological products and their effects on plant and soil.
• Quality standards and legal requirements for raw materials and compost compost-derived products, mulch, and other organic soil amendments.
• Bioproducts used in agriculture: Biofertilizers, organic matter decomposers, Biocontrol and Biostimulation.
• Identifying and quantifying environmental, economical and societal benefits of using compost & mulch.
• Production technologies for compost and compost-derived products.
• Organic matter as indicator in desertification and restoration processes.
• Compost and organic amendments and food & child safety.
• Potential horticultural applications of compost, compost-derived products & mulch.
• Managing organic matter in conventional and organic horticultural production systems.
• Compost & organic amendments and soil-borne diseases.
• Other uses of compost and compost-derived products in agriculture and soil restoration.