** MEDIA ADVISORY ** Convention Notice**

** Photo / Interview Opportunities ** MEDIA ALERT **

Agronomists, Crop and Soil Scientists Convene in Long Beach Oct. 31-Nov. 3to Discuss Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability WHAT: 2010 ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meetings WHERE: Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, Long Beach, CA WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 31 through Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010 WEBSITE: www.acsmeetings.org

Newswise — What would be the impact of the next green revolution on global food security? How can soil help lessen the impacts of climate change? To what extent can biofuels help make America energy independent? These topics and others of public interest will be discussed at the International Annual Meetings of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), Oct. 31-Nov. 3 in Long Beach, CA. The three societies are based in Madison, WI. More than 3,000 researchers, educators, administrators, and extension professionals in the agronomy, crop, soil and environmental sciences from around the world will meet at the Long Beach Convention Center to present research and discuss emerging trends in food security, climate change, bioenergy, soil change, precision agriculture, sustainable agriculture, and more. Many of the presenters are from California based universities, government agencies, and companies. Also meeting: 3rd International Conference on Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics, and the U.S. Canola Association Annual Research Conference. MAJOR EVENTS/NEWSWORTHY SPEAKERS:•Oct. 31, 6-7 pm: Pulitzer Prize recipient Thomas L. Friedman, on why we need a green revolution and how it can renew America, Convention Center Grand Ballroom AB.•Nov. 1, 3-5 pm: Cary Fowler of Crop Diversity Trust on the challenges of conserving crop diversity, Convention Center Room 101B.•Nov. 1, 12:55-4:50 pm: Local/Regional Food Systems and Community Food Security: Making the Connection on Connecting the local food movement with Community Food Security programs, Convention Center, Room 102A.•Nov. 1, 5-5:45 pm: David Montgomery, Univ. of Washington, author of Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations, on rethinking the world from the ground up, Hyatt Long Beach, Regency Ballroom.•Nov. 2, 8:50-9:30 am: Carl Casale, Monsanto, on 21st century agriculture: innovation and collaboration to meet global demand, Hyatt Long Beach, Regency Ballroom.•Nov. 2, 8am-2 pm: Project Eagle Rock: Los Angeles High School, Diversity Committee hosting students and teachers to promote careers in agriculture, science, Convention Center Room 203B.•Nov. 3, 8:50-9:30 am: Pamela Matson, Stanford, on sustainability: development and environment in a changing world, Hyatt Long Beach, Regency Ballroom.•Nov. 3, 5-6 pm Jared Diamond, UCLA, author of Collapse: How Societies Chose to Fail or Succeed, on what we can learn from previous environmental problems and their impacts, followed by Marc Abrahams, Improbable.com, entertainment - science humor, Convention Center, Grand Ballroom AB.PRESS CREDENTIALS: Newsroom, Long Beach Convention Center, Room 204. Phone: 562-628-8251, or visit the online Newsroom for more information: www.acsmeetings.org/newsroom. MEDIA CONTACTS: ASA-CSSA-SSSA: Sara Uttech, [email protected], 608-772-0217 (cell phone); or James Giese, [email protected], 773-307-0221 (cell phone). US Canola Association: Angela Dansby, [email protected], 773-697-7686.

The American Society of Agronomy (ASA) www.agronomy.org, Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) www.crops.org, and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) www.soils.org are scientific societies based in Madison, WI, helping their 10,000+ members advance the disciplines and practices of agronomy, crop, soil sciences, and related disciplines by supporting professional growth and science policy initiatives, and providing quality, research-based publications, certification programs, and a variety of member services.