A three-day symposium on cutting edge plant research will be held in Canberra next week to celebrate the career of one of Australia's foremost plant scientists, Dr Jim Peacock.

Plant Science Today: Genes, Genomics and Metabolomics will host leading researchers from Australia and around the world including Germany's Max Planck Institute.

Dr Jim Peacock who steps down as Chief of CSIRO Plant Industry after 25 years on 15 December 2003, has been at the frontier of plant genetic research in Australia.

He was a leader in the introduction, in 1996, of Australia's first genetically modified crop - cotton - which has resulted in a 50 per cent reduction in insecticide use where it is grown.

"Jim's contribution to and belief in Australian science has helped build its reputation for research excellence," says symposium organiser Dr Liz Dennis.

"CSIRO Plant Industry is recognised as a key player in the international plant science research network because of Jim's vision and work with colleagues."

Dr Dennis says the symposium will present some of the latest findings and techniques used by scientists to learn more about genes and their function in plant metabolism, plant hormones, development and disease resistance.

"Basic research like this lays the foundation for future agribusiness, and there will be discussion about the role of these new technologies in identifying key traits for breeding future crops," she says.

Plant Science Today: Genes, Genomics and Metabolomics will be held in Canberra from 10 -11 November 2003 in the CSIRO Discovery lecture theatre.