Then and Now
Then
The VI Congress of Sericulture Science held in Paris in 1948 was historic owing to a number of reasons. This meeting had become a necessity rather than routine affair due to the high demand for silk in the global market after the Second World War. Thus, Governments of different European countries came together led by the French Agriculture Ministry and organized the Congress, with the chief aim of launching the world-wide development of sericulture. The meeting witnessed the participation of about 150 delegates from different countries such as France, Italy, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Japan, China, India, Turkey, Romania, Algeria, Lebanon, UK, Germany, Switzerland etc. The Congress adopted many important resolutions for the orderly development of sericulture and silk industry across the world. One of the major decisions taken during the Congress was to organize this congregation of global silk fraternity on a regular basis. This led to the announcement of formulating the “Permanent Commission of International Sericultural Congresses” on the concluding day of the Meet. Subsequently, in 1955, the first International Technical Sericultural Conference met in Alès, France, adopted the proposal of transforming “the Permanent Commission of International Sericultural Congresses” into an inter-governmental organization, christened as the “International Sericultural Commission” (ISC). The text of the Convention, which later adopted as the Statute, was formulated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France, and presented for signature to the countries from 1 July, 1957 to 31 December, 1957. Following this, the International Sericultural Commission (ISC) was institutionalized on 8th August 1960, after ratification of the Instituting Convention which later adopted as the Statute of ISC.
The Congress in the year 1948 also witnessed the publication of Scientific Journal on sericulture science known as “Journal of Silkworms”. The publication of the Journal was taken over by ISC after its formulation in 1960.The journal took a new title ‘Sericologia’ (ISSN: 0250-3980) in 1979 by retaining the sub-title as ‘Journal of Silkworms’. Over the years, Sericologia has attained the status of a leading international sericultural science journal. The journal serves as the most effective medium to disseminate technical and scientific knowledge even to the farthest corners of sericultural areas across the globe.
Now
The 24th Congress on Sericulture and Silk Industry of International Sericultural Commission was held at Bangkok, Thailand during 10-14 August, 2016. This is the third time the ISC Congress was held in Thailand. The Congress was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Minister of Agriculture, Govt. of Thailand. The Congress witnessed the participation of 287 delegates from 18 Countries. There were 152 research papers for oral and poster presentation spread across 8 sessions.
