Dear colleagues:

On behalf of the Organising Committee it is with great pleasure I invite you to attend the 3rd International Symposium on Trace Elements and Health to be held in Murcia, Spain, 24-27 May, 2011.

The aim of this interdisciplinary meeting is to gather experts with different background to discuss all aspects of trace elements in relation to soil, crop production, animal husbandry, food, nutrition and human health as one related subject. The diet is the main source of trace elements, therefore producing nutritious and safe foods sufficiently and sustainably is the ultimate goal of modern agriculture. At the same time, trace elements are present in feeds, either as contaminants or as additives aimed at improving animal health or food properties. However, a closer coordination is needed between the nutrition and toxicology communities in setting acceptable ranges of intake for trace elements, considering its bioavailability in foods and genetic and individual differences of the targeted population.

This meeting follows two previous ones, organised in Hangzhou, China (2004) and Helsinki, Finland (2007). Like the two previous meetings in this series, the symposium aims at being a suitable forum for new ideas and experiences to be exchanged among researchers working on trace elements in agroecosystems, animal and human health.

We do hope that you will have a fruitful meeting and a very pleasant stay in Murcia, a city where you will find everything including sunny weather, wonderful beaches, high quality gastronomy, Roman and Arabian historical ruins, charming people…

With kind regards,

Carmen Martínez Graciá
Symposium Chair