Dear colleagues:

On behalf of the Organizing Committee it is a great pleasure that I invite you to attend the 3rd International Symposium on Trace Elements and Health to be held in Murcia, Spain, 25- 27 May, 2011.

The aim of this interdisciplinary meeting is to gather experts with different backgrounds to discuss all aspects of trace elements in relation to soil, crop production, animal husbandry, food, nutrition and human health as one related subject. Given that diet is the main source of trace elements, the production of nutritious and safe food both sufficiently and sustainably is the ultimate goal of modern agriculture. At the same time, the presence of trace elements in animal feed, either as contaminants or as additives aimed to improve animal health or food properties. However, closer coordination is needed between the nutrition and toxicology communities to set acceptable ranges of intake for trace elements, taking into account its bioavailability in foods and genetic and individual differences in the targeted population.

This meeting follows two previous ones, organized in Hangzhou, China (2004) and Helsinki, Finland (2007). As the two previous meetings of this series, the symposium aims to be a suitable forum for new ideas and experiences which can be shared among researches working on trace elements in agroecosystems, animal and human health.

We trust that you will have a fruitful meeting and a very pleasant stay in Murcia, a city where you will find everything without forgetting its sunny weather, wonderful beaches, high quality gastronomy, historical Roman and Arabian ruins, charming people...

With kind regards,

Carmen Martínez Graciá

Symposium Chair