2012 ICGI Research Conference

Cotton Incorporated will host the 2012 ICGI Research Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina. Our aim is to keep costs reasonable through sponsorship with others such as the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and private industry partners.  Based on prior meetings, we expect attendance to be between 150 and 225. The conference will be held during October as temperatures are mild.  October temperatures average 60^oF [15.5^oC], with average highs being 72^oF and lows 50^oF.
 

The conference will be held in the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley, North Carolina, USA. The hotel has sufficient facilities to accommodate our attendees for plenary sessions, break-out meetings, and meals. Off-site visits will include visits to Bayer CropScience, Cotton Incorporated, Medicago, Monsanto, and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. Buses will be utilized to transport attendees to off-site functions. A large shopping mall is within easy walking of the Marriott venue.

All travelers entering the United States need to have a valid passport and a visa to enter the country (Canadians are exempt from needing a visa). Please see the following website to find out how to get a visa for your particular nationality: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1262.html. Visa processing times may vary, so be sure to apply early.

Raleigh is the capital city of North Carolina and has international air service to London and Toronto. The newly renovated Raleigh-Durham International Airport [RDU] has 450 daily departures on 10 major carriers to more than 40 U.S. destinations and has direct flights to larger international connecting airports in Washington D.C., New York City, Atlanta, and Chicago. RDU is just 15 minutes west of downtown Raleigh. There is free complimentary shuttle service between RDU and the meeting venue. Taxi cost is approximately $30 U.S. one-way (See Conference Venue for detailed information).

Cotton Incorporated celebrates the past and celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2010. The campaign, called "Forty Years of Progress," marks the myriad accomplishments the company has achieved in its history, and paves the way for cotton to remain top-of-mind with customers throughout the value chain. With World Headquarters in Cary and offices in New York, Mexico City, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Osaka, Cotton Incorporated is well poised to meet the needs of the world's growing textile industry. The global staff of 145 continues to carry out the mission to increase the demand for and profitability of cotton through research and promotion. The Agricultural Research Department staff of 8 currently funds nearly 400 projects with principal investigators across the U.S. with concerted efforts in variety improvement, abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, and genomic research. Cotton Incorporated has sponsored the biennial Cotton Breeders’ Tour for over 2 decades and supports graduate student training in genetics, entomology, and weed science with its Cotton Incorporated Fellowship program. Also, Cotton Incorporated has been and continues to be a significant financial supporter to ICGI since its inception.