The Australian cotton industry generates, on average, over $1.5billion per year in export revenue. About 80 per cent of cotton farms are irrigated and the farms are generally mixed enterprise operations. The returns for irrigated cotton range from $4,500 to $6,000/ha of income with profit before interest ranging from $1,000 - $1,500/ha. Thus, a cotton grower not only produces cotton, they produce other agricultural products such as grains, oilseeds, beef and wool. Cotton growers are very dynamic, innovative and adopt technologies which spill over to other broadacre food production industries. There are about 1,500 cotton farmers and about 800 cotton producing businesses in Australia. The industry employs about 10,000 people, most of them in the regional areas of Australia. About 70% of Australia’s cotton is grown in the state of New South Wales and contributes about $1.05 billion to the state economy.

The World Forum conference is aimed at gathering all men and women from all over the world who have excelled in their professional accomplishments, ideas and talents and either still active in their field or are Emeritus or Adjunct professors linked with Universities to present their work to the entire delegation of the forum. Delegates to the conference are by invitation only, and in 2010, delegates from 45 countries were invited to attend. The conference also attracts professional officers, scientists, high profile business executives of big medical companies, administrators, marketers, agriculturalists etc around the world for a symposium covering Agriculture, education, technology, science, international issues, health, publishing and the arts. It serves as a forum where these professional experts can interact and learn from each other. Scientists, particularly renowned agriculturalists, medical professionals, physicists, inventors are normally invited to attend the conference to present the papers in their area of specialty. In addition, an International Exhibition Gallery is opened at the entire duration of the conference for delegates to display their art, books, papers and other creative works. The World Forum conference is held every two years in different countries in the world.

Thus this provides an opportunity for researchers and eminent professionals to discuss and address pertinent research issues in their areas of specialty. Therefore, attendance to the conference not only increases one’s knowledge in their area of speciality but also broadens ones knowledge about other science oriented areas. For example Dr Robert Mensah an agricultural scientist was invited by the World Forum directorate to chair the Health Science symposium where neurosurgeon, cancer specialist, and community health specialists presented their fascinating research. Therefore, it is important for researchers from different science fields attend the World Forum to enable them not only update their knowledge in their specialty area but other science related areas.

The venue for the World Forum conference was St John’s College in Cambridge University in the United Kingdom from the 15 – 22 August 2010. The conference was well organised and provided an excellent forum for the participants to exchange ideas, update knowledge and discuss subjects of particular interest.