Dr Mike Hodda, of CSIRO entomology and the convenor of the 5ICN organising committee, says the impact the tiny worms have on food output means sharing scientific research is "vitally important to humans".

"Although small, nematodes affect humans in many ways and topics at the conference will reflect this," Dr Hodda says.

"Some can have devastating effects on the health of humans, their animals and their plants, but others benefit agriculture through enhancing nutrient cycling in soil."

Better ways of managing nematode plant pests are urgently needed as nematodes are evolving resistance to many of the commonly used chemicals.

Nematodes – commonly called roundworms – are mostly tiny, though a few reach nearly 10 metres in length.

Being small, they are hidden but they can cause enormous damage.

They can also easily evade quarantine, so introduction of pest species is a real issue.

Dr Sue Hockland from the Central Science Laboratory, York, UK, will talk on emergencies in international trade, biosecurity and quarantine from potentially invasive nematode pests.

Several of these have arrived in Australia's neighbours recently and threaten our agriculture and forests.

"We will also hear how nematodes can thwart soil conservation projects and kill forests," Dr Hodda says.

On a positive note, Dr Stephen Trowell from the Food Futures National Research Flagship will compare the sense of smell of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans with those of more complex creatures.

This nematode, the first animal to have its genome fully sequenced, is being used to advance biomedical knowledge in many fields, from cancer to aging.