Program

This presentation by Prof. Agnieszka Golicz, Chair Plant Breeding Group at Wageningen University & Research (NL), highlights how AI and data science are transforming plant breeding from deeper biological insight to faster, smarter decision-making. It offers an inspiring look at the breakthroughs reshaping the field today and what comes next for data-driven crop innovation.

hosted by KeyGene

This session explores how next-generation crops are being shaped through improved photosynthesis, optimized plant architecture, and advanced metabolic design to boost efficiency, resilience, and biobased production. It also highlights emerging consumer-focused traits - such as enhanced nutrition, taste, and shelf life - that will drive the value and acceptance of future crops across food, feed, and biobased markets.

hosted by Illumina

During this session we will examine how speed breeding, pan-genomics, and genomic prediction are accelerating domestication and expanding opportunities for novel crops. We highlight advances in understanding genetic variation, the use of new genotyping technologies, and the evolving future of marker-assisted breeding in delivering resilient, diverse, and high-value crops.

hosted by VITO Remote Sensing

Discover how advanced phenotyping platforms, automation, and data integration can accelerate breeding cycles, improve trait selection, and strengthen genotype-to-phenotype insight. We will also discuss how aligning phenotyping with real production systems helps deliver varieties that perform reliably from controlled environments to the field.

hosted by VIB

In this session, we will highlight emerging breakthroughs - such as single-cell breeding, 2S1Graft hybrid technology, apomixis, and advanced doubled haploids - that are transforming the speed and precision of variety development. These tools accelerate trait fixation, broaden hybridization options, and streamline breeding pipelines, enabling faster innovation cycles and new opportunities in competitive crop markets.

From global food & beverage to venture investing and agritech scale-up, Nastaran Baleng-Soultani brings a candid story of bold career moves and hard-won lessons. She co-founded RadCap (by women, for women), joined BlueRedGold to reshape the saffron industry, and raised €3M in a challenging funding climate and tough sector. In this keynote, she shares how to use fear as fuel, how AI and robotics are changing crop production, and what it will take to fix the capital gap for women founders.

hosted by Biotech Booster

Join this session to explore how advances in protein and allele design are enabling precise, molecular-level improvements in plant performance. By shaping enzyme activity and key regulatory pathways, these approaches support crops with greater efficiency, resilience, and product quality - streamlining breeding strategies and opening new high-value opportunities across food and biobased markets.

hosted by Corteva Agriscience

This session explores new approaches to disease resistance that enhance crop protection and production reliability. By leveraging deeper insights into plant–pathogen interactions and expanding available resistance mechanisms, breeders can develop varieties with more durable performance and reduced dependence on crop protection inputs - lowering risk, strengthening supply chains, and creating opportunities for differentiated products.

hosted by Wageningen University & Research

Startup – Corporate collaboration is becoming increasingly important as the ag industry accelerates innovation. This session explores the models and practices that make these partnerships succeed -  from aligning goals and testing solutions quickly to navigating shifting corporate structures such as decentralization and unbundling. The focus is on practical ways startups and established ag companies can work together to bring impactful innovations to market faster.

hosted by Bayer Crop Science

How AI, machine learning, and deep learning are accelerating breeding pipelines through faster predictions, smarter selection, and improved control of complex traits. These data-driven tools shorten development cycles, cut costs, and strengthen variety success rates - helping companies integrate advanced analytics for competitive advantage and new market opportunities.

Resurrect Bio is on a mission to help crops defeat disease by “resurrecting” R‑genes — restoring disease resistance traits that can protect plants more effectively and sustainably. Following their recent milestone — closing an initial $8M Series A investment round — Cian will share how frontier thinking and cutting-edge molecular strategies can redefine global disease resistance.