A large team of scientists from the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (LAMMC) participated in one of the most important international events in horticultural science – the IHC2026 International Horticultural Congress, held in Kyoto, Japan. The congress brought together more than 2,500 scientists and representatives of the horticultural and agricultural sectors from 97 countries worldwide. At the congress, considerable attention was given to climate change and plant resilience, genomics and precision breeding approaches, the application of artificial intelligence and advanced phenotyping, and the development of sustainable horticultural systems. Researchers from different scientific fields represented LAMMC: Plant Physiology Laboratory – G. Samuolienė, A. Viršilė, K. Laužikė and R. Sutulienė; Department of Fruit Plant Genetics and Biotechnology – B. Frercks and E. Misiukevičius; Department of Vegetable Breeding and Technologies – R. Karklelienė and D. Juškevičienė; and Plant Protection Laboratory – A. Valiuškaitė and N. Rasiukevičiūtė.
During the congress, LAMMC scientists presented the results of their ongoing research through oral and poster presentations across ten scientific sessions. The presentations covered a wide range of topics, including plant physiology, plant breeding, biotechnology, plant protection, controlled-environment agriculture, and sustainable horticulture. An important part of the congress was strengthening international scientific collaboration. LAMMC scientists participated in the activities of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) Council, and in scientific working group meetings focused on new international project ideas, research priorities, planned activities, and the roles of potential partners.
Participation in IHC2026 provided an excellent opportunity not only to present LAMMC research results to the international scientific community, but also to establish new scientific contacts, exchange scientific knowledge and experience, and explore opportunities for future joint research and project development. International collaboration is particularly important for addressing current challenges in horticulture, including climate change, resource efficiency, crop resilience, and sustainable food production. The participation of LAMMC scientists in IHC2026 once again demonstrated the international dimension of LAMMC research and the broad range of expertise across its scientific departments. The new connections established during the congress provide opportunities for further development of joint research projects, scientific publications, and international initiatives.
