On February 26–27, the Global Agri & Food Safety Congress 2026 took place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, bringing together scientists, university representatives, and business sector professionals from various countries around the world. The event was attended by PhD student Skaistė Dreskinienė and Dr. Monika Vilkienė from the LAMMC Institute of Agriculture.
The congress featured relevant and innovative presentations on agriculture and food safety. Among them were presentations delivered by researchers from Wageningen University & Research, as well as representatives of other universities and businesses, covering a wide range of topics including sustainable crop production, soil quality, food safety, and environmental challenges.
During the congress, PhD student Skaistė Dreskinienė delivered an oral presentation entitled “Microplastics in the field: hidden drivers of soil and plant change”, in which the research results obtained during her doctoral studies and within the framework of the RTO PLASTRO project were presented. The presentation highlighted the impact of microplastics on soil properties and plant responses.
During the visit, the modern research greenhouses of Wageningen University & Research were also toured. The delegation was introduced to ongoing experiments, advanced plant cultivation technologies, and innovative solutions aimed at sustainable and efficient crop production.
The visit was funded by the project “Testing the R&D idea: The impact of microplastics on agroecosystems” (No. 10-038-T-0305).
Photos ©Skaistė Dreskinienė
