Climate change is one of the most serious threats humanity has ever faced.

Developing crops that are more resilient to rapidly changing and harsher environments will be crucial for tomorrow’s food production. Green biotechnology offers solutions to maintain high food productivity while preserving the earth’s valuable ecosystems. In addition, plants may also play an important role in mitigating the rising levels of greenhouse gases.

This VIB conference ‘Plant Science for Climate Emergency’ aims at reviewing current research on adapting plants to climate change as well as on using plants for mitigating the accumulation of greenhouse gasses.

Twenty leaders in plant biotechnology will present the latest developments in sessions focused on drought tolerance, tolerance to high temperatures, salt and flooding tolerance, the effects of climate change on defense systems against insects and pathogens, carbon capturing plants, crop engineering and improvement, nitrogen use efficiency, and much more.

Besides an inspiring scientific program, conference participants will have ample networking opportunities during the poster sessions, the reception, and the conference dinner.

Information for poster submissions

The format for your poster should be: A0 (841 x 1189 mm / 33.1 x 46.8 in), portrait orientation. The best three abstracts were given a short talk slot in the plenary program.

Travel grants

We offer 5 travel grants to international attendees, which will reimburse travel costs up to 400 Euros. Are you interested in attending PlantResearch21 and want to have a chance on a travel grant? Submit your motivation below by clicking on the 'Apply for a grant' button before 15 March 2021. The organizing committee will notify you of your travel grant acceptance by the end of March.

No registration is needed before submitting a travel grant proposal. When you’re awarded with a travel grant you will receive a practical email containing the next steps. Note that being awarded a travel grant does not mean being registered for the conference. Scroll down to apply for your grant.