The symposium will be structured around 3 key sessions:

 

Session 1 - Toward an agriculture of Holobionts ?

 

Recent research demonstrated that microorganisms living in association with plants or animals are not randomly distributed but deterministically selected, constituting holobionts. 

Although many of these microorganisms are still understudied, they  are known to play an important role in how plants function and adapt to their environment. In a similar way, the microbiota of insect pests and their natural enemies strongly influences their resistance to environmental stresses, such as heat linked to climate change, and their ability to defend themselves or overcome biological control. Understanding how agricultural practices affect these microbial communities is essential for developing a more sustainable and productive agriculture. We encourage presentations that may demonstrate and diagnose the impacts of agriculture on the microbial compartment, provide new understandings of the holobiont dysfunctions or propose solutions based on holobionts concepts to imagine a sustainable and productive next generation agriculture. 

 

Session 2 - Agriculture, forestry, facing climate change : diagnosis, solutions & forecasts

 

Globalization and climate change are increasing the introduction and establishment of new species outside their native ranges. In agricultural systems, invasive plants and phytophagous insects can rapidly establish, often in the absence of their natural enemies, leading to severe damage to crops and significant economic losses. Climate change is also altering the interactions between plants, crop pests, and their natural enemies by modifying their life cycles and population dynamics. Current models predict that pest species will be more resilient to climate change than both their host plants and their natural enemies, increasing the risk of pest outbreaks and plant diseases. These challenges highlight the need for early detection strategies, improved predictive models, and the development of innovative, plant-based and ecological control approaches, such as chemical ecology tools and new trapping systems, to ensure sustainable crop protection. We encourage presentations that provide novel understandings related to insects and pest dynamics in a global context of biodiversity conservation and agriculture mainly. Novel tools/vision combining chemical ecology, microbiology and plant science to counteract or at least, mitigate the future impacts of climate change on next generation agriculture or forestry. Pilot studies are welcomed with breakingthrough results.

 

Session 3 - The paradigm of ’alive soils’: the carbon storage and symbiotic reservoir issues

 

A more thorough understanding of the underlying mechanisms and a re-evaluation of the potential for storing carbon would be necessary for a variety of agricultural strategies, including irrigation, conservation and no-tillage agriculture, measures that increase below-ground inputs, organic amendments, and N fertilization. According to the literature, soil microorganisms play a significant role in stabilizing soil organic matter. This highlights more exploratory potential levers that need further study, such as changes in microbial physiology or soil biodiversity brought on by agricultural practices. Diagnoses of agricultural collateral damages induced on soil biodiversity is a current hot topics to improve the soil biodiversity functions and agriculture sustainability. We encourage presentations that gather an inventory of soil biodiversity state at small and large scales. Results could range from microbial to macro-organisms levels and especially, with inter-connection between organisms. Presentations should also include results, or at least, raise perspectives of the impact of soil management on the underground fauna and necessary changes in practices to enhance more resilient agriculture and an opportunity to store more carbon in soils.

Link to the detailed program (coming soon)

 

Confirmed keynote speakers :

 

Prof Richard Bardgett (UK)

Prof Gabriele Berg (A)

Prof Angela Sessitch (A)

Dr Lorenzo Marini (I)