Bucharest hosts 5th ISHS European Horticulture Congress

Agroberichten, the newsletter of the Dutch agricultural counsellors worldwide network, reports on the ISHS European Horticulture Congress that took place between 12-16 May in Romania’s capital Bucharest.

Now in its 5th year, the congress was organised by the University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Bucharest and the Romanian Society of Horticulturists. The venue of choice was the Palace of the Romanian Parliament.

The event -attended by 800 horticultural researchers from 70 countries – took place under the auspices of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) and the high patronage of Romanian Academy. Organisers registred more than 1000 scientific papers.

The five-day event  was an opportunity for education and research, contributing to the international exchange of ideas and promoting European concepts for transforming urban environments into green cities.

Left to right: Florentina Nanu – Center of Excellence on Agri Education, Jan Steverink – Chairman Groenpact, Cor Wijnands – Yuverta, Loekie Schreffel – Wageningen University and Research, Sophie Neve – Counsellor for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality for Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova, Embassy of Kingdom of the Netherlands and Gabriela Mirela Girboan, Policy Advisor for Agriculture, Nature and Food, Embassy of Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Bringing this international event to Romania gave students, researchers, teachers and professionals access to leading experts and innovations in the field of horticulture, strengthening national and international collaborations.

On May 14,100 participants visited the demo plot of Research and Development Institute for Fruit Culture (ICDP) in Pitesti-Mărăcineni, a shining example of a 9-year fruitful collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Romania and Dutch companies.

The event’s motto was ‘A Turning Point in Horticulture’,  highlighting the transformation needed, as horticulture as sub sector of agriculture is facing great challenges.

The symposia addressed topics  as sustainability, resilience, climate change, biodiversity, artificial intelligence, robotization and everything related to intelligent horticulture and new technologies.

As contribution from the Dutch side researcher Loekie Schreefel from Wageningen University & Research (WUR) presented an inspiring vision of European food systems for the future, linked to regenerative agriculture initiatives.

Main goal of EHC is  to contribute to enriching the scientific heritage of horticulture, as well as knowledge, ideas, experiences and relationships, from an European and international level.

The next major event in the field of horticulture will be the International Horticultural Congress held on August 25 – 30, 2030 in Milan, Italy.