Advances in Agriculture, Horticulture, and Crop Sciences focuses on emerging scientific, technological, and management innovations aimed at improving productivity, quality, and sustainability across agricultural and horticultural systems. This session explores recent progress in crop science, horticultural practices, and agricultural research, emphasizing improved cultivation techniques, crop diversification, and efficient resource utilization. Key topics include advances in plant breeding, crop physiology, integrated nutrient and water management, and the use of modern tools such as precision agriculture, remote sensing, and data-driven decision support systems. These approaches collectively enhance crop performance while minimizing environmental impact.

The second part of the session highlights applied research and translational innovations that bridge science and practice. Topics include climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable horticulture, protected cultivation, and post-harvest technologies that improve shelf life and reduce losses. Discussions will also address value addition, supply chain optimization, and integration of digital technologies to support farmers and agri-industries. By combining advances in agriculture, horticulture, and crop sciences, this session provides a comprehensive platform for developing resilient, efficient, and sustainable food production systems capable of meeting future global demands.

Key Highlights

• Recent innovations in agriculture and crop sciences
• Advances in horticultural production and management
• Applications of precision and smart farming
• Strategies for climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture
• Improved post-harvest handling and value addition
• Integration of research, technology, and field practices

Why This Session Is Important?

Advances in agriculture, horticulture, and crop sciences are essential for ensuring food security, nutritional quality, and environmental sustainability. This session addresses the need to increase productivity while conserving natural resources and adapting to climate change. By fostering innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration, it supports the development of resilient cropping systems, sustainable livelihoods, and future-ready agricultural practices worldwide.

Sustainable Agronomy and Crop Production Systems focuses on designing and managing agricultural systems that balance productivity, environmental protection, and long-term resource conservation. This session explores the scientific foundations of sustainable agronomy, including cropping system design, crop rotation, intercropping, and soil conservation practices that enhance soil fertility and ecosystem stability. Emphasis will be placed on soil health, nutrient cycling, and water-use efficiency, highlighting how agronomic decisions influence crop growth, yield stability, and environmental outcomes. Advances in agronomic research, field-based experimentation, and system-level modeling will be discussed to demonstrate best practices for sustainable crop production across diverse agroecological regions.

The second part of the session highlights integrated and technology-enabled approaches for improving crop production systems under increasing climate and resource constraints. Topics include integrated nutrient and pest management, climate-resilient agronomic practices, and the use of precision agriculture tools to optimize inputs and reduce environmental footprints. Discussions will also address conservation agriculture, sustainable intensification, and the role of policy and socio-economic factors in adopting sustainable practices at scale. By integrating ecological principles with modern agronomic technologies, this session provides a comprehensive framework for building resilient, efficient, and environmentally responsible crop production systems that support food security and sustainable rural development.

Key Highlights

• Design and management of sustainable cropping systems
• Soil health–centered agronomic practices
• Efficient nutrient and water management strategies
• Climate-adaptive and resilient crop production
• Precision tools for input optimization
• Systems-based approaches to sustainable agriculture

Why This Session Is Important?

Sustainable agronomy is essential for meeting future food demands while preserving soil, water, and biodiversity resources. This session addresses the need to transition from input-intensive practices to resource-efficient, climate-resilient crop production systems. By combining agronomic science with sustainability principles, the session supports long-term agricultural productivity, environmental stewardship, and global food security.

Horticultural Sciences: Olericulture, Pomology & Floriculture focuses on scientific and technological advances in the cultivation, improvement, and management of vegetable, fruit, and ornamental crops. This session explores crop-specific principles of olericulture, pomology, and floriculture, emphasizing plant growth, flowering, fruiting, yield optimization, and quality enhancement. Topics include crop physiology, varietal improvement, planting systems, nutrient and water management, and protected cultivation practices that enhance productivity and resource-use efficiency. Advances in horticultural research, precision cultivation, and sustainable input management will be discussed to address the increasing demand for high-quality horticultural produce.

The second part of the session highlights applied innovations and industry-oriented perspectives in horticultural sciences. Topics include orchard management systems, high-value vegetable production, cut flower and ornamental plant technologies, and post-harvest strategies to extend shelf life and reduce losses. Discussions will also address climate-resilient horticulture, integrated pest and disease management, and value addition through processing and supply chain optimization. By integrating scientific principles with practical applications, this session provides a comprehensive platform for advancing sustainable horticulture that supports nutrition security, economic growth, and diversification of agricultural systems.

Key Highlights

• Advances in vegetable, fruit, and ornamental crop production
• Improved practices in olericulture, pomology, and floriculture
• Protected cultivation and precision horticulture
• Post-harvest management and quality enhancement
• Sustainable and climate-resilient horticultural systems
• Industry-oriented innovations and value addition

Why This Session Is Important?

Horticultural crops play a vital role in nutrition security, income generation, and agricultural diversification. Advancements in olericulture, pomology, and floriculture are essential for improving productivity, quality, and sustainability under changing climatic conditions. This session supports the adoption of science-based horticultural practices that enhance farmer livelihoods, reduce post-harvest losses, and strengthen resilient food and ornamental plant production systems.

Plant Physiology, Growth Regulation, and Stress Biology focuses on the physiological and molecular processes that govern plant growth, development, and adaptation to environmental challenges. This session explores core aspects of plant physiology, including photosynthesis, respiration, nutrient assimilation, and water relations, emphasizing how these processes are coordinated through plant growth regulators and hormonal signaling networks. Special attention will be given to mechanisms of growth regulation, source–sink dynamics, and metabolic control that determine plant productivity and biomass allocation. Advances in physiological measurements, molecular tools, and integrative approaches will be discussed to understand how plants balance growth and survival.

The second part of the session highlights plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses, focusing on physiological, biochemical, and molecular adaptations. Topics include stress perception and signaling, osmotic adjustment, redox regulation, and antioxidant defense systems that protect cellular functions under stress conditions. Discussions will also address growth–defense trade-offs, stress memory, and acclimation processes. By linking fundamental physiology with stress biology, this session provides insights into developing stress-resilient crops capable of maintaining productivity under adverse environmental conditions.

Key Highlights

• Integration of plant physiology and growth regulation
• Hormonal control of development and metabolism
• Physiological mechanisms of stress tolerance
• Role of redox balance and antioxidants
• Growth–stress interactions affecting productivity
• Applications in crop improvement and resilience

Why This Session Is Important?

Understanding how plants regulate growth and respond to stress is essential for improving crop productivity and stability in changing environments. This session provides a physiological framework for developing crops with enhanced stress tolerance, resource-use efficiency, and yield stability, supporting sustainable agriculture and long-term food security.

Crop Breeding, Seed Science, and Genetic Improvement focuses on developing superior crop varieties through integrated genetic, breeding, and seed technologies. This session explores the scientific foundations of crop breeding, including selection strategies, inheritance of complex traits, and the use of conventional and molecular breeding tools to enhance yield, quality, and adaptability. Emphasis will be placed on genetic improvement for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, nutritional enhancement, and resource-use efficiency. Advances in genomics, marker-assisted selection, and genomic selection will be discussed to illustrate how modern breeding accelerates genetic gains.

The second part of the session highlights the critical role of seed science in translating genetic improvements into field performance. Topics include seed development, vigor, quality testing, and seed production systems that ensure genetic purity and uniform crop establishment. Discussions will also address hybrid seed technology, seed certification, intellectual property rights, and efficient seed systems that support large-scale adoption of improved varieties. By integrating breeding innovation with robust seed technologies, this session provides a comprehensive framework for delivering high-performing, climate-resilient crops that contribute to sustainable agriculture and global food security.

Key Highlights

• Advances in crop breeding and genetic improvement
• Integration of genomics and molecular tools
• Development of hybrid and climate-resilient crops
• Seed quality, vigor, and certification systems
• Translational breeding from lab to field
• Strengthening seed systems and food security

Why This Session Is Important?

Crop breeding and seed science are central to improving agricultural productivity and resilience. Genetic improvement combined with high-quality seed systems ensures that innovations reach farmers effectively. This session supports the development and dissemination of improved crop varieties that enhance yield stability, nutritional quality, and climate adaptability, addressing global challenges in food security and sustainable agriculture.

Plant Biotechnology, Genomics, and Molecular Breeding focuses on the integration of advanced biotechnological tools with genomic knowledge to accelerate crop improvement. This session explores how plant biotechnology and genomics enable the identification, characterization, and manipulation of genes controlling important agronomic traits. Emphasis will be placed on genome sequencing, functional genomics, gene expression analysis, and the use of molecular markers to understand genetic variation and trait inheritance. Advances in omics technologies, bioinformatics, and high-throughput genotyping will be discussed to illustrate how large-scale genomic data are transforming plant breeding and genetic improvement.

The second part of the session highlights applied approaches in molecular breeding that bridge laboratory research and field-level outcomes. Topics include marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, and the application of genome editing technologies to enhance yield, quality, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Discussions will also address strategies for breeding climate-resilient, nutrient-efficient crops and integrating genomic tools into conventional breeding pipelines. By combining biotechnology, genomics, and breeding science, this session provides a comprehensive framework for developing high-performing crop varieties that support sustainable agriculture and global food security.

Key Highlights

• Advances in plant biotechnology and genomics
• Functional genomics and gene-to-trait discovery
• Molecular markers and genomic selection
• Precision breeding using genome editing tools
• Integration of omics data into breeding programs
• Translational strategies for crop improvement

Why This Session Is Important?

Plant biotechnology, genomics, and molecular breeding are essential for accelerating genetic gains in crops under increasing climate and resource constraints. By enabling precise and data-driven improvement of complex traits, this integrated approach shortens breeding cycles and enhances selection accuracy. This session supports innovation in sustainable crop production, food security, and climate adaptation, ensuring that modern breeding technologies deliver tangible benefits to agriculture and society.

Bioinformatics, AI, and Computational Agriculture focuses on data-driven approaches that transform agricultural research and decision-making. This session explores how bioinformatics tools enable the analysis and integration of large-scale genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic datasets to uncover gene–trait relationships and biological mechanisms underlying crop performance. Emphasis will be placed on computational pipelines, statistical modeling, and data integration frameworks that convert complex biological data into actionable insights. Advances in data standards, cloud computing, and reproducible workflows will be discussed to support scalable and collaborative agricultural research.

The second part of the session highlights applied uses of AI and machine learning across agricultural systems. Topics include predictive analytics for yield and stress responses, AI-powered disease and pest detection, and digital phenotyping using imaging, sensors, and drones. Discussions will also cover decision support systems, remote sensing, and spatial analytics for precision input management and risk assessment. Challenges related to data quality, bias, interpretability, and responsible AI deployment will be addressed. By integrating computational science with agronomy and biology, this session demonstrates how digital technologies enhance productivity, sustainability, and resilience in modern agriculture.

Key Highlights

• Bioinformatics pipelines for omics data analysis
• AI and machine learning applications in crop science
• Predictive models for yield, stress, and disease
• Digital phenotyping and image-based analytics
• Decision support tools for precision agriculture
• Ethical and responsible use of agricultural AI

Why This Session Is Important?

The future of agriculture depends on the ability to harness and interpret vast, complex datasets. Bioinformatics, AI, and computational approaches enable faster discovery, precise decision-making, and efficient resource use. This session equips researchers, agronomists, and practitioners with the digital tools needed to advance sustainable agriculture, improve food security, and build resilient farming systems in a data-driven world.

Plant–Microbe Interactions and Soil Microbiome Engineering focuses on the complex biological relationships between plants and the diverse microbial communities inhabiting the soil and plant tissues. This session explores the molecular, biochemical, and ecological mechanisms through which plants interact with beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms. Emphasis will be placed on rhizosphere processes, root exudation patterns, and microbial colonization that influence nutrient availability, growth regulation, and plant health. Advances in metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and systems-level analyses will be discussed to understand how microbial communities assemble, function, and respond to environmental and agricultural practices.

The second part of the session highlights emerging strategies in soil microbiome engineering aimed at improving crop productivity and resilience. Topics include manipulation of beneficial microbial consortia, microbiome-assisted nutrient acquisition, and enhancement of plant tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and nutrient limitation. Discussions will also address microbial signaling networks, microbiome stability, and the use of bioinoculants and synthetic microbial communities for sustainable crop management. By integrating molecular plant biology, microbial ecology, and applied biotechnology, this session provides a forward-looking perspective on harnessing soil microbiomes to support sustainable agriculture and ecosystem health.

Key Highlights

• Mechanisms governing plant–microbe communication
• Structure and function of the soil and rhizosphere microbiome
• Omics-driven insights into microbial community dynamics
• Strategies for soil microbiome engineering
• Microbiome-based enhancement of stress tolerance and nutrition
• Applications in sustainable and regenerative farming

Why This Session Is Important?

Soil microorganisms are central to plant nutrition, stress resilience, and ecosystem sustainability. Understanding and engineering plant–microbe interactions enable the development of microbiome-based solutions that reduce chemical inputs, improve soil health, and enhance crop productivity. This session supports innovative approaches for sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, and long-term food security through responsible manipulation of soil microbial ecosystems.