The organization expects to surpass the more than 1,200 participants from the previous edition, consolidating the Symposium as the main technical forum for the sector.
The 18th Plant Health Symposium will bring together leading European experts in plant protection and agriculture at a critical moment for the future of plant health and food production in Europe. The event will take place in Seville, Spain, from March 4 to 6, 2026, at the Hotel Meliá Sevilla and is organized by the Official College of Agricultural Technical Engineers and Graduates in Agricultural Engineering of Western Andalusia (COITAND).
With more than four decades of history, the Symposium has become a strategic forum for analyzing, debating and transferring technical knowledge, in a context shaped by the withdrawal of active substances, increasing regulatory demands, climate change pressures and the need to ensure food sovereignty.
The Symposium will address key challenges in plant health affecting strategic crops such as olives, horticultural crops, rice and fruit trees. Discussions will include emerging and priority pests in the European Union and the need to strengthen monitoring and response systems.
Innovation plays a central role in the program, with sessions focusing on biocontrol, natural substances, microbial consortia and new genomic techniques applied to plant improvement. Advances in tools based on RNAi and aptamers, as well as artificial intelligence, robotics and digitalization — which are transforming decision-making in the field and integrated pest management — will also be discussed.
The Symposium will also highlight regenerative agriculture and climate adaptation strategies, emphasizing more adaptive and efficient production models. The analysis of the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and its impact on plant health will complete a technical program that blends strategic vision, scientific rigor and knowledge transfer.
This event is an essential space for professionals — including technicians, advisors and growers — to update their expertise and access cutting-edge information on emerging threats, digital tools and low-impact solutions that improve sustainability and efficiency in the field.
The Symposium will feature both technical and commercial presentations, where leading companies in plant health, biotechnology and digital solutions will present their latest innovations. Attendees will be able to learn about new molecules, biological tools, monitoring technologies, digital solutions and sustainable management strategies.
