REGISTRATION CLOSES ON 15 AUGUST 2026 AT 23:59.

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Programme Highlights

A welcome reception on the first day, providing an opportunity to meet fellow participants and speakers.
Seven keynote lectures delivered by leading experts in the field.
A full-day excursion to innovative greenhouse companies.
A guided visit to the Greenhouse Horticulture Research Facility of Wageningen University & Research in Bleiswijk, concluding with complimentary food-truck snacks and drinks.
A conference gala dinner at a historic and atmospheric venue.
Student Presentation Awards for outstanding oral and poster contributions.
Closing drinks and a farewell borrel on the final day, offering a relaxed opportunity to network and celebrate the conclusion of the conference.

Do not forget to explore the Netherlands, visit our Tourist Attractions section for inspiration.

Conference Venue

The conference will be hosted at Flora Boskoop, a modern and spacious venue designed to provide a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all participants. All scientific sessions will take place in the main auditorium. As the conference follows a single-track format, there are no parallel sessions, allowing every participant to attend the complete scientific programme without having to choose between simultaneous presentations.

For your convenience, a dedicated area is available to hang your coats upon arrival. In addition, small lockers are provided for securely storing valuable personal belongings such as laptops, passports, wallets, and other important items during the conference.

If you need to change clothes before the conference dinner, presentations, or social events, private changing rooms located behind the main stage will be available throughout the conference.

The venue offers spacious communal areas where participants can meet during coffee breaks, lunch, and networking sessions. These informal spaces provide an excellent setting to continue scientific discussions, establish new collaborations, and connect with colleagues from around the world in a relaxed atmosphere.

Flora Boskoop is fully equipped with modern audiovisual facilities, comfortable seating, accessible amenities, and high-speed wireless internet, ensuring a pleasant and productive conference experience for all attendees.

Day 1: 31 August 2026 (Monday)

8:00 to 9:00 - Arrival and Registration

The first hour of the conference provides an opportunity for participants to arrive, register, collect their conference materials, and familiarise themselves with the venue. Tea and coffee will be available.

9:00 to 9:30 - Opening Session

9:00 to 9:10 - Welcome address by the Convenor

Gerben Messelink, Convenor of the Working Group and former General Secretary of IOBC-WPRS (October 2013–October 2021), will deliver the official welcome address and formally open the scientific programme.

9:10 to 9:20 - Welcome address by the IOBC-WPRS Liaison Officer

Bruno Gobin, IOBC-WPRS Vice-President and Liaison Officer of the Working Group, will extend a warm welcome on behalf of the IOBC-WPRS.

9:20 to 9:30 - Welcome and the practical information from the Local Organizers

Ada Leman and Raghavendra Reddy Manda, on behalf of the local organizing team, will provide essential practical information to help participants navigate the conference smoothly. Their introduction will include important details about the venue, session logistics, and key announcements to ensure that all attendees are well prepared for the days ahead.

11:05 to 11:30 - Coffee Break

A short break to enjoy coffee, tea, and light refreshments.

9:30 to 11:05 - Session 1 - Innovative Biological Control and IPM Strategies for Emerging Thrips Challenges

Chair: Roselyne Labbe

9:30 to 9:35 - Opening remarks by the Chair

9:35 to 10:05 - Keynote 1 - Adapting IPM to chaning pest complexes in Canadian greenhouse ornamentals - Rose Buitenhuis

Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Ontario, Canada

10:05 to 10:20 - Predatory thrips as biological control agents of exotic thrips in greenhouse ornamental crops - Juliette Pijnakker

Biobest Nederland B. V., De Lier, The Netherlands

10:20 to 10:35 - Thrips that play dirty: Evaluating biocontrol options for Hercinothrips - Angelos Mouratidis

Unidad de Protección Vegetal, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

10:35 to 10:50 - Improving the establishment of Orius laevigatus through optimized supplemental diets and multi-trait selected strains - Enric Vila

Agrobío S.L., Almeria, Spain

10:50 to 11:05 - Effectiveness of above- and below-ground predators in controlling the invasive Thrips parvispinus - Alexandra Sierra Monroy

University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

12:35 to 13:30 - Lunch Break

A break to enjoy lunch with colleagues in a relaxed setting.

11:30 to 12:35 - Session 2 - Ecological Drivers of Successful Biological Control: Complementarity, Competition, and Facilitation

Chair: Jesica Perez Rodriguez

11:30 to 11:35 - Opening remarks by the Chair

11:35 to 11:50 - When supplemental food becomes essential: biological control of Nezara viridula by Podisus maculiventris - Raghavendra Reddy
Manda

Wageningen University & Research, Bleiswijk, The Netherlands

11:50 to 12:05 - A meta-analysis on the role of functional complementarity and intraguild predation on biological control - Francisco Martínez Martínez

CIRAD-CBGP, Montpellier, France

12:05 to 12:20 - Assessing the intraguild predation potential of mirid species in Canadian greenhouses - Isabella L. Nardone

University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada

12:20 to 12:35 - Macrolophus pygmaeus as a key aphid control agent in sweet pepper: efficacy and intraguild interactions - Evelien Aussems

Horticultural Applied Research Centre for Vegetables and Strawberries, Innovation and Science, Antwerp, Belgium

15:20 to 15:45 - Coffee and Snacks

A short break with coffee, tea, and a selection of snacks, offering time to relax.

16:50 to 17:00 - Excursion Announcements

Final remarks and important announcements regarding the excursion.

13:30 to 15:20 - Session 3 - Innovations in Sustainable Pest Management for Greenhouse Tomato Production

Chair: Angelos Mouratidis

13:30 to 13:35 - Opening remarks by the Chair

13:35 to 14:05 - Keynote 2 - Combination of strategies for sustainable control of the invasive tomato leafminer Phthorimaea absoluta - Jana Collatz

Agroscope, Zürich, Switzerland

14:05 to 14:20 - Optimizing IPM strategies for Nesidiocoris tenuis in North America - Cara McCreary and Roselyne Labbe

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, Ontario, Canada

14:20 to 14:35 - From lab promise to field complexity: an integrated approach for managing Nesidiocoris tenuis in greenhouse tomato - Rob Moerkens

Biobest Group N. V., Westerlo, Belgium

14:35 to 14:50 - A method for monitoring biocontrol success of whiteflies in green-house tomato crops - Irene Vänninen

Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Helsinki, Finland

14:50 to 15:05 - Glue barriers reduced the density of tomato russet mites on plant stems in a commercial interplanted tomato crop, but did not prevent leaf damage - Heini Koskula

Biotus Oy., Forssa, Finaland

15:05 to 15:20 - After cutting the double-edged sword: IPM without type VI trichomes in tomato - Julia van Leemput

Wageningen University & Research, Bleiswijk, The Netherlands

15:45 to 16:45 - Session 4 - From Resistance to Biological Control: Innovative Strategies for Greenhouse Disease Management

Chair: Benjamin Gard

15:45 to 15:50 - Opening remarks by the Chair

15:50 to 16:05 - From coincidence to candidate: Sericoderus lateralis and its role in biological control of plant fungal pathogens - Václav Psota

Farma Bezdínek, Dolní Lutyně, Czech Republic

16:05 to 16:20 - Mycophagous ladybeetle (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata) effectively suppressed powdery mildew on strawberry (Podosphaera
aphanis), a cage trial in greenhouse - Tham Nguyen

Wageningen University & Research, Bleiswijk, The Netherlands

16:20 to 16:35 - Field evaluation of ToBRFV-resistant tomato cultivars under severe infection pressure - Lise Soetemans

Horticultural Applied Research Centre for Vegetables and Strawberries, Innovation and Science, Antwerp, Belgium

16:35 to 16:50 - The effect of rootstock selection, substrate composition and biological control agents in the management of the bell pepper
pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-capsici - Simon Lauwers

Horticultural Applied Research Centre for Vegetables and Strawberries, Innovation and Science, Antwerp, Belgium

17:00 onwards - Welcome Reception

This informal gathering will provide an opportunity to network while enjoying refreshments and conversations in a relaxed atmosphere. The reception will offer a valuable opportunity to establish new connections and (re)connect with colleagues from around the world.

Day 2: 1 September 2026 (Tuesday)

9:00 to 18:00 - Full Day Excursion

The second day of the meeting is dedicated to a full-day excursion to several leading greenhouse companies, offering participants the opportunity to explore innovative production systems, applied biological control strategies, and practical solutions used in commercial protected cropping.

Participants will be divided into three groups, with each group following a unique itinerary and visiting five different locations without overlap. This approach allows participants to experience a broad range of greenhouse operations, technologies, and management practices across the Dutch horticultural sector.

Throughout the day, the visits will highlight the diversity and technical advancement of Dutch greenhouse production. These company visits are designed to provide valuable insights, stimulate discussions, and strengthen the connection between scientific research and practical applications in commercial horticulture.

A packed lunch will be provided, allowing the groups to travel efficiently between locations while continuing the programme throughout the day.

At the end of the excursion, all three groups will come together at the Greenhouse Horticulture Research Facility of Wageningen University & Research in Bleiswijk. Here, participants will receive a guided tour of the facility and learn more about ongoing research programmes, innovative technologies, and future developments in greenhouse horticulture.

The day will conclude at the facility with drinks and hot (Dutch) snacks, creating an informal setting for further networking and discussion. The growers, advisors, and other industry professionals who joined the company visits during the day will also be invited to this closing gathering. This provides an excellent opportunity to continue conversations, ask follow-up questions, and further exchange practical experiences.

This excursion provides a unique opportunity to experience the Dutch greenhouse industry first-hand, exchange knowledge with researchers and practitioners, and build new connections within the international greenhouse horticulture community.

Day 3: 2 September 2026 (Wednesday)

9:00 to 10:50 - Session 5 - Abiotic Factors and Technological Innovations for Greenhouse Crop Protection

Chair: Samantha Willden

9:00 to 9:05 - Opening remarks by the Chair

9:05 to 9:35 - Keynote 3 - Latest technological developments in greenhouse horticulture - Leo Marcelis

Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

9:35 to 10:05 - Keynote 4 - Microclimates in greenhouse IPM: linking abiotic variation to biocontrol efficacy - Samantha Willden

Cornell University, New York, USA

10:05 to 10:20 - FUTURLIGHTS: An integrated push and pull strategy for optimised plant protection against flying insects in energy-optimised
greenhouses - Jan-Uwe Niemann

Julius Kühn Institute, Braunschweig, Germany

10:20 to 10:35 - Influence of LED lighting regimes and low nighttime temperatures on aphid predators in controlled-environment strawberry - Karli
Barton

University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada

10:35 to 10:50 - Identification and evaluation of effective biological control agents in deep winter greenhouse crops in Eastern Canada - François
Dumont

Centre de recherche agroalimentaire de Mirabel, Québec, Canada

10:50 to 11:15 - Coffee Break

A short break to enjoy coffee, tea, and light refreshments.

11:15 to 12:35 - Session 6 - Conservation Biological Control: Harnessing Functional Plants and Generalist Predators

Chair: Francisco Gonzalez

11:15 to 11:20 - Opening remarks by the Chair

11:20 to 11:50 - Keynote 5 - Biological control in open-field crops: Inspired by and inspiration for greenhouse biological control - Erik Poelman

Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

11:50 to 12:05 - Companion plants as rearing and release platforms for predatory bugs in soilless tomato systems - Benjamin Gard

CTIFL, Bellegarde, France

12:05 to 12:20 - Generalist predators - role on conservation biological control in the Oeste region, Portugal - Elisabete Figueiredo

Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

12:20 to 12:35 - Can functional plants support the green lacewing and the 14-spotted ladybird beetle to enhance the biological control of Myzus
persicae in protected sweet pepper crops? - Florence Estublier

Wageningen University & Research, Bleiswijk, The Netherlands

12:35 to 13:30 - Lunch Break

A break to enjoy lunch with colleagues in a relaxed setting.

13:30 to 14:30 - Session 7 - Poster Pitches

Chair: Ada Leman

13:30 to 13:35 - Opening remarks by the Chair

13:35 to 13:38 - Towards efficient biocontrol of bacterioses of tomato: novel bacteriophages and their action in controlled conditions and production
greenhouses - Václav Psota

Farma Bezdínek, Dolní Lutyně, Czech Republic

13:38 to 13:41 - Long-term persistence of ToBRFV in commercial greenhouse irrigation systems and challenges in virus elimination - Lise Soetemans

Horticultural Applied Research Centre for Vegetables and Strawberries, Innovation and Science, Antwerp, Belgium

13:41 to 13:44 - LichtFalle:Praxis - Exploring the potential of technology‑based disturb, attract and kill approaches for insect mass trapping - Elisa
Wendisch

Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hannover, Germany

13:44 to 13:47 - Chemical ecology of an emerging thrips pest: evaluating semiochemical-based push–pull strategies for Thrips parvispinus - Avery
Johnson

University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada

13:47 to 13:50 - Practice-based optimization of biological control against a new aphid genotype in bell pepper - Lise Soetemans

Horticultural Applied Research Centre for Vegetables and Strawberries, Innovation and Science, Antwerp, Belgium

13:50 to 13:53 - Evaluation of toxicity effect of essential oils on Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari:
Tetranychidae) and Aculops lycopersici Tryon (Acari: Eriophyidae) - Sofia Dervisoglou

Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece

13:53 to 13:56 - Control potential of Trialeurodes vaporariorum by the autoparasitoid Encarsia gennaroi, a newly recorded wasp in Canadian
greenhouses - Catalina Fernancez

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Harrow, Canada

13:56 to 13:59 - Carnivorous plants as a potential monitoring tool for Bradysia difformis in greenhouse systems - Madlene Mazurek

Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hannover, Germany

13:59 to 14:02 - Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) and Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) predation activity on Tuta absoluta (Meyrick)
(Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) eggs on tomato fruits of different ripening stages - Sofia Dervisoglou

Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece

14:02 to 14:05 - Not just a citrus problem: The expanding threat of Scirtothrips aurantii and the importance of alternative host plants - Angelos
Mouratidis

IVIA, Spain, Greece

14:05 to 14:08 - Biodiversity strips around greenhouses to support natural enemies of greenhouse pests - Kyra Vervoorn

Wageningen Plant Research, Bleiswijk, The Netherlands

14:08 to 14:11 - Performance of selected Orius laevigatus (Fieber) strains fed with mixtures of astigmatid mites species - Amador Rodríguez Gómez

Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain

14:11 to 14:14 - Comparative efficacy of Macrolophus melanotoma (Costa) (Hemiptera: Miridae) and M. pygmaeus (Rambur) (Hemiptera: Miridae)
against Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) eggs on tomato and Dittrichia viscosa L. (Greuter) - Sofia Dervisoglou

Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece

14:14 to 14:17 - Risk-based surveillance design for early detection of Thrips palmi in orchid greenhouses - Laura Carotti

Independent Scientific Advisor, Bologna, Italy

14:17 to 14:20 - Habitat provision for natural pest management in small-scale protected cropping and the potential for scalability - Judith Conroy

Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom

14:20 to 14:23 - Regional Patterns of Insecticide Resistance in Bemisia tabaci in Türkiye - Gül Satar

Çukurova University, Adana, Türkiye

14:23 to 14:26 - An integrated hoverfly system for pest management and pollination in protected soft-fruit - Sarah E. J. Arnold

NIAB, Kent, United Kingdom

14:26 to 14:30 - Concluding remarks by the Chair and invitation to the poster session

14:30 to 15:30 - Session 8 - Poster Session

Following the completion of the poster pitch presentations, participants are invited to attend the dedicated poster session, where they can explore the full range of research presented and engage directly with the authors. This interactive session provides an excellent opportunity to discuss emerging findings, exchange ideas, ask questions, and establish new scientific connections.

The poster presentations cover a broad spectrum of topics within greenhouse horticulture and biological control, including innovative solutions for plant disease management, virus detection and elimination strategies, and the development of new biological control approaches against emerging pests. Several contributions explore advances in predator and parasitoid-based control, including the optimization of natural enemy performance, novel applications of habitat management, and the use of functional biodiversity to support sustainable pest suppression.

The session will also highlight new technologies and ecological approaches, such as semiochemical-based pest management, automated trapping systems, monitoring tools, and risk-based surveillance strategies for invasive pests. Additional posters address challenges related to insecticide resistance, alternative pest control products, and integrated systems that combine pest management with pollination services.

15:30 to 16:00 - Coffee and Snacks

A short break with coffee, tea, and a selection of snacks, offering time to relax.

16:00 to 17:05 - Session 9 - Hidden Interactions Shaping Biological Control: From Plant Responses to Parasitoid Biology

Chair: Irene Vänninen

16:00 to 16:05 - Opening remarks by the Chair

16:05 to 16:20 - Parasitoids and their injection components indirectly alter plant responses via their caterpillar host, affecting later-arriving
parasitoids - Sarah Naomi Kalisvaart

Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

16:20 to 16:35 - Reductive Catalytic Fractionation-derived lignin as a novel elicitor of induced resistance in tomato for biological control of plant
pathogens and pests - Ludo Cialdella

KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium

16:35 to 16:50 - Effects of induced plant growth on the attraction of the parasitoid Cotesia glomerata - Laura A. Zuidema

Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

16:50 to 17:05 - RNA viruses in parasitoids: Do they shape biological control outcomes? - Jesica Pérez-Rodríguez

University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

17:05 to 18:00 - Preparing for the Gala Dinner

The scientific programme will conclude at 17:05, providing participants with a one-hour break before the conference gala dinner begins at 18:00. This time can be used to return to your hotel, freshen up, and prepare your outfit for the evening’s special theme: the Roaring Twenties.

Participants who prefer to stay at the conference venue are welcome to use the changing rooms located behind the main stage to change and dress up for the gala dinner.

For further details about the gala dinner, including the venue, theme, entertainment, and programme, please see the section below.

18:00 Onwards - Conference Gala Dinner

Gala Dinner

The conference gala dinner will take place in the beautifully decorated Spiegeltent in Gouda, a unique and atmospheric venue known for its warm lighting, classic wooden interiors, and festive ambiance. This special evening will provide an excellent opportunity to relax, enjoy a memorable dinner, and connect with colleagues in a welcoming and informal setting.

Guests will be welcomed with drinks, followed by a carefully prepared dinner served in the elegant surroundings of the Spiegeltent. Adding to the festive atmosphere, a professional musician and singer will provide live entertainment throughout the evening, creating a lively and enjoyable experience for all participants.

The gala dinner will embrace a Roaring Twenties theme, inviting guests to step back in time and enjoy an evening inspired by the elegance, glamour, and style of the 1920s. Participants are encouraged to dress accordingly and join in the spirit of this special celebration.

To capture the memories of the evening, a photo booth will be available, allowing participants to take fun and memorable photographs with colleagues and friends.

The combination of the historic charm of the Spiegeltent, live music, themed decoration, and shared celebration will make the gala dinner one of the highlights of the conference programme.

The gala dinner is included in the registration fee, and all participants are warmly invited to join this special evening.

Address: De Spiegeltent, Turfmarkt 51, 2801 GW Gouda, The Netherlands

Day 4: 3 September 2026 (Thursday)

16:00 to 17:00 - Awards and Closing Ceremony

Chairs: Gerben Messelink and Bruno Gobin

16:00 to 16:30 - Best Oral and Poster Presentation Awards (Students).

16:30 to 17:00 - Vote of Thanks by the Convenor, Liaison Officer, and Local Organizers.

Do not forget to explore the Netherlands — check our suggestions by clicking the button below.

Tourist Attractions

9:00 to 10:35 - Session 10 - Beyond Conventional Control: New Approaches for Integrated Aphid Management

Chair: Juliette Pijnakker

9:00 to 9:05 - Opening remarks by the Chair

9:05 to 9:20 - The effect of compost on aphid control and the search for key resilience indicators - Esmée de Graaf

Wageningen Plant Research, Bleiswijk, The Netherlands

9:20 to 9:35 - Predictive modeling of combined release strategies for Myzus persicae management: preventive Macrolophus pygmaeus reduces aphid
pressure with minimal cost increase - Kin Ho Chan

University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

9:235 to 9:350 - IPM of aphids in vegetable seed production: main challenges and possible approaches - Antonio Miceli

Bejo Benelux B. V., Warmenhuizen, The Netherlands

9:50 to 10:05 - Potential of aphid-killing bacteria to manage aphid populations in greenhouse crops - Sara Van Hee

KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

10:05 to 10:20- Integrated control of aphids on organic celery – from the glasshouse to the field - Rory Jones

Adas Boxworth, Boxworth, United Kingdom

10:20 to 10:35 - Native entomopathogenic fungi from Dutch sweet pepper greenhouses: isolation, identification and biocontrol potential - Zilal
Suleiman Alkadour

Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

10:35 to 11:00 - Coffee Break

A short break to enjoy coffee, tea, and light refreshments.

11:00 to 12:20 - Session 11 - New Horizons in Biological Crop Protection

Chair: Norihide Hinomoto

11:00 to 11:05 - Opening remarks by the Chair

11:05 to 11:35 - Keynote 6 - Biological pest control inside-out (& outside-in) - Felix Wäckers

Biobest Group, Westerlo, Belgium

11:35 to11:50 - Amblydromalus limonicus: a gamechanger in biological control - Anton Bekendam

Koppert B. V., Berkel en Rodenrijs, The Netherlands

11:50 to 12:05 - Sky is not the limit: successful foliar application of soil-borne entomopathogenic nematodes to control foliar caterpillars - Kalliopi
Arkoumanea

Koppert B. V., Berkel en Rodenrijs, The Netherlands

12:05 to 12:20 - Shaping the future of crop protection: antibody-inspired proteins as the next generation of biofungicides - Nico Vergote

Biotalys, Gent, Belgium

12:20 to 13:15 - Lunch Break

A break to enjoy lunch with colleagues in a relaxed setting.

14:00 to 15:35 - Session 12 - Rethinking Greenhouse Pest Control: New Concepts for Sustainable Crop Protection

Chair: Elisabete Figueiredo

14:00 to 14:05 - Opening remarks by the Chair

14:05 to 14:35 - Keynote 7 - Rethinking biological pest control in greenhouses without pesticides - Gerben Messelink

Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands

14:35 to14:50 - Zero Pest Damage Project: Innovative technologies for advancing non-chemical control in greenhouses - Norihide Hinomoto

Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

14:50 to 15:05 - Are aphids an impossible problem? - Francisco Gonzalez

Koppert B. V., Berkel en Rodenrijs, The Netherlands

15:05 to 15:20 - Use of 3MP theoretical framework to achieve holistic control of multiple insect pests in tomato: progress in Asia and Europe - Peng
Han

Yunnan University, Kunming, China

15:20 to 15:35 - A repellent plant to regulate aerial pests: Testing the continuum trait-function-service from the lab to polytunnels - Anne-Violette
Lavoir

INRAE, Nice, France

13:15 to 14:00 - Special Session - Development of IOBC Integrated Production Guidelines for Protected Crops

Chairs: Carlo Malavolta and Hilfred Huiting

The IOBC is not only a platform for scientific exchange through conferences and working groups, but also a recognised scientific community that promotes the development and implementation of biological control and integrated production practices.

As part of this mission, the IOBC develops Integrated Production (IP) Guidelines, which provide valuable scientific guidance and support for policymakers, including those involved in the development and implementation of sustainable crop protection strategies. While several IP guidelines are already available for different cropping systems, comprehensive guidelines for protected crops have not yet been established.

A first draft of the IOBC Integrated Production Guidelines for Protected Crops has recently been developed and will be presented during this special session. The draft provides a general framework and outlines potential crop-specific guidelines that can be further developed and refined in the future.

This optional session will provide an opportunity for participants to review the draft, share their expertise, and contribute suggestions, additions, and modifications. Feedback from researchers, advisors, and practitioners involved in protected crop production will be highly valuable in improving and finalising the guidelines.

Participant Guidelines

Participants interested in contributing to the development of the guidelines are encouraged to review the draft document in advance. The draft was sent by email on 21 July 2026 by Gerben Messelink. If you have not received the document, please contact iobc-greenhouse-wgm2026@wur.nl.

Please send your feedback to the organisers before 21 August to allow sufficient time for preparation of the discussion.

During the session, participants will have the opportunity to discuss key topics, provide practical input, and help shape future IOBC recommendations for sustainable integrated production in protected cropping systems.

15:35 to 16:00 - Coffee and Snacks

A short break with coffee, tea, and a selection of snacks, offering time to relax.

17:00 Onwards - Closing Reception

Following the official closing ceremony, participants are invited to join the closing reception with drinks and hot snacks.