SESSION TOPICS

► Sustainable and resilient agronomy

Topics related to field crop production and soil management are always timely. Nutrient use efficiency. Nutrient leaching and lower net GHG emissions. Diversification of cropping systems: gains and trade-offs. Tools for regenerative agriculture. Organic agriculture.

► Water

Water has an important role in agronomy. How to reduce water use? How to improve water use efficiency? How crop and management impact soil infiltration capacity. Water has an impact on nutrient availability and can be a limiting factor for yield. Amelioration and irrigation systems in resilience against extreme weather events. Harvesting and managing water between spring snowmelt or downpours and summer droughts. Conventional and innovative solutions to improve water use.

► From field to food and feed quality

The aim of crop production is the highest quality resource for the food industry. How different agrotechnological measures have impact on chemical composition of crop is worth the discussion. Both endogenous quality factors (protein content, antinutritional factors) and exogenous (agrochemical residues, aflatoxins, heavy metals) are in question. This topic will enable the discussion between agronomist and the food producer.

► Perennial crops

Perennial crops have an important role in sustainable farming systems. Grass and grass-legume  leys provide soil cover, provide N and increase soil health and reduce nitrate leaching in crop rotations. Some novel perennial crops (ie intermediate wheatgrass) can be used for food or biobased resources (willows, miscanthus, cattail etc), or provide substances that can be extracted for use in food, feed or industrial processing. These novel crops and the required agrotechnology for production and processing needs to be tested and adjusted to local conditions. Dual-function crops will enable the discussion with animal scientists who can contribute the expectations for the high quality feed. 

► Policy and science interface

ESA2024 meeting in Rennes focused on synergies for a resilient future. August of 2026 is the time when new CAP aims have been agreed on. However, the issue of how proven principles on agronomic research can better reach the policy documents and serve the farming community the best is still relevant. Trade-offs between food security, agrobiodiversity and profitability of farming: who pays?