Share your knowledge. Shape the future of plant protection.

We invite proposals for symposia at IPPC 2027. Accepted symposia will shape the congress programme and set the themes for the call for abstracts, which opens on 1 December 2026.

We welcome proposals that explore the Congress themes and the emerging challenges shaping plant protection, including innovative science, practical solutions, Indigenous knowledge and collaborative approaches to building resilient plant health systems.

Bring your ideas, share your expertise and be part of this unique global gathering in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

• Call for symposia opens: 15 October 2026
• Proposals close: 13 November 2026
• Organisers notified: 27 November 2026
• Call for abstracts opens: 1 December 2026

Please choose the theme that best fits your proposal. If your proposal spans multiple themes, select the one that fits best:

• Indigenous & Local Knowledge: Indigenous and local plant protection practices, climate and Indigenous knowledge, ethics and IP, Pacific knowledge and biosecurity
• Plant Pathology & Health: diagnostics and epidemiology, virology, soil health and soilborne pathogens, microbiomes, plant–pathogen–vector interactions
• Pest & Disease Management: IPM and sustainable management, biological control of invertebrates, pathogens and weeds, functional diversity, chemical ecology, monitoring and forecasting, extension
• Resistance & Bioproducts: pesticide and antibiotic resistance, breeding for resistance, biopesticides, botanicals, endophytes, biofertilisers
• Technology & Environment: digital tools, AI and remote sensing, climate change and plant protection, ecotoxicology
• Biosecurity & Transboundary Pests: biosecurity systems and policy, surveillance technologies, food safety, new and emerging pests and diseases
• Other / cross-cutting

General guidelines for Symposia organisers:

A Symposium is an organised thematic session bringing together several presentations exploring a specific topic or area of plant protection. Each Symposium must have a lead chair and may include multiple co-chairs.

We welcome Symposia proposals addressing any aspect of plant protection, with particular encouragement for submissions that align with the Congress themes and explore emerging challenges, innovative approaches, Indigenous knowledge, Pacific perspectives, and opportunities for collaboration across disciplines and communities.

Submitting proposals:

Organisers of Symposia will need to submit the following using the submission portal:

• Title and an approximately 200-word summary of the Symposium in English.
• Proposed speakers, if known, including affiliation and country
• Broad theme that relates best to your submission
• List of lead chair and any co-chairs including affiliations
• Preferred session length (90min or 120min)

How proposals are assessed:

The scientific committee will assess proposals on scientific quality, fit with the congress themes, and a balanced, international line-up. Slots are limited, so not every proposal can be accepted.

• All IPPC 2027 symposium leads/chairs, presenters and co-presenters must be registered to attend the Congress and are responsible for their own expenses, including registration fees, travel, visas, transportation, accommodation, and any other costs associated with attending the Congress.
• If accepted, you agree to be responsible for reviewing and selecting abstracts and posters submitted to your session.
• By submitting a Symposium, the presenter agrees that the IPPC 2027 hosts may reproduce, print, publish, and disseminate the submitted abstract for purposes related to the Congress.