Following the plenary conference “CRISPR-Cas–based genome editing technologies for crop improvement”, held on 15 January 2026 at the Radisson Hotel, Sfax, the INPLANTOMICS organizing committee warmly thanks all speakers and participants for their valuable presence and engagement. The conference featured high-quality scientific presentations that provided deep insights into recent advances, challenges, and applications of genome editing for crop improvement.
We had the privilege of learning from outstanding keynote speakers who shared their expertise and vision :
· Prof. Stefaan Werbrouck (Ghent University, Belgium)- Next-Generation In Vitro Methods for Regenerating Shoots from Edited Plant Cells.
· Prof. Vittoria Brambilla (University of Milan, Italy)- Stem elongation and inflorescence development in rice: from basic research to NGT field trials.
· Prof. Holger Puchta (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany)– Crossing borders: from plant gene editing to changing chromosome numbers.
· Dr. Goetz Hensel (Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany)– Precision Mutagenesis in Crops for Functional Genomics and Enhancement of Agronomic Traits.
· Prof. Laurens Pauwels (Ghent University, Belgium)-Evaluation of Transgenerational Gene Editing Efficiency and Inheritance of Edits in Zea mays.
· Dr. Vladimir Nekrasov (Rothamsted Research, UK)- Genome Editing Technology as a Tool for Gene Function Studies and Crop Improvement.
· Dr. Robert Eric Hoffie (IPK Gatersleben, Germany)- Engineering Virus Resistance in Barley and the limits of Genome Editing.
These inspiring talks highlighted the essential role of genome editing technologies in advancing functional genomics and accelerating crop improvement. They showcased how cutting-edge research, combined with translational and field-based approaches, can address key agricultural challenges, enhance crop resilience, and contribute to sustainable and climate-smart agriculture.
