Welcome letter

Dear colleagues,

It is our great pleasure to announce the upcoming miCROPe 2027 Conference – “Microbe-assisted Crop Production: Opportunities, Challenges, and Needs.” Building on the feedback and preferences of our participants, the conference will now take place in spring. miCROPe 2027 will be held in Vienna from 1–3 June 2027, offering you the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful springtime in Vienna and its surroundings.

Interest in soil and plant microbiomes and their crucial roles in agroecosystems continues to grow. Plant-associated microbiota are highly diverse and provide essential functions that support host performance, including nutrient acquisition, improved fitness, stress tolerance, and protection against pathogens and pests. Advances in our understanding of plant–microbe interactions are enabling the development of microbial products, innovative applications to enhance crop production, and sustainable alternatives to chemical inputs. Microbial ecology plays a key role in understanding the fate of applied microorganisms in natural environments and in guiding the development of effective products. Deeper insights into microbiome functioning will also open new avenues for research and innovation.

Continuing the vision of previous conferences, our aim is to bridge fundamental research with practical challenges and to present novel approaches for exploring and harnessing microbiomes in plant production. miCROPe 2027 will provide stimulating content for scientists from both academia and industry while fostering fruitful discussions and collaborations. Scientific sessions will address the diverse roles of microorganisms in crop production, ranging from biocontrol to plant nutrition and stress resilience. In addition, the program will cover plant mechanisms, functional insights, data science approaches, microbiome-based precision strategies, and - most importantly - the translation of microbiome research into field applications.

The symposium will take place in the Apothekertrakt of the historic Schönbrunn Palace, easily accessible from Vienna’s city center and surrounded by a magnificent park. We warmly invite you to present your latest results, exchange ideas with experts from academia and industry, and enjoy Vienna’s unique historical and cultural atmosphere.

We look forward to welcoming you to miCROPe 2027 in Vienna.

Angela Sessitsch and Stéphane Compant
on behalf of the Organizing Committee

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