As the fifth Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) Agriculture meeting approaches, Seed World readers can register with a special $250 discount while joining plant, animal and industry scientists exploring how genomics is reshaping the future of agriculture.
The agricultural research community will gather April 12–15 in Phoenix for the AGBT Agriculture meeting, a conference focused on how genomics and emerging technologies are advancing crop and livestock research.
The meeting is part of the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology conference series organized by The Genome Partnership, a nonprofit organization that brings together researchers and technologists working at the leading edge of genomics.
The agricultural edition of the meeting was created to connect scientists working across plant, animal and computational biology with industry leaders exploring how genomic tools can improve agricultural productivity and sustainability.
Seed World readers interested in attending can receive $250 off registration by using the code AGBTAgSeedWorld250 when registering.
Where Plant And Animal Genomics Converge
“All our work is aimed at sustainably feeding, fueling, and clothing populations around the world,” says Charlie Johnson, Texas A&M AgriLife Genomics & Bioinformatics Service director. “That’s why having a conference like AGBT Ag, bringing experts across various fields, is really exciting.”
Johnson says the meeting was intentionally structured to encourage collaboration between plant and animal researchers and the industries that rely on their discoveries.
“From day one, AGBT Agriculture was designed to break barriers and bring plant and animal researchers together in a way no other meeting does,” he says. “The organizing committee and AGBT staff continuously strive to create an environment where academic and industry scientists at all levels can share discoveries, connect, build collaborations and spark future innovation across disciplines.”
He says the meeting’s design helps accelerate those connections.
“AGBT Ag catalyzes these processes by removing barriers, tearing down silos and creating opportunities,” Johnson says. “As we celebrate our fifth AGBT Agriculture meeting, it is inspiring to see the incredible impact this community has made and to look ahead to world-changing breakthroughs.”
Genomics And The Challenge Of Feeding A Growing Population
Organizers say the conference reflects growing urgency around global food production challenges and the role of agricultural innovation in meeting future demand.
“One of humanity’s greatest challenges is to sustainably produce more food on existing agricultural lands,” says Sarah Hearne, chief science and innovation officer at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center and co-chair of the meeting. “AGBT Ag fosters the dialogue and exchange of ideas needed to bring about the fourth agricultural revolution.”
Hearne says the meeting creates opportunities for scientists from different research areas to explore how technologies developed in one field might apply to another.
“AGBT Ag is a big opportunity for communities to start talking across disciplines so we can identify opportunities and spaces where we can scale existing technologies,” she says.
That collaborative focus also shapes the event’s scientific program.
“Being the co-chair of AGBT Ag is an absolute delight,” Hearne says. “We get to see fantastic abstracts and exciting science from across the field, and we shape an agenda with real cohesion that connects many areas of genomics into a program that is engaging, informative and valuable for the whole community.”
Linking Academic Discovery With Industry Application
Organizers emphasize that industry participation is an important part of the meeting’s structure, helping connect scientific discovery with practical applications in agriculture.
“AGBT Ag brings together the best members of the scientific community and the best science, alongside industry, to ensure real partnerships that enable end-to-end interventions,” says Appolinaire Djikeng, professor and chair for tropical agriculture and sustainable development at the University of Edinburgh and a member of the meeting’s scientific organizing committee.
The conference typically includes presentations from academic researchers, industry scientists and technology developers working in areas such as genomics, bioinformatics, breeding technologies and data science.
According to organizers, that mix helps accelerate the translation of genomic discoveries into tools and strategies that can be used by crop breeders, livestock scientists and agricultural companies.
Five Years Of Building A Genomics Community In Agriculture
As the event reaches its fifth year, organizers say interest continues to grow as genomic technologies and computational tools become increasingly central to agricultural research.
Additional information about the program, registration and meeting details is available through the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology website.
View a recap of last year’s meeting and additional perspectives from attendees here.
