Symposium
Program
The Symposium program will be structured around several presentation formats designed to encourage dynamic scientific exchange. The core of the program will consist of thematic oral sessions organized around cross-cutting topics such as One Health, Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Resilience, Sustainable Crop Management, and Innovative Technologies in Plant Protection.
In addition to standard oral presentations, the program will include Smart Oral Presentations, short talks with a maximum duration of three minutes, aimed at fostering concise and impactful communication of research findings.
Replacing the traditional poster session, a dedicated Graphical Abstract Session will allow authors to present their work visually through a predefined format, promoting clarity, accessibility, and interactive discussion.
Download here the predefined format for the graphical abstract
The program will also feature technical visits to the Chestnut R&D Center and to both intensive and traditional chestnut orchards located in the provinces of Cuneo and Turin, offering participants the opportunity to explore applied research activities and regional production systems firsthand.
9:00 – 10:00
Arrival and registration
10:00 – 10:30
Opening session
10:30 – 11:00
Keynote speaker (to be announced soon)
11:00 – 13:00
Scientific session I: Climate change
Climate adaptation; phenology and phenoclimatic modelling; drought and water stress; frost tolerance; resilient cultivars and rootstocks; precision farming; carbon sequestration and agroforestry; growers’ knowledge.
13:00 – 14:30
Lunch
14:30 – 16:00
Scientific session II: One health
Plant–soil–microbiome interactions; soil biodiversity; mycorrhizae and microbial biostimulants; pollinators and beneficial insects; ecosystem services; fruit quality and food safety; sustainable disease prevention
16:00 – 16:30
Smart oral presentations I
16:30 – 17:00
Coffee break
17:00 – 18:00
Graphical abstract session and networking
20:00
Symposium Evening
8:30 – 10:30
Scientific Session III: Sustainable orchard management
Orchard design and management; irrigation and water use; mineral nutrition and biostimulants; tree physiology and productivity; propagation and micropropagation; grafting and rootstocks; nursery production and certification; circular practices
10:30 – 11:00
Smart oral presentations II
11:00 – 11:30
Coffee break
11:30 – 11:50
Keynote speaker (to be announced soon)
11:50 – 13:00
Scientific Session IV: Biodiversity and ecosystem resilience
Germplasm conservation; population genetics; traditional cultivars and ancient trees; wild and cultivated populations; biocultural diversity; landscape conservation; genetic and morphological characterization; resilient ecosystems
13:00 – 14:30
Lunch
14:30 – 15:30
Scientific Session IV: Biodiversity and ecosystem resilience (part 2)
15:30 – 16:00
Smart oral presentations III
16:00 – 17:30
Scientific Session V: Innovative technologies in chestnut protection
Genomics; molecular diagnostics; breeding and gene editing; pest and pathogen monitoring; biological control and integrated pest management; remote sensing and precision technologies; phytosanitary treatments
17:30 – 18:00
Closing Ceremony and ISHS Young Minds Award Presentation – Business meeting (selecting the next Convener)
8:30 AM – 18:30
Technical visits
Chestnut R&D Center, intensive Castanea sativa and hybrids orchards and traditional chestnut orchards in Cuneo province
Program note
This program is indicative. Session timings and presentations may be adjusted after abstract selection and logistical confirmation. Each scientific session is planned for six 15-minute oral communications. Each Smart oral presentations slot is planned for eight 3-minute oral smart communications.
Unlike most chestnut symposia, ICS 2027 will take place in the heart of a big city, Torino, rather than in a traditional chestnut-growing area. This deliberate choice brings chestnut cultivation into the spotlight of a major city, giving greater visibility to a crop often associated with remote rural landscapes. Torino also offers excellent connections and easy access for international participants. And don’t worry—we will not stay in the city for the whole symposium! On Day 3, we will all board the buses and travel together into the heart of Piedmont’s chestnut-growing region to visit the National Chestnut R&D Center, modern intensive plantations and traditional orchards.
Committees
Scientific Committee
Alma Alberto – University of Torino, Italy
Baramantya Bangun – University Gadjah Mada Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Burak Akyuz – Ondokuz Mayis University, Turkey
Conedera Marco – Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL Insubric Ecosystems Research Group, Switzerland
Costa Rita – Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária,
Portugal
Cristofori Valerio – University of Tuscia, Italy
Cuenca Beatriz Valera – Grupo Tragsa, Spain
Diamandis Stephanos – Forest Research Institute, Greece
Dondini Luca – University of Bologna, Italy
Feng Zou – Central South University Chagsha, China
Gamba Giovanni – University of Torino, Italy
Gonthier Paolo – University of Torino, Italy
Laranjo José Gomes – Universidade Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal
Lefort Francois – HEPIA, Haute école du paysage, d’ingénierie et d’architecture. France
Martín Ángela – Universidad de Córdoba, Spain
Medič Aljaž – University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Nunziata Angelina – CREA Consiglio per la Ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Caserta Italy
Pereira-Lorenzo Santiago – Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Qin Ling -Beijing University of Agriculture
Robin Cecile – UMR Biogeco, France
Serdar Umit – Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi, Turkey
Takada Norio – Institute of Fruit Tree and Tea Science, Naro, Japan
Torello Marinoni Daniela – University of Torino, Italy
Vannini Andrea – University of Tuscia, Italy
Organizing Committee
Maria Gabriella Mellano – Chestnut R&D Center, University of Torino, Italy
Giovanni Gamba – Chestnut R&D Center, University of Torino, Italy
Alessandro Tomatis – Chestnut R&D Center, Piemonte Region
Dario Donno – Chestnut R&D Center, University of Torino, Italy
Lorenzo Rosso – Chestnut R&D Center, University of Torino, Italy
Vera Pavese – Chestnut R&D Center, University of Torino, Italy
Gabriele Loris Beccaro – Chestnut R&D Center, University of Torino, Italy
Roberto Botta – Chestnut R&D Center, University of Torino, Italy
Conveners
Gabriele Loris Beccaro – Chestnut R&D Center, University of Torino, Italy
Roberto Botta – Chestnut R&D Center, University of Torino, Italy