The 1st Plant BioProTech International Congress was held in Congress Palace of Reims from 27th to 30th june 2017. It was organized by the research unit “Vines and Wines in Champagne” and by the Condorcet “Research Federative Structure” (FR CNRS 3417). The aim of this symposium was to gather worldwide scientists, technical institutes and industrials interested in biocontrol of crop diseases.

The congress was introduced by the Head of the University of Reims. During the symposium, Mrs Catherine Vautrin, President of the “Grand Reims”, made a presentation to welcome the participants and to explain how plant protection is a key point in the development of the bioeconomy. The regional TV has reported the main issues of the congress with a special spot during the symposium.

More than 160 attendees from 24 countries reach the congress. Up to 50 lectures were presented and 44 posters were exposed generating stimulating discussions. The topics developed during the meeting have been defined according to the process of product development, namely (i) plant immunity and elicitation, (ii) microbes sensing and plant protection, (iii) greenhouse and field trials and (iv) industrial perspectives of biocontrol. The recent advances of these different topics were presented by the speakers, highlighting the importance of these topics for the fate of modern agriculture.

More than half of the presentations were dedicated to the development of sustainable agriculture. This demonstrates the importance of such technologies for the fate of this relevant culture system.

Owing to the unanimous success of this first edition, it was decided to organize a second edition of the Plant BioProTech congress in Kenitra (Morocco) in 2019 and the third one in Gembloux (Belgium) in 2021.