This year, IFAJ members have been invited to the World Seed Congress, which will be held from May 18-20 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Following successful events in Rotterdam and Istanbul, the Congress is once again opening its doors to agricultural journalists, bringing them closer to the leading global forum for the seed industry.
The event will gather CEOs, government officials, regulators, farmers, and representatives from across the value chain, in a context of growing public interest in issues related to seeds and food security. ISF emphasizes the importance of having journalists reporting from the heart of the industry, where trends, innovations, and strategic debates are taking place.
ISF will fund the participation of up to 15 IFAJ member journalists, covering travel, accommodation, and registration. Selected participants will have full access to panels and keynote speeches, exclusive press areas, and support from the ISF communications team to coordinate interviews with international experts. Highlights of the program include the opening lecture by Shobha Shetty (World Bank), a press conference, a meeting with the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture, and networking activities. An optional media tour—possibly also in Spain—is being considered to complement the Congress’s theoretical focus with visits to breeding stations, greenhouses, and farms.
The call for applications will be open until March 12, 2026. Applicants must submit recently published work, a letter from the editor or a commission, and proposals for potential stories to be developed based on the Congress program. Selection will be made by a jury from IFAJ in conjunction with ISF.