After successful events in Rotterdam and Istanbul over the last two years, IFAJ’s partnership with the International Seed Federation (ISF) continues in 2026 with an opportunity to travel to the ISF Congress in May.
To be held in Lisbon, Portugal, between May 18-20, the Congress brings together the architects and decision-makers of the global seed industry, creating a unique forum for industry knowledge and networks.
“I’m extremely pleased to invite IFAJ members to the ISF Congress,” says Michael Keller, ISF secretary general.
“At the Congress, we will have CEOs, governments, civil society, farmers, regulators and representatives of the value chain – dynamics like never before.
“There’s a growing interest not only from journalists but also from the broader public into topics around seeds. So there’s nothing more important for us to have journalists joining Congress and reporting from the sessions.
“This Congress is open. We want to engage [with IFAJ members] because we have one vision: to increase the accessibility of seeds to all farmers everywhere. We want to exchange with you.”
As in previous years, ISF will sponsor attendance for up to 15 IFAJ member journalists at the 2026 ISF World Seed Congress in Lisbon, Portugal, May 18-20. Sponsorship includes travel, accommodation and registration.
Throughout the Congress, attendees will have access to all panels and keynotes, plus exclusive access to media-only workrooms. An ISF media team in Lisbon will help to arrange interviews with key speakers and other representatives, enabling attendees to generate a wide range of reporting and story opportunities from the event.
“Attending the ISF Congress gives IFAJ members a front-row seat at the foremost meeting of the world’s seed industry,” says Adrian Bell, IFAJ secretary general. “It’s a superb opportunity to discover the latest technologies, innovations and market trends shaping the seed industry, and to report those stories as they relate to your own audiences.
“Not only is it valuable to hear first-hand from well-known names in plant breeding, seeds and science, but it’s rare to have the chance to conduct one-to-one interviews with those same people too.
“For example, IFAJ members in Istanbul last year interviewed Dr Cary Fowler – one of the world’s foremost experts on crop diversity, the 2024 recipient of the World Food Prize and the ‘father’ of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.”
This year’s keynote speaker is Shobha Shetty, director of Agriculture and Food Global Practice at the World Bank. Other programme highlights include a press conference, a meeting with the Portuguese ministry of agriculture, and an informal dinner hosted by the ISF team.
Optional media tours were arranged for IFAJ members in 2024 and 2025, which Adrian describes as balancing the ‘theory’ available at Congress with the ‘practical’ elements of breeding stations, greenhouse visits and farms, providing depth and context for maximising take-home information and stories – and, as in Antalya last year, a healthy and welcome dose of local culture too.
“We’re still working with ISF on the details of that element for 2026.”
To apply for a sponsored spot, please complete your application form on or before March 31, 2026. Participants will be jury selected by IFAJ, in conjunction with ISF.
Click here to apply. Applicants will be asked to provide:
- three examples of their recent published work
- a letter from an editor, or evidence of a commission, etc
- potential story ideas for publication, based on the Congress programme/their speciality/their audience
