Welcome
On behalf of ISHS and ISPP we invite you to the VIII International symposium on postharvest plant pathology: Plant to Plate - Integrated and innovative approaches for managing postharvest disease across the supply chain.
The symposium will put focus on the holistic nature of postharvest pathology with strong relationships between growing of the crop, storage technology, and the influence of both pre- and post-harvest factors on the pathogen.
The symposium venue is the fjord district of western Norway within the heart of fruit growing in Norway. The event is scheduled during typical apple bloom, May 18th to 22nd 2026. We will ensure an engaging event with updates on the latest science within the framework of a picturesque landscape and an elegant conference hotel.
LATEST NEWS
27.11.2025: Abstract deadline extended, first keynote speakers announced
21.11.2025: New info about optional bus transport from Bergen airport to the venue under heading: Venue, travel and contact.
Important dates
Abstract submission open: September 1st 2025
NEW Deadline for abstract submission: January 15th 2026
Notification of abstract acceptance: February 1st 2026
Full paper submission deadline: May 25th 2026
Registration opens: October 21st 2025
Registration closes: February 15th 2026
Invited speakers
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Prof. Simona Marianna Sanzani graduated in Biology in 2002 and obtained her PhD in Plant Protection in 2008 at University of Bari Aldo Moro, where she also completed her MSc in Postharvest Management of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables. Her studies, as associate professor in Plant pathology at the Dept. of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences of the University of Bari Aldo Moro (Italy), focus on the molecular detection and alternative control of fungal pathogens both in the field and after harvest using conventional and molecular approaches, with particular attention to prevention and control of mycotoxigenic fungi and related mycotoxins. | |
| She has authored or co-authored 92 peer-reviewed, ISI-indexed publications on various aspects of plant pathology, mycology and microbiology (Hi 31), written 16 book chapters, coordinated the publication of 1 book, and attended as invited speaker several International Congresses. She is Associated Editor of “European Journal of Plant Pathology” and Senior Editor of “Journal of Plant Pathology”. She is the PI of national and international projects and attended as visiting researcher the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), the Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (Valencia, Spain), and the Sapienza University of Rome (Italy). Simona will have keynote: A farm-to-fork sustainable approach to increase safety and reduce postharvest losses of fresh fruits and vegetables | ||
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Prof. Roland Weber, is Head of the Dept. of Crop Protection at the Esteburg Centre in Germany which provides research and consultancy to the Lower Elbe region, Northern Europe’s largest fruit production area. He is also Affiliated Professor at the Dept. of Food Science, Aarhus University, Denmark. Roland has a whole-organism approach to his favourite discipline, mycology, and has worked on a wide range of topics including ecophysiology, biochemistry and plant pathology. During the past 20 years his research work has focused on the infection biology and control of fruit-pathogenic fungi. Topics have included fungicide resistance issues in Botrytis on strawberries and other fruit crops and in Venturia on apple, the occurrence and spread of new pathogens, the infection biology and control of fungal storage rots of apples, and apple canker. |
| His research covers both IPM and organic production systems. Roland received his B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Exeter, U.K. Following prolonged periods of research and teaching at Exeter and Kaiserslautern, he joined the Esteburg Centre in 2006. He has published 128 peer-reviewed articles, 15 book chapters and some 185 contributions to journals in applied fruit production. He is co-author of the internationally renowned textbook Introduction to Fungi (Webster & Weber, 2007). Roland will provide the keynote: Apple storage diseases and control options in commercial fruit production in Northern Germany: a holistic overview. | |
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Dr. Andrea Ficke is a research professor at the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research working on fungal cereal diseases. Her main research focus is on pathogen detection and monitoring, determining crop losses and disease epidemiology. Dr. Ficke has an applied and practical research approach to address current and future challenges in plant production. She works closely with the Norwegian Advisory Service and frequently talks during field days. As an epidemiologist by training, she has worked with monitoring disease inoculum and development over the last 15 years. The spatial variation of diseases in the field inspired her to look for site specific solutions for pathogen management, which led directly to the work on volatile organic compounds to detect diseases. This approach was expanded in the Horizon Europe project 'PurPest: Plant pest prevention through technology-guided monitoring and site-specific control', which she has been coordinating for the last 3 years. |
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She has been senior editor for the APS journal Plant Disease and associate editor for the European Journal of Plant Pathology. Her international network spans across the globe as she is an active and engaged member within the InternationaI Society of Plant Pathology (ISPP), the European Plant Science Organization, the European Foundation of Plant Pathology (EFPP), the American Phytopathological Society, the Nordic Association of Agricultural Sciences (NJF) and the Nordic Baltic Resistance Action Group (NorBaRAG). Andrea will provide the keynote: Sensor technology to detect, monitor and manage pathogens during transport and storage |
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Scientific committee
Kari Peters
Kerry Everett
Gianfranco Romanazzi
Samir Droby
Cheryl Lennox
Belachew Asalf Tadesse
Arne Stensvand
Jorunn Børve
We hope to see you all there
Jorunn Børve
-convener
The symposium venue will be a hotel situated in the fjord district of western Norway (link https://www.hotelullensvang.no/ ) within the heart of fruit growing in Norway. The event is scheduled during typical apple bloom, May 18th to 22nd 2026. We will ensure an engaging event with updates on the latest science within the framework of a picturesque landscape and an elegant conference hotel.
Registration
Registration options
As this is a “destination” conference in a small village (population ~600 people), some features are different than at many other conferences. We advise you to read through the information carefully before registering. There is no early bird registration, but we advise people to still register early as there is limited space. Registration fees must be paid once you submit the form at the bottom of this page. Allergies or other food restrictions must also be provided when registering.
Practical information about the conference hotel
The conference venue is at the hotel (Hotel Ullensvang), which is providing special room rates for conference attendants. You must decide at registration if you will stay at the conference hotel or externally (see below for more info) to secure these rates. It is not possible to book via the hotel website or third-party websites. Costs for staying at the hotel are not included in the registration, however, and the bill will be paid directly at check-out. It is not possible to get an invoice for hotel stays.
Hotel room rates (paid at check-out from the hotel)
Accommodation rates include a warm buffet breakfast.
Single room: NOK 1590.- per night
Double room: NOK 2500.- per night
Family room (1 queen bed and 2 bunk beds, 4 people total): NOK 2500.- per night. There are only 10 family rooms available, so we advise booking early. Children 0-2 stay for free, breakfast included. Each child from ages 3-12 stays for an additional NOK 300.- per night, including breakfast. Children 13 and older stay for an additional NOK 600.- per night, including breakfast. If needed, a crib/child’s bed for children 0-2 can be added for NOK 300.- per night.
Swimming at the hotel pools / sauna use is included for free for all guests (non-guests can access the pools after payment).
Alternative accommodation
Other accommodation can be found in the area, although there are no other hotels in town. There are many Airbnb’s, which are very popular and should be booked early. In addition, there is a B&B (https://www.ullensvang-gjesteheim.no/en/) and a camping spot with small cabins for rent (https://lofthuscamping.com/). It is important to note that conference participants not staying at the hotel will have to pay extra at registration for lunch and the meeting facilities - see fee alternatives.
Dinner options
The hotel would like to know in advance how many people will be attending dinner each night (a buffet dinner from 18:00 to 21:30). Therefore, there is an option below to indicate which nights you are interested in having dinner (this is non-binding). Cost of dinner will be added to your room tab each night if staying at hotel (to be paid at check-out), or is payable at the entrance to the dinner buffet if you will not be a guest at the hotel.
Conference attendees staying at the hotel pay NOK 550.- per dinner
Children 0-12 pay a combined NOK 600.- per day for lunch and dinner.
All others (conference attendees not staying at the hotel, non-participants, children 13 and older etc). pay NOK 695.- per dinner.
Lunch can also be provided for non-participants without prebooking, NOK 360.- per day.
There are some other alternatives for food in the village, see the “Venue, travel, and contact” page for more info.
Registration alternatives:
The registration fee to the organizer includes the welcome reception, online access to the Acta Horticulturae symposium proceedings, the excursion including lunch and symposium dinner in the area, coffee and tea breaks during the meeting, and lunch at the symposium hotel three days.
If staying at the symposium hotel:
ISHS member: NOK 9000.-
Non-ISHS member: NOK 10200.-
Student registration: NOK 5000.-
One day registration including lunch, excluding Acta Horticulturae: NOK 1200.-
If not staying at the symposium hotel:
ISHS member: NOK 9500.-
Non-ISHS member: NOK 10700.-
Student registration: NOK 5500.-
One day attendance including lunch, excluding Acta Horticulturae: NOK 1500.-
Half day attendance excl. lunch, excluding Acta Horticulturae: NOK 500.-
Additional meeting rooms during the symposium can be rented, contact the organizer at isphpp2026@nibio.no
Post symposium tour:
A post symposium tour will be organized if enough people are interested. You need to express interest by sending an email to the conference e-mail address: isphpp2026@nibio.no by December 1st, and state whether you are interested in going to a fruit packinghouse and orchard or vegetable (onion and potato) packinghouses.
Approx cost:
2-3000 NOK per person in single rooms or 1500-2500 NOK per person in double rooms. Final price is dependent on the total number of participants and will be calculated according to the number of buses needed.
Price includes: bus transport to Bø, dinner Friday evening in Bø, and hotel stay with breakfast in Bø, minibus to packinghouse/orchard in Bø-area or minibus to Larvik/Lågendalen to visit the vegetable or potato packinghouses.
The tour ends at the railway stations in either Bø or Larvik which has direct trains to Oslo/airport Gardermoen. It is possible to arrange group train tickets for the group to Oslo-Gardermoen if enough people are interested.
Information
Program
The conference programme starts with a welcome reception May 18 at 20:00, and ends Friday May 22 around lunch time. A post symposium tour ending at Oslo airport, Gardermoen will be offered. Check back later for an updated program with invited speakers.
May 17
May 17 is the constitution day in Norway which is celebrated every year. We suggest you travel to Norway the day before and enjoy the celebration in either Bergen or Oslo. There will be big parades and a lot to explore.
In Lofthus there will be a celebration as well- at a smaller scale and at daytime focused around children. A party for the local community is normally organized in the evening with dance.
If you are eager on challenges we suggest joining the celebration of May 17 at Finse with a cross country ski trip on the glacier Hardangerjøkulen. Link to the event in 2025: https://www.dnt.no/hytter/betjente/finsehytta/arrangementer/172.-mai
Daytime May 18. Travel to Lofthus or enjoy the area (see folder venue and travel for alternatives and information)
Overview of the preliminary conference programme:
Monday 18: Welcome reception at 20:00
Tuesday 19: Full day of conference programme
Wednesday 20: Morning: presentations. Afternoon: excursion around the fjord to local packinghouses and orchards, followed by the conference dinner
Thursday 21: Full day conference programme, ISHS Business meeting
Friday 22: Half day conference, closing ceremony
Optional post-symposium tour (afternoon Friday – afternoon Saturday):
Leaving Friday 22nd after lunch, traveling to Bø (in Telemark, in the eastern part of Norway), having dinner and staying overnight at Bø hotel. There will be stops for sightseeing along the way (I.e. at waterfalls, on top of the mountain plateau, in mountain valleys).
Saturday 23rd: Two options
Option 1: Fruit. Visit to a fruit packinghouse where we will get a tour of the facilities, hopefully see some apples being packed, and have some discussions about fungal issues they experience. After a provided lunch, we will continue on to a local orchard and talk to some growers. Later, we will return to the train station in Bø, where everyone can catch a train back to the airport (Oslo Gardermoen), Oslo centre, or other airports/destinations in Norway.
Option 2: Vegetable. Visit to an onion packinghouse followed by visiting a potato packinghouse, both in the vicinity of Larvik. Lunch will be provided. Later, buses will drop people off at the train station in Larvik, where it is possible to take the train to the airport (Oslo Gardermoen), Oslo centre, or other airports/destinations in Norway.
Both tours aim to be finished by 14.00, with arrival at Oslo Gardermoen by 17.30. We would recommend not booking flights before 20.00 that night, in case of delays in trains or other unforeseen circumstances.
Venue, travel and contact
Venue:
We are proud to welcome you to our beautiful conference hotel, Ullensvang Hotel in the village of Lofthus in Ullensvang municipality. NIBIO's closest research facilities, with a focus on fruit research, are located in the same village. Our personnel with local knowledge will do their best to ensure a fun and interesting stay in the area.
Things to do:
The local tourism board has a great website with local attractions, restaurants, hikes, etc. https://hardangerfjord.com/en/. In addition, if you are traveling other areas in Norway before or after, there are many well-made local tourism websites. https://www.visitnorway.com/ is a great place to start. For the Oslo region, this website is also helpful: https://www.visitoslo.com/, and for Bergen, https://en.visitbergen.com/.
For more information about what to do in Lofthus in your spare time, we’ve put together some google maps lists for food, cideries, and some must-do hikes. Don’t forget about swimming either at the hotel pools, or in the fjord!
If you have a car, then make sure to check out some other nearby towns, such as Kinsarvik (10 minute drive), Odda (30-40 minute drive), or Eidfjord (45 minute – 1 hour drive).
Travel:
Lofthus in Ullensvang is in the fjord district of western Norway. There are several travel options to consider, but with any it will take some time to get from the airport to the conference venue.
The main airports are in Bergen (Flesland, BGO) and in Oslo (Gardermoen, OSL). Travel time from Bergen to Lofthus can take between 3 and 5 hours, while travel time from Oslo to Lofthus can take between 5 and 8 hours.
Note that there are two airports in Oslo – Gardermoen (OSL) and Sandefjord/Torp (TRF). Flights to Torp are often cheaper than Gardermoen, but transit to the center of Oslo (to catch a train or bus to Lofthus) takes longer and is less convenient.
Note: Optional post symposium tour ending at Gardermoen airport in Oslo will be organized. Consult the program before deciding travel options.
There are many different public transport companies in Norway, and it can be confusing to navigate. Entur tries to summarize all options, and it is often, but not always, possible to buy tickets for the whole trip on their website or app. Otherwise, VY can be used for almost all trains (except the airport express train from Oslo Gardermoen to Oslo center), some long-distance buses, and public transport in Oslo. Skyss can be used for buses locally in Western Norway, including Bergen, Voss, Odda, and Lofthus, and for the light rail in Bergen.
It can be convenient to have a rental car, especially if staying for longer than just the conference, but do note that many of the roads in the fjord are narrow and windy, with significant traffic. We recommend as small a car as is manageable (there are many spots on the road where if two trucks or campervans meet, one has to back up 100m+ to have enough room to pass each other).
Travel options from Bergen:
By light rail, train and bus (Flesland-Bergen city-Voss-Lofthus) light rail and bus: https://www.skyss.no/ train: https://www.vy.no/en
By boat and bus. (Flesland-Rosendal-Odda, arrival May 18th at 19:30 demands pick up by car to join the welcome reception, use the contact form to request this) Boat: https://rodne.no/en Bus: https://www.skyss.no/
By rental car (Four alternative routes, E16 via Voss, Fv7 via Hardanger bridge, Fv49 via ferry Tørvikbygd-Jondal or Fv48 via ferry Gjermundshavn-Årsnes). Free parking at the hotel for guests.
More travel information can also be found at the Airport webpage
Optional bus transport to and from Bergen airport:
Arrival Monday May 18th: A bus leaving from the Bergen airport (Flesland) at either 14:30 or 16:30 can be offered. The bus will be based on arrival times of early afternoon flights from Amsterdam or Copenhagen, but is available for anyone who will be in Bergen at that time. The price per person will be finalized later, but will be between 250 NOK (if full, 45 passengers) and 400 NOK (if 30 passengers). There must be at least 30 passengers for the bus to be ordered.
Departure Friday May 22nd: A bus can be offered for flights leaving at 16:00 or later (i.e. Copenhagen at 16:10). The earliest option would leave from Lofthus at 12:00 (before lunch and before the closing ceremony) or leaving 13:30 (after lunch and the closing ceremony).
Please express your interest via the contact field on the website as soon as you know of your travel plans, and by April 1st at the latest. Information about how to pay will be sent out after the registration date has closed, and we may request flight numbers later on in case a flight is delayed.
Travel options from Oslo:
By train and bus. (Train Oslo-Voss, bus Voss-Lofthus or Train Oslo-Geilo, bus Geilo-Lofthus). Train: https://www.vy.no/en. Bus: https://www.skyss.no/
By bus (Oslo-Odda-Lofthus): Bus Oslo-Odda: https://reiseplanlegger.nor-way.no/. Bus Odda-Lofthus: https://www.skyss.no/
By rental car (Two alternative driving routes, Rv7 Hardangervidda or E134 Haukeli). Free parking at the hotel for guests.
More travel information can also be found at the Airport webpage
Visa
All citizens of EU/EEA countries can visit Norway freely without a visa. Visa, or visa-waiver requirements for citizens of other countries vary by country to country, and typically require a Schengen-area visa. Check the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) for country-information specific information. Note that in fall 2025, rules are changing where travelers from some countries who could previously visit Norway without any registration now needing an electronic visa waiver (this applies to citizens of the US). Please follow this closely. If an invitation letter is needed for visa application, please contact the organizers at registration via the contact form below.
CONTACT - Questions please write to isphpp2026@nibio.no
Abstract submission
Abstracts within the following topics are welcome:
- Integrated management
- Plant and pathogen interactions
- Postharvest technologies
- Postharvest treatments
- Novel technologies
- Diagnostics
- Biocontrol, control and communities
- Pathogen genomics
- Microbiome
- Disease cycles
Guidelines:
All abstracts and manuscripts must be submitted through the following ROSA (Responsive Online System for Acta Horticulturae submission and review) link: https://www.actahort.org/members/symposiar?nr=887
ISHS online submission procedure: https://www.ishs.org/sites/default/files/page-documents/onlinesubmissionauthorsguide.pdf
Acta Horticulturae guidelines: https://www.ishs.org/authors
- Only abstracts submitted in English will be reviewed.
- Abstracts must not exceed 300 words.
- Abstracts must not contain tables, pictures or graphs.
- All abbreviations must be spelled out on first use.
- Abstracts should be thoroughly checked for spelling and grammar.
- An abstract submission charge is due upon submission of an abstract and applies to the presenting author only. For ISHS Individual members, the abstract submission charge is fully waived.
Those who do not hold a user account with ISHS yet: create an ISHS user account first at https://www.actahort.org/members/newmember?asc=1 . After payment and activation of your user account, you can start your abstract submission.
- Abstracts must always be submitted by the presenting author, using their own personal ISHS user account. Submitting an abstract on behalf of, or using the ISHS user account of another author is strictly prohibited.
- Abstracts must be submitted by January 15 for consideration by the Scientific Committee. Authors will be notified of provisional acceptance of abstracts by February 1 and will also be notified if the abstract has been selected for an oral or poster presentation.
- All oral presenters, including invited and keynote speakers, must submit a manuscript for Acta Horticulturae according to the Acta Horticulturae guidelines (https://www.ishs.org/authors) by May 25. (Alternatively, presenters have the option to submit a full scientific manuscript on the topic presented at the symposium, for publication in the ISHS Scientific Journal eJHS in lieu of submitting a manuscript for Acta Horticulturae. Papers submitted in this manner will go through the standard procedures for peer-reviewed journal papers.) Oral presenters who fail to submit a manuscript for publication in Acta Horticulturae or the ISHS Scientific Journal may be refused the floor for making their oral presentation. Authors of posters are strongly encouraged to prepare and submit a manuscript for Acta Horticulturae.
- Presenting authors of abstracts accepted for presentation (both oral/poster) must register for the symposium by February 15. Failing to register for the symposium will result in your abstract being withdrawn from the symposium program and your manuscript being withdrawn from the Acta Horticulturae symposium proceedings.
- Failing to present (oral/poster) at the symposium will result in your manuscript being withdrawn from the Acta Horticulturae symposium proceedings.
- info on ISHS membership, https://www.ishs.org/members
- info on ISHS Young Minds Awards, https://www.ishs.org/young-minds-award
Editors:
Jorunn Børve, Jorunn.borve@nibio.no
Belachew Asalf Tadesse, belachew.asalf.tadesse@nibio.no
Arne Stensvand, arne.stensvand@nibio.no