On 23–24 June 2025, the 5th edition of the International Conference OBSIDIAN took place at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń under the theme “Plant Productivity and Food Safety: Microbiology, Soil Science, Food Quality and Agricultural Genetics”. The event gathered 133 participants from 25 countries, giving the conference a distinctly international character.
The scientific program was enriched by outstanding keynote speakers, including:
- David B. Collinge (University of Copenhagen)
- Ian Dodd (Lancaster University)
- Åsgeir R. Almås (Norwegian University of Life Sciences)
- Yonghua Li-Beisson (CEA Cadarache)
- Kate Negacz (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
As part of the conference, specialized thematic workshops were held in conjunction with the meeting of COST Action SUSTAIN (CA22144), focusing on:
- economic valuation of salt-affected lands,
- policy frameworks for sustainable soil salinization management,
- microbial interactions and plant resilience,
- knowledge transfer and technology adoption.
OBSIDIAN2025 was not only a platform for scientific discussion, but also a wonderful opportunity to strengthen research community ties in a more informal atmosphere — including a guided walk through the city of Toruń and a joyful BBQ dinner.
We sincerely thank all participants for their presence, inspiring talks, active involvement in the workshops, and overall engagement. We invite you to view the event photo gallery: