Aims and Themes
The International Grassland Congress 2027, Leipzig/Germany
The first International Grassland Congress (IGC) was held in Leipzig in 1927. For its 50th anniversary in 1977 the IGC returned to Leipzig. It is thus fitting that we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the IGC by again returning to its roots in Leipzig.
This long history of international grassland science points to the enduring importance of our discipline, both for practical agriculture as well as for the scientific knowledge behind it. The challenges facing grassland science today are immense. A growing world population must be fed while resources are becoming increasingly scarce due to climate change, land loss and land degradation.
Science, with its diverse areas of expertise, ideas and innovative methods, is called upon to explain development processes and phenomena and to develop solutions for society and stakeholders in the agricultural and food sector. This requires scientists from the natural sciences, ecology, production engineering and socio-economic disciplines, regardless of whether they are involved in basic or applied research, to come together, collaborate and exchange findings and ideas. This is where the International Grassland Congress comes in.
The motto of IGC 2027 will be “100 years of grassland research – ways to the future”.
Since the first congress 100 years ago, the IGC has given scientists, students and representatives from industry, extension services and farms the opportunity to exchange the latest research findings and experiences on grassland every three to five years at different locations around the world.
Advancing Sustainable Grassland Agriculture: A Global Call to Action
The International Grassland Congress/Leipzig 2027 aims to address critical real-world imperatives such as ensuring sufficient and high-quality feed while minimizing feed-food competition, achieving profitable farming, reducing carbon footprints, halting grassland degradation, preserving soil fertility, maintaining biodiversity, and safeguarding animal welfare.
The congress will foster interdisciplinary dialogue to facilitate the recognition of systemic challenges and complex dependencies, and promote the co-creation of transformative solutions. Cross-cutting approaches prioritize integrating crop-livestock systems, scaling innovations, and leveraging advanced methodologies including AI-driven precision technologies, germplasm improvement, and environmental sensing. By uniting science with relevant stakeholders, we aim to catalyze actionable pathways toward a resilient, equitable, and sustainable grassland agriculture.
