Dear Friends and Colleagues,

On behalf of the Organizing Committee, we warmly invite you to the III International Symposium on Growing Media, Compost Utilization and Substrate Analysis for Soilless Cultivation, to be held from 27 to 30 September 2027 in Athens, Greece.

The Symposium is organized by the Agricultural University of Athens under the auspices of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) in cooperation with the International Peatland Society (IPS). ISHS is represented in this Symposium by the ISHS Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Hortiulture, the ISHS Working Groups Growing Media, Substrate Analysis, Hydroponics and Aquaponics, and the ISHS Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers.

This event will take place in the facilities of the Agricultural University of Athens, the third oldest university in Greece, which is located in the city of Athens. The Symposium will serve as a platform for researchers, students, growers, and industry professionals to present their work, share knowledge, and engage in dynamic discussions on the latest advances in growing media and their use in soilless culture.

The Symposium will cover the following main topics:

• New potential materials to use as growing media and their components
• Advances in growing media characterisation
• Optimal reuse of organic and mineral growing media
• Microbiological and suppressive properties of growing media
• Growing media use for soilless crop production
• Water and nutrient management in soilless culture
• Environmental and economic impact of growing media
• Future developments in the growing media industry

The scientific program will feature plenary lectures, parallel sessions, and poster presentations, with contributions from leading experts in the field. Participants will also be able to join a technical tour showcasing growing media producing companies and soilless production enterprises.

We are confident this Symposium will foster meaningful collaborations and inspire new approaches to address global horticultural challenges. Beyond the scientific exchanges, we hope you will enjoy the renowned Greek hospitality, explore the country’s cultural heritage, and experience its stunning landscapes.

We look forward to welcoming you to Greece in September 2027 for an engaging, insightful, and rewarding symposium.

Conveners

Professor Dimitrios Savvas
Agricultural University of Athens, Laboratory of Vegetable Production, Athens, Greece

Dr. Panagiotis Kalozoumis
Agricultural University of Athens, Laboratory of Vegetable Production, Athens, Greece