The 27th International Congress of Entomology (ICE2024), themed New Discoveries through Consilience, took place at the Kyoto International Conference Center from August 25 to 30, 2024. Thе event gathered over 4,000 participants from 82 countries, including experts, researchers, and key stakeholders in the field of entomology. Pensoft, as leader of Work Package 7: Communication, Dissemination, and Knowledge Exchange for WildPosh, represented the project at the event with a dedicated team and promotional materials.

WildPosh, a research project focused on pollinator health and the effects of pesticides, attracted significant attention at ICE2024. Attendees had the opportunity to explore project materials such as two-pagers and stickers, and engage in conversations about the project's latest progress. Pensoft’s booth, as part of the exhibition, served as a hub for these discussions, emphasising WildPosh’s relevance to entomology and pollinator protection.

One of the highlights of the congress was the participation of WildPosh partner Prof. Simone Tosi (UNITO), a prominent researcher and leader of Work Package 5: Integrated systems-based risk assessment. He delivered a presentation on the final day, addressing the critical issue of pesticide emergency authorizations and their impacts on bees and human health. Drawing on laboratory and field experiments from both Italy and the USA, he proposed a way forward for improving risk assessments of pollinators, focusing on sublethal, chronic, and combined effects.

In his presentation, Simone also discussed WildPosh’s recent findings and emphasised the importance of refined risk assessments that go beyond the current approaches. He shared insights from his recently published paper, which highlights how existing risk assessments can be circumvented through emergency pesticide authorizations. His talk sparked an engaging discussion with the audience about potential solutions for protecting pollinators while addressing regulatory gaps.

In addition to WildPosh, other related projects, such as PoshBee, PollinERA, and Safeguard, were also showcased at ICE2024. These projects were among the most viewed and discussed by congress attendees, further reinforcing the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing the pressing challenges facing pollinators today.

The congress, co-hosted by the Science Council of Japan, was a resounding success, with participants including Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino, as well as government officials from Kyoto. This year’s theme of consilience—integrating knowledge from various fields—was reflected in the event's broad range of topics and collaborative spirit.

Looking ahead, the next International Congress of Entomology will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2028, where the dialogue about the advancements in the field of entomology and pollinator health will continue.

You can find more about the conference here.