By ResiYou Team
Bringing Innovation to Life at IHC2026
Kyoto, Japan, a city where tradition and innovation coexist in harmony, provided the perfect setting for the 32nd International Horticultural Congress (IHC2026). Under the theme "Exploring the Diversity of Horticulture", the congress welcomed researchers, growers, industry experts and innovators from around the world to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of horticulture. As one of the most important scientific gatherings in the sector, IHC2026 reaffirmed the critical role of collaboration in advancing sustainable food production and agricultural innovation.
As Platinum Sponsor, Bayer played a prominent role throughout the event, showcasing its commitment to supporting fruit and vegetable growers through science, innovation, digital solutions and vegetable seeds. From scientific presentations and poster sessions to networking events and panel discussions, Bayer's presence reflected a shared ambition: helping growers produce healthy, high-quality crops while addressing the sustainability challenges of tomorrow.
The People Behind the Innovation
At the heart of Bayer's participation was a truly global Fruits & Vegetables team. Throughout the week, Bayer's exhibition booth became a hub for knowledge sharing, networking and collaboration, welcoming visitors from academia, industry, grower organizations and research institutions.
The strong international presence of Bayer colleagues highlighted the collaborative spirit that defines the company's approach to innovation. Discussions ranged from digital agriculture and biological solutions to crop protection technologies and future research opportunities, creating valuable connections across the global horticultural community.
Photo 1: Bayer's global Fruits & Vegetables team welcoming visitors at the Bayer booth during IHC2026 in Kyoto. The booth served as a meeting point for researchers, growers and industry partners from around the world.
ResiYou Takes the Stage
One of Bayer's key scientific contributions was the presentation of ResiYou, the company's AI-powered residue prediction platform, during Symposium S06 on Crop Modelling and Digital Tools.
Presented by Jose Luis Robles Martin,"ResiYou: Empowering Growers with AI-Driven Residue Prediction for Sustainable Crop Protection" demonstrated how artificial intelligence can help fruit and vegetable growers better predict residue levels before harvest. By combining residue trial data with weather information and crop-related variables, ResiYou helps growers navigate increasingly complex food chain requirements, optimize crop protection programs and improve market access.
The presentation generated strong interest among participants, highlighting the growing importance of digital solutions in helping growers make more informed decisions while supporting sustainable crop protection practices. ResiYou exemplifies how Bayer is leveraging data science and artificial intelligence to address real-world challenges throughout the food value chain.
A Strong Innovation Pipeline for the Future of Horticulture
Beyond its scientific presentations, Bayer showcased a broad portfolio of innovations designed to support the future of fruit and vegetable production.
A major focus was Bayer's innovation pipeline, which combines digital technologies, biological solutions and next-generation crop protection products to help growers increase productivity while meeting evolving sustainability expectations.
Featured innovations included:
These innovations were presented through technical discussions, poster sessions and dedicated Bayer events, illustrating how integrated solutions can help growers address challenges such as climate variability, pest and disease management, changing regulatory requirements and market demands.
Night of Innovation and Sound of Innovation : Connecting Science and Industry
Two highlights of Bayer's participation was the Night of Innovation and the Sound of Innovation, two dedicated networking events that brought together researchers, industry leaders, growers and innovation experts in an informal setting designed to stimulate dialogue and collaboration.
The events showcased Bayer's latest developments across crop protection, biologicals and digital farming while creating opportunities for attendees to exchange ideas and explore future partnerships. Conversations extended well beyond individual technologies, focusing on the broader challenges facing horticulture, including sustainability, climate resilience, food quality and digital transformation.
Photo 2: Participants networking during Bayer's Night of Innovation at IHC2026. The event provided a platform for scientific exchange, collaboration and discussion on the future of sustainable horticulture.
Building Bridges for the Next Generation
Bayer also contributed to discussions focused on the future of horticultural science and the importance of supporting young professionals entering the sector. Through engagement in panel discussions and networking activities, the company emphasized the value of stronger connections between universities, research organizations, and industry.
These conversations reinforced a shared belief that addressing future horticultural challenges will require not only groundbreaking technologies but also talented people, diverse perspectives and continued collaboration across disciplines and geographies.
Looking Forward
As IHC2026 concluded, it became clear that the congress was much more than a scientific event. It was a global meeting point where ideas became collaborations; research inspired innovation and partnerships were strengthened for the future.
For Bayer, the week in Kyoto demonstrated how science, digital technologies and collaboration can come together to support more sustainable horticultural production. From the presentation of ResiYou to the showcase of breakthrough innovations such as Plenexos®, Fluoxapiprolin, Icafolin and Root2Success, Bayer's participation highlighted a continued commitment to helping growers succeed while advancing the future of fruits and vegetables worldwide.
IHC2026 showed that the future of horticulture will be built through innovation, collaboration, and a shared commitment to feeding the world more sustainably. Bayer is proud to be part of that journey.
Stay ahead. Grow beyond.
For questions or comments, please contact us at resiyou@bayer.com.