The 2026 International Symposium on Processing Tomato

While the World Processing Tomato Congress handles the macro-economics and global trade, the 18th ISHS International Symposium on Processing Tomato is where the groundwork happens. Running concurrently in Monterey from June 8–10, 2026, this symposium brings together the world’s leading researchers who enable the tomatoes to go from the field to the consumer plate.

Redefining “Quality”: More Than Just Soluble Solids

The symposium kicks off on Monday, June 8, with a deep dive into nutrition and product quality. We aren’t just talking about Brix levels anymore; we’re talking about the tomato as a functional food.

• The Labeling Revolution: Keynote speaker Montaña Cámara will discuss how international standards (WHO, FDA, EFSA) are changing how we label tomato products.
• The Next “Superfood”: Explore the development of high-anthocyanin purple processing tomatoes and the genetic dissection of fruit quality with Jessica Cooperstone and Eric Ward.
• Sustainability in the Factory: Luca Sandei will present “green technology” methods for extracting valuable compounds from unripe green tomatoes—turning industrial waste into a resource.

Breeding the Next Generation

Monday afternoon shifts focus to the genetic blueprints of the crop. Keynote speaker David Francis will reflect on the history and future of public plant breeding—a sector vital for long-term industry stability. Some of the key research breakthroughs to be discussed:

• Plant Architecture: Shai Torgeman’s work on “forked inflorescence” genetics offers new ways to optimize plant structure for higher yields and better mechanical harvesting.
• The Purple Tomato: Eric Ward will showcase the progress toward high-anthocyanin purple processing tomatoes, merging visual appeal with superior antioxidant profiles.
• Virus Resistance: Reza Shekasteband will present strategies for combating “resistance-breaking” strains of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) using marker-assisted introgression.
• Fusarium Resilience: Myles Collinson will share research on leveraging wild germplasm and the Frl resistance gene to mitigate the devastating impacts of Fusarium stem rot and decline.

The Battle for the Field: Pests, Diseases, and “Smell”

On Tuesday, June 9, the focus shifts to the existential threats facing growers today.

First, the symposium addresses one of the most significant emerging threats to global production: the parasitic weed broomrape. Keynote speaker Brad Hanson will detail the collaborative efforts to combat its resurgence in California. it will be followed by a series of presentations of innovative solutions including:

• Genome Editing: Yao Luo will introduce the “Lark” multiplex genome editing platform as a tool for engineering inherent resilience.
• Phytosanitation: Katherine Ashley will discuss the development of quaternary ammonium compounds to prevent the spread of broomrape seeds via farm equipment.
• Bio-Detection: Mitchell McCartney will present a fascinating study on using “plant smells” to detect hidden broomrape infections in the field before they become visible.

The battle against pathogens continues in the afternoon, with a focus on newly described threats. Cassandra Swett will introduce the industry to Fusarium stem rot and decline, caused by F. noneumartii and F. martii, which has recently appeared in both California and Japan. Other presentations will cover sustainable control for root-knot nematodes and the management of the Consperse stink bug, and you wil discover how drones, low-cost sensors, and site-specific nitrogen calculators are closing the “yield gap” in California and beyond.

Innovation on Display: The Poster Session

Late Tuesday afternoon features a  Poster Session showcasing over 30 cutting-edge projects, including:

Advanced Diagnostics and Field Technology

Researchers are moving toward real-time, non-invasive methods to monitor crop health and quality:

• Photonic Diagnostics: One poster explores real-time photonic tools that can diagnose nutrient levels, plant stress, and fruit sugar content directly in the field without destroying samples.
• Precision Spectroscopy: Ruben Sanchez (CTAEX, Spain) presents on the use of portable NIR spectroscopy for in-field prediction of the optimal harvest window, ensuring processors receive fruit at peak quality.
• Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS): This research investigates how drones can be used to evaluate drought stress tolerance across different tomato varieties, allowing for more efficient selection in breeding programs.

Sustainability and the “Green” Factory

A significant cluster of research focuses on reducing the environmental footprint of both farming and processing:

• Solar-Powered Processing: Researchers from Spain are showcasing a pilot-scale solar steam generation system using a Fresnel collector to produce tomato paste, potentially drastically reducing natural gas consumption in factories.
• Decarbonization Proof-of-Concept with a strategic roadmap for the complete decarbonization of the tomato concentrate industry.
• Waste Valorization  with a method to turn processing by-products into high-value techno-functional food ingredients.
• Biodegradable Polymers with research evaluating superabsorbent polymers that biodegrade in the soil while maintaining yield and significantly improving water use efficiency in California’s arid climate.

Climate Resilience and Stress Recovery

With global temperatures rising, several studies look at how tomatoes can survive “harsh” conditions:

• One poster examines Pat-b parthenocarpy (fruit development without fertilization) as a genetic solution for ensuring fruit set under extreme heat where traditional pollination fails.
• Cold Recovery: Research from Nazmin Akter shows that while pre-transplant “night chilling” can impair initial shoot growth, it actually promotes root elongation, leading to faster physiological recovery once the seedlings are in the ground.
• Simulated Climate Change: A field-based study in Ghana used seasonal thermal extremes to model how future climate scenarios will impact reproductive and physiological responses in tropical tomato production.

Integrated Pest and Pathogen Management

The posters provide granular solutions for ongoing biological threats:

• Sustainable Antifungals: Rewa Rai presents a synergistic treatment using aqueous olive pomace extract (OPE) and sunlight as a natural, sustainable antifungal system to control Alternaria infections.
• Microbe-Immobilized Biochar: This “climate-smart” approach uses biochar as a delivery system for beneficial microbes to enhance both productivity and stress resilience.
• Fusarium Rotation Risk: Myles Collinson explores the susceptibility of other annual crops to Fusarium noneumartii, providing growers with critical data on crop rotation risks to manage this emerging disease.

Quality Drivers and Shelf Stability

At the molecular level, researchers are identifying what makes a product last:

• Metabolomic Drivers: Deepak Kumar Jha presents on the metabolomic drivers of quality, identifying the specific chemical signatures that correlate with a product’s resistance to spoilage and long-term shelf stability.
• Organic Quality Benchmarks: The “BioTomQual” project in Northern Italy evaluated the bioactive characteristics and marketable quality of six cultivars grown under strict organic conditions.

Collaborative Spirit: The Industry-Research Roundtable

A highlight of the symposium is the Roundtable Industry-Research on Monday afternoon. Moderated by Zach Bagley and Matt Stewart, this session provides a dedicated space for processors and growers to voice their needs directly to the scientific community, ensuring that future research is aligned with the practical realities of the industry.

A Collaborative Conclusion

The event wraps up on Wednesday, June 10, with a morning of open discussion including the official ISHS Business Meeting and the announcement of symposium awards, just before joining the main Congress for the joint closing ceremony.

The organizers have placed a strong emphasis on the future of the field through the “Adopt-a-Scientist” program. Sponsored by The Morning Star Company and the California Tomato Research Institute, four grants have enabled four young researchers to attend and present their work, fostering the talent that will lead the industry in the decades to come.

Why Attend the Symposium?

• Access the Research: Get a 5-to-10-year head start on the breeding and tech trends that will eventually become industry standards.
• Global Networking: Meet experts from California to Nigeria, Italy to Japan.
• Problem Solving: Bring your toughest field challenges to the people working on the solutions.

Don’t just watch the industry change—come meet the people who are changing it. Register today at www.worldtomatocongress.com!