The International Ragweed Society (IRS) organized a highly successful Ragweed Section at the 8th International Plant Science and Technology Congress (IPSAT) on November 18, 2025. The congress was held by Ankara University, Turkey. We are deeply grateful to the congress organizers, Prof. Nur Münevver Pınar and Prof. Aydan Acar Şahin, for their excellent coordination and support in making this session possible.

The Ragweed session brought together leading researchers from across the world to share their latest findings on ragweed research. We had a great lineup of speakers who shared their latest work on ragweed and its impacts.

Heinz Müller-Schärer presented “Towards Predicting Evolutionary Outcomes in Weed Biocontrol,” exploring how we can better use Ophraella communis to control ragweed spread. Marta Pezzato discussed “Can the Spread of Ambrosia Pollen Be a Concern in Parma (Northern Italy)? Analysis of 33 Years of Observations,” looking at long-term pollen trends in the region and weed biocontrol, too. Elisa Cardarelli shared “Three Decades of Ambrosia artemisiifolia Pollen Monitoring in One of the Most Infested Areas in Europe,” detailing monitoring efforts in heavily affected areas.

Oleksii Kremenskii talked about “Overlap of Ambrosia with Artemisia and Alternaria Seasons Shaping Allergy Risks in Ukraine,” highlighting how these allergens interact and affect health.

Aydan Acar Şahin presented “Tracing Northern Source Regions of Ragweed Pollen Using HYSPLIT and Density-Based Clustering: Evidence from Gebze, Ankara, and Zonguldak (2022),” using different models to track pollen origins.

Serhat Karabıcak covered “Comparative Investigation of Ambrosia Pollen in Kastamonu Atmosphere Using APS 400 and Burkard Device,” comparing automatic and manual tools for measuring pollen levels.

All speakers managed their time excellently, allowing for a productive discussion session at the end. Each presentation received at least one question, and the answers sparked further discussion, making the session both engaging and scientifically productive.

Despite short notice, the session attracted excellent attendance, with participation peaking at 50 attendees. Many IRS members and interested researchers joined online, demonstrating the strong interest in ragweed research across the international community.

This session was a wonderful opportunity for IRS to establish its presence and demonstrate leadership in ragweed studies at the international level. The friendly atmosphere and fascinating discussions highlighted the collaborative spirit of our community.

We are open to new opportunities and challenges as we continue to develop our society and advance ragweed research worldwide.

Prof. Victoria Rodinkova

President, International Ragweed Society