Now that conference has ended, what comes next?

By Chidi Emenike

By Friday afternoon, the posters came down, and the next Tropentag was formally handed over to the University of Giessen. The closing session in ZHG 011 carried the weight of unfinished tasks. One of the keynote speakers, Dr Eric Smaling, challenged participants to reflect on the three days of research and encounters.

In his closing review, Dr Smaling moved past the usual catalogue of sessions. He asked how close our research is to the realities it claims to serve: “Please be reminded that these are experiments that may be far from farmers’ reality,” he stated. The task ahead is to make research strong enough to withstand the constraints and realities farmers face.

There were numerous presentations on climate adaptation. But there is a gap in the political and financial decisions required to change the trajectory itself. Smaling noted: “Research can document climate impacts and design responses, but it cannot substitute for the leadership needed to turn evidence into systemic change.”

Food systems offered another open conversation. Production, post-harvest technologies, nutrition and healthy diets were all extensively discussed at Tropentag 2026. However, markets, policy, and the relationships among states, civil society, and businesses deserve closer attention. To address wicked problems, we need to move beyond a silo approach.

Photo credit: Adesoji Adeyemi-Adejolu

The conference’s visual summary pointed to alignment across initiatives, scales, stakeholders, and local stewardship. That aligns with this year’s theme of building multi-functional agro-ecosystems. However, Dr Smaling mentioned that there is still a gap in digital advisory services and AI. Technologies matter when they stay connected to conditions on the ground. Affirming this, Dr Smaling argued that “the strongest tools will be those that help people make better decisions where decisions matter.”

Looking Ahead

The legacy of Tropentag 2026 will be measured by what participants do with the questions they take home. Will collaborations survive beyond corridor conversations? Will research designs move closer to farmers’ realities?

Tropentag 2026 may have ended in Göttingen, but its most important sessions are just beginning.

See you in Giessen