Dear EWRS members and friends,

As summer progresses, I would like to thank you for your continued commitment to EWRS and to the advancement of weed science. The first half of the year has once again demonstrated the vitality of our Society, the dedication of our Working Groups, and the strong engagement of our members across Europe and beyond.

I am particularly encouraged by the scientific activities taking place throughout EWRS. The first cycle of the webinar series “Question-Driven Weed Science” was successfully completed, bringing together researchers from more than 20 countries and highlighting the value of such initiatives. My sincere thanks go to all speakers, organizers, and participants who contributed to its success.

Building on this momentum, several exciting Working Group events are planned for the coming months. These include the Joint Working Group Meeting of Weed Vegetation and Biodiversity and Biological Weed Control in Dijon, France (27–29 October 2026), the Workshop Advances and Challenges in IAP and Weed Management: Ethical and Economic Perspective in Nitra, Slovakia (29–31 October 2026), and the Weed Genomics Training Course and Workshop in Prague, Czech Republic (2–5 November 2026). In January 2027, the EWRS Working Group Herbicide Resistance, together with GIRE, will organize a workshop in Padova, Italy, focusing on participatory approaches to tackling herbicide resistance and drawing on 30 years of Italian experience in this field. Some more will be also announced soon, so, stay tuned!

These meetings provide excellent opportunities to exchange ideas, develop collaborations, and engage with colleagues from different disciplines and regions. I warmly encourage all members, and especially early-career scientists, to participate actively.

Looking ahead, preparations are progressing well for our next major milestone: the 21st EWRS Symposium, which will take place in Uppsala, Sweden, from 28 June to 2 July 2027 under the theme “System-Based Solutions to Sustainable Weed Management.” I encourage you to mark the dates and plan your participation in what promises to be an outstanding scientific event.

I wish you all a pleasant summer, a productive season, and I look forward to meeting many of you at our upcoming EWRS activities.

With my best wishes,

Professor Ilias Travlos

President, EWRS

June 18th, 2026