3rd Edition Of Plant Science and Molecular Biology World Conference 2026

Abstract

Global climate change has emerged as one of the most significant threats to agricultural sustainability, exposing crop plants to increasingly frequent and severe abiotic stresses such as drought, heat, salinity, flooding, and nutrient imbalances. These environmental challenges profoundly disrupt plant physiological and biochemical processes, ultimately limiting productivity, food security, and farmers' livelihoods worldwide. Conventional breeding approaches, although instrumental in crop improvement, are often insufficient to cope with the rapidly changing climatic scenario. Consequently, there is an urgent need for integrated, multidisciplinary strategies that combine advances in plant stress physiology, molecular biology, and digital agriculture to develop resilient and sustainable cropping systems.
This keynote presentation explores the transformative journey from understanding plant stress physiology to implementing smart agriculture, emphasizing how molecular biology serves as a crucial bridge between fundamental plant science and climate-resilient crop production. The presentation highlights the physiological and molecular mechanisms governing plant responses to abiotic stresses, including osmotic adjustment, antioxidant defence systems, hormonal signalling, photosynthetic regulation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, and stress-induced gene expression. Particular emphasis will be placed on the integration of functional genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, molecular markers, genome editing technologies, and advanced phenotyping platforms for identifying and deploying stress-resilient traits in crop improvement programmes.
Beyond molecular interventions, the presentation discusses the emerging role of smart agriculture, where precision farming, artificial intelligence, remote sensing, Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring, drone technologies, and decision-support systems enable real-time assessment of crop health and environmental conditions. The convergence of these digital technologies with molecular breeding and physiological knowledge facilitates data-driven crop management, enhances resource-use efficiency, minimizes environmental impacts, and strengthens resilience against climate variability.
Special attention will also be given to opportunities for translating these scientific advances into practical agricultural solutions for climate-vulnerable regions, particularly the North-Eastern Himalayan ecosystem and other ecologically sensitive agro-climatic zones, where sustainable intensification remains a major challenge. The presentation will discuss how integrating physiological screening with molecular diagnostics and precision agriculture can accelerate the development of next-generation climate-smart cropping systems that are both productive and environmentally sustainable.
Ultimately, this keynote advocates a holistic paradigm in which plant physiology, molecular biology, biotechnology, and digital agriculture converge to redefine future crop improvement strategies. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, this integrated framework provides a roadmap for developing resilient agricultural systems capable of ensuring global food and nutritional security under changing climatic conditions. The presentation aims to inspire researchers, academicians, policymakers, and agricultural practitioners to embrace next-generation scientific approaches that will shape the future of sustainable agriculture in the era of climate change.