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First International Miscanthus Summit

calendar

Monday, October 26

09:00 am–05:00 pm

location

Champaign-Urbana, IL, USA

2 Days of Research. 2 Days of Industry. 1 Global Summit from Discovery to Translation.

Choose the 2-day registration that fits your focus, or join us for all 4 days! 

Join us in October 2026 for the first international summit focused on Miscanthus, the next-generation biomass crop transforming renewable energy, clean bioproducts, regenerative agriculture, and a circular bioeconomy. The International Miscanthus Summit 2026 brings together global leaders from research, policy, and industry for four days of knowledge-sharing, networking, and innovation.


Registration is Open: Choose Your Attendance

Whether you are a scientist deeply embedded in crop genetics or an industry looking for market applications, you can tailor your summit experience: 

  • Days 1-2: Tailored for academics, biotech innovators, and more 
  • Days 3-4: Ideal for growers, manufacturers, policy makers, and more 
  • Days 1-4: A deep dive bridging discovery to commercial translation

A call for abstracts for poster presentations and lightning talks is open now through August 10. 


 

Event Overview

Days 1–2: Scientific Conference 

Location: iHotel and Conference Center
Deep dive into cutting-edge miscanthus science. Topics include:

  • Crop genetics and breeding
  • Agronomic systems and soil health
  • Bioprocessing, biofuels, bioproducts, and beyond
  • Policy frameworks and sustainability metrics

Confirmed speakers include Iain Donnison of Aberystwyth University (plenary), Emily Heaton and Erik Sacks of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Kankshita Swaminathan of HudsonAlpha, and Daniel Rokhsar of the University of California - Berkeley.

 

Days 3–4: Industry Trade Show 

Location: UIUC Stock Pavilion
Explore the growing miscanthus marketplace with:

  • Equipment demos and biomass processing tech
  • Commercial product showcases
  • Business matchmaking and investment forums
  • Panels with growers, manufacturers, and policy-makers

 


 

Accommodations & Logistics

A hotel block is available at the iHotel (1900 South 1st Street, Champaign, IL), which is directly connected to the Illinois Conference Center where days 1 and 2 take place.

To book a room, please use the booking link with block code IMS1026 and guest password *s9By. To make a reservation by phone (217-819-5000), please mention the block code for the group rate. The hotel block is available until September 10, 2026.

 


 

Partner with Us

  • Exhibitor Booths: Available for all four days of the Summit. Registration can be found directly within the main summit registration link. 
  • Industry Sponsorships: Multiple tiers are available, including opportunities for advertising. To learn more, please reach out to Tracy Parish at tparish@illinois.edu 

 

Who should attend?

Open to all interested in miscanthus - industry, academia, government, NGOs, farmers, and beyond. 

 

INDUSTRY SPONSORSHIPS

Multiple tiers of sponsorships available with opportunities for advertising and named keynotes, dinners, and poster awards. Please reach out to Tracy Parish, tparish@illinois.edu

 

EXHIBITOR BOOTHS

Registration for exhibitor booths can be found within the summit registration. Available during all four days of the Summit.