Business trip report, Switzerland, Folorunso

The annual SwissPLANT Symposium, organized by the Swiss Society of Plant Biology, was held in Les Diablerets, Switzerland, from January 14 to 16, 2026. Dr. Ewumi Azeez Folorunso participated in the event and delivered an oral presentation on the potential of microbial isolates from aquaponic systems to enhance plant health. The presentation highlighted the major challenges of pathogen management in coupled aquaponic systems, particularly the limited use of chemical treatments and the lack of registered microbial biocontrol products for these systems. These challenges motivated the successful identification of indigenous microbial isolates capable of suppressing three major plant pathogens while improving the availability of essential nutrients such as phosphorus and iron.

The presentation generated constructive discussion, particularly regarding the ecological role of system-specific microbiomes (rhizosphere, biofilter, and fish-associated microbes) and the future applicability of these isolates under in vivo and field conditions. Overall, participation in the SWISSPLANT Symposium provided valuable feedback and strengthened professional networking opportunities. The project forms part of the fulfilment of the MSCA-CZ project, co-funded by the European Union, Ministry of education, youth and sports in Czech Republic, and the Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia.