site.btaInternational Biodiversity Conference Opens at Plovdiv Agricultural University

The LifeWatch BEeS 2026 international scientific conference opened at the Agricultural University of Plovdiv on July 7. The forum will be held until July 10 and is organized by the European research infrastructure LifeWatch ERIC.

The conference brings together scientists from around the world working on biodiversity research and conservation. Participants are presenting new discoveries, including species adaptations to climate change, and sharing research on solutions to protect biodiversity while addressing environmental challenges. A key theme of LifeWatch BEeS 2026 is the “One Health” approach, which highlights the connection between healthy soils, plants, food systems, ecosystems, and human health. Scientists stress that protecting human well-being requires protecting the entire ecological system on which life depends.

LifeWatch ERIC collects, shares, and provides access to global biodiversity and ecosystem data through an electronic infrastructure used by researchers worldwide. Plovdiv Agricultural University  Rector Prof. Boryana Ivanova pointed out that this network enables scientists to conduct advanced studies, develop analyses, and create policies supporting sustainable development. She emphasized the importance of Bulgarian researchers making greater use of these resources, which are available through Bulgaria’s membership in LifeWatch ERIC, supported by the Education and Science Ministry.

The annual conference on biodiversity research and electronic infrastructure takes place in different member countries each year. This year, Bulgaria is the host, with the Agricultural University of Plovdiv serving as the leading organization of the Bulgarian LifeWatch consortium. The event brings together 228 registered participants from Austria, Australia, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Mauritius, as well as representatives of 14 Bulgarian scientific and environmental organizations, including NGOs, research institutes, and universities.