Join us for a joint meeting of the 15th Short Rotation Woody Crops International Conference and  Ninth International Poplar Symposium from April 20-24, 2026 in Starkville, Mississippi, USA.​

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The Short Rotation Woody Crops International Conference is a biennial meeting of the Short Rotation Woody Crops Operations Working Group, a private and public partnership aimed to promote collaborative efforts in developing needed operations for purpose-grown tree plantings that comply with the principles of economic viability, ecological soundness, and social acceptance. The conference provides an opportunity for fostering communication, enhancing cooperation, and promoting collaborative action and research on short rotation woody crops.

 

The International Poplar Symposium (IPS) is a quadrennial meeting of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations Working Party 2.08.04 (Poplars and Willows). Since 1995, IPS has brought together researchers to present and collaborate on all aspects of research involving breeding and genetic resources of Populus spp. and Salix spp.

     

The Department of Forestry at Mississippi State University will host the 2026 conference. Poplar research has a long history at Mississippi State University and the nearby USDA Forest Service Southern Hardwoods Laboratory at Stoneville, Mississippi. Many commercial varieties of Populus deltoides originated from collections or breeding programs at these institutions. The tradition of poplar research continues at Mississippi State University today. Around $3.5 million in grant funded poplar research is currently supported in the Department of Forestry with millions more being proposed. These research projects investigating the genetic variation in growth and yield, ecosystem benefits of short rotation poplar plantations, poplar physiology and silviculture will be heavily showcased throughout the conference.

 

The 2026 conference will highlight new and novel short rotation woody crop science that benefits people and nature by supporting a robust bioeconomy and enhancing ecosystem services. We aim to enhance information exchange and provide a platform for international collaboration.  

 

The event is intended for researchers, forestry and natural resource management practitioners, policy makers, and students who are interested in the science and management of growing and using fast-growing trees for bioenergy, environmental applications, and forest products. 

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Please note, there are no funding opportunities available to cover travel and lodging costs for conference attendees.

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We look forward to seeing you in Starkville!