About IPGS
An international, academically independent society dedicated to advancing plant grafting science through collaboration, open knowledge, and the training of the next generation of researchers.
Who we are
The International Plant Grafting Society (IPGS) was founded in 2026 as a purely academic, non-commercial international society. Its Secretariat is hosted by the College of Horticulture & Forestry Sciences at Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) in Wuhan, China, but the Society itself is globally constituted and regionally governed.
What makes IPGS distinctive
- Purely academic. Membership is restricted to universities, national research institutes, and research colleges. No commercial entity holds voting rights or sits on the Board.
- Contribution by participation, not fees. Members contribute researcher time, laboratory access, germplasm, and co-hosted activities in place of subscription fees.
- Open by default. All joint outputs are released under open-access licences through the IPGS Knowledge Commons.
- Regionally balanced. The Board is constitutionally structured to ensure geographic diversity across Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Americas, and Africa/MENA.
| Full name | International Plant Grafting Society |
|---|---|
| Acronym | IPGS |
| Tagline | Advancing the science of plant grafting for a resilient global food system |
| Founded | 2026 |
| Secretariat host | Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) · College of Horticulture & Forestry Sciences |
| Headquarters city | Wuhan, Hubei Province, China |
Vision, mission, and principles
Vision
To be the world's foremost academic platform for advancing grafting science — enabling transformative discoveries that strengthen global food systems and horticultural sustainability.
Mission
To foster multinational collaboration, harmonize research protocols, train the next generation of scientists, and translate grafting science into open-access knowledge worldwide.
Guiding principles
- Academic independence
- Open science (FAIR data)
- Equity and inclusion
- Scientific integrity
- Reciprocity between members
Six core objectives
- Coordinate multinational research on rootstock and scion biology — from molecular mechanisms to agronomic outcomes.
- Harmonize experimental and phenotyping protocols through the MIGE standard and the Protocol Repository.
- Democratize access to rootstock–scion compatibility data, germplasm, and digital tools through the Knowledge Commons.
- Train early-career researchers through joint PhD supervision, postdoctoral mobility, and the HZAU Summer Institute.
- Advocate for grafting research in international science-policy forums addressing food security and climate adaptation.
- Advance equity by prioritising capacity-building in under-resourced institutions and regions.
Three converging pressures make this a decisive window
Fragmented research
Grafting science is conducted in silos across 40+ countries. No common protocols, shared databases, or joint funding mechanisms exist at a global scale.
Climate urgency
Rootstock-mediated stress tolerance is one of the most promising climate-adaptive strategies in horticulture — yet critically under-funded globally.
Capacity gap
Advanced grafting expertise is concentrated in a small number of institutions; the Global South lacks training infrastructure and research access.
From founding to global recognition
IPGS follows a five-phase establishment plan, with defined milestones at each stage — beginning with the Wuhan Founding Meeting in May 2026 and maturing into a self-sustaining society by 2030.
Founding
Recruit 5–8 anchor institutions. Draft Charter. Interim Board at HZAU.
Launch
Sign Charter and MOUs. Establish Secretariat. Launch digital platform.
Open membership
Open Full & Associate calls. First four Working Groups.
Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU)
The IPGS Secretariat is hosted by the College of Horticulture & Forestry Sciences at HZAU — one of China's principal research institutions in horticultural science. Founded in 1898, HZAU is a national "Double First-Class" research university located in Wuhan, Hubei.
Why HZAU hosts
- Deep research strength in rootstock–scion biology and vegetable grafting.
- Established MSc and PhD programmes with active international student enrolment.
- Institutional commitment to open science and international cooperation.
- Logistical capacity to host multilateral meetings and a permanent Secretariat.