Join the International Fascination of Plants Day on 18th May 2026
The European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO), together with more than 64 National Co-ordinators worldwide, announces the eighth edition of Fascination of Plants Day (FoPD), taking place on and around 18 May 2026.
This global celebration invites people of all ages to explore the vital role of plants through interactive events organised by research institutes, universities, botanical gardens, schools, farmers, museums, and companies across the world.
Since its launch in 2012, FoPD has grown into a truly international movement, with over 680 events in more than 65 countries taking place in 2024. FoPD highlights how plant science contributes to food and nutritional security, environmental sustainability, biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and human health.
Dr Tracy Valentine, senior research scientist at The James Hutton Institute is one of the UK National Co-ordinators. She said, “Plants are unique organisms. They can produce sugars just from sunlight, carbon dioxide and water. This ability to directly synthesize their own food has enabled plants to successfully colonise, adapt to, and diversify within almost every niche on the planet and drives both above and below ground processes. Biologists estimate the total number of plant species to be about 250,000.
“The goal of FoPD is to get as many people as possible around the world fascinated by plants and enthused about the importance of plant science.”
The James Hutton Institute is one of the UK’s leading research centres for plant science, focusing on improving crops (cereals, potatoes and soft fruit) for yield, quality, and resilience. Its research ranges from lab-based molecular studies on plant development to large-scale field trials, that aim to tackle climate and food security challenges.
FoPD 2026 will feature hands-on activities, exhibitions, and discussions covering topics from basic and applied plant science to agriculture, forestry, food, renewable resources, sustainability, and plant science education and art. Institutions and individuals are encouraged to host events or participate as visitors, strengthening a global network of plant science enthusiasts.
Organisations and individuals interested in taking part are invited to contact their National Coordinator via the ‘Countries’ section of www.plantday18may.org. to discuss their ideas and get access to all the supporting materials.
Media representatives are also welcome to join events and engage with scientists, farmers, policymakers and industry leaders showcasing the latest advances in plant science.
