ABOUT US
Historical Facts
During the 19th century, horticultural scientists realised that exchanging their views and experience internationally greatly facilitated their national and even regional programs.
As a result, the first International Horticultural Congress was organised in 1864 in Brussels (Belgium). With the organisation of the next event one year later in Amsterdam (Netherlands), the seeds of the International Society for Horticultural Science were planted. In 1923 the foundation of an International Commission for Horticultural Congresses was established.
The International Society for Horticultural Science was officially registered as such on April 27, 1959, formalising a global network of international horticultural co-operation.
The creation within ISHS of Sections according to the various horticultural disciplines, Commissions corresponding to the different branches of horticultural science and technologies, and the formation of Working Groups, provided the foundations for the high level of the international symposia and congresses that are organized each year under the aegis of ISHS. In 2018 the Executive Committee re-organized the scientific structure creating Divisions instead of the previous Sections and Commissions.
As a result, the first International Horticultural Congress was organised in 1864 in Brussels (Belgium). With the organisation of the next event one year later in Amsterdam (Netherlands), the seeds of the International Society for Horticultural Science were planted. In 1923 the foundation of an International Commission for Horticultural Congresses was established.
The International Society for Horticultural Science was officially registered as such on April 27, 1959, formalising a global network of international horticultural co-operation.
The creation within ISHS of Sections according to the various horticultural disciplines, Commissions corresponding to the different branches of horticultural science and technologies, and the formation of Working Groups, provided the foundations for the high level of the international symposia and congresses that are organized each year under the aegis of ISHS. In 2018 the Executive Committee re-organized the scientific structure creating Divisions instead of the previous Sections and Commissions.
ISHS presidents
- Startup: Roger de Vilmorin (France)
- 1961 – 1962: Prof. Dr. Adolphe Lecrenier (Belgium)
- 1962 – 1966: Prof. Dr. Harold B. Tukey Sr. (USA)
- 1966 – 1970: Prof. Dr. Pinhas Spiegel-Roy (Israel)
- 1970 – 1974: Prof. Dr. Szczepan A. Pieniazek (Poland)
- 1974 – 1978: Dr. William F. Walker (Australia)
- 1978 – 1982: Prof. Dr. Dietrich Fritz (Germany F.R.)
- 1982 – 1986: Prof. Dr. Harold B. Tukey Jr. (USA)
- 1986 – 1990: Prof. Dr. Franco Scaramuzzi (Italy)
- 1990 – 1994: Prof. Dr. Ryozo Sakiyama (Japan)
- 1994 – 1998: Prof. Dr. Silviero Sansavini (Italy)
- 1998 – 2002: Dr. Christopher D. Brickell (UK)
- 2002 – 2006: Dr. Norman E. Looney (Canada)
- 2006 – 2010: Dr. Norman E. Looney (Canada)
- 2010 – 2014: Prof. Dr. António Monteiro (Portugal)
- 2014 – 2018: Prof. Dr. Roderick A. Drew (Australia)
- 2018 – 2022: Prof. Dr. Yüksel Tüzel (Turkey)
- 2022 – 2026: Dr. François Laurens (France)
Secretary general / executive director
- 1959 – 1982: Dr. Gerrit de Bakker
- 1982 – 1994: Ir. Heiko H. van der Borg
- Function of Secretary General abolished in 1994 and replaced by Executive Director
- 1994 – 1995: Dr. Omer Verdonck (acting Executive Director)
- 1995 – 2018: Ir. Jozef Van Assche
- 2019 – : Mr. Peter Vanderborght
International horticultural congresses (IHC)
- 1864 Brussels – Belgium
- 1865 Amsterdam – The Netherlands
- 1883 Ghent – Belgium
- 1885 Paris – France
- 1889 Paris – France
- 1893 Chicago, IL – USA
- 1900 Paris – France
- 1905 Paris – France
- 1910 Brussels – Belgium
- 1913 Ghent – Belgium
- 1923 Amsterdam – The Netherlands
- 1927 Vienna – Austria
- 1930 London – UK
- 1932 Paris – France
- 1935 Rome – Italy
- 1938 Berlin – Germany
- 1952 London – UK
- 1955 The Hague – The Netherlands
- 1958 Nice – France
- 1962 Brussels – Belgium
- 1966 College Park, MD – USA
- 1970 Tel-Aviv – Israel
- 1974 Warsaw – Poland
- 1978 Sydney – Australia
- 1982 Hamburg – Germany F.R.
- 1986 Davis, CA – USA
- 1990 Florence – Italy
- 1994 Kyoto – Japan
- 1998 Brussels – Belgium
- 2002 Toronto – Canada
- 2006 Seoul – Korea
- 2010 Lisbon – Portugal
- 2014 Brisbane – Australia
- 2018 Istanbul – Turkey
- 2022 Angers – France
- 2026 Kyoto – Japan
- 2030 Milan – Italy
- 2034 …
Council meetings
- 1960 The Hague – The Netherlands
- 1962 Brussels – Belgium
- 1964 Edinburgh – UK
- 1966 Maryland – USA
- 1968 Pisa – Italy
- 1970 Tel-Aviv – Israel
- 1972 Hannover – Germany F.R.
- 1974 Warsaw – Poland
- 1976 Florence – Italy
- 1978 Sydney – Australia
- 1980 Nyborg – Denmark
- 1982 Hamburg – Germany F.R.
- 1984 Aas – Norway
- 1986 Davis – USA
- 1988 Leamington Spa – UK
- 1990 Florence – Italy
- 1992 Leuven – Belgium
- 1994 Kyoto – Japan
- 1995 Montpellier – France
- 1997 Auckland – New Zealand
- 1998 Brussels – Belgium
- 2000 Cairo – Egypt
- 2002 Toronto – Canada
- 2004 Coolum – Australia
- 2006 Seoul – Korea
- 2008 Agadir – Morocco
- 2010 Lisbon – Portugal
- 2012 Fortaleza – Brazil
- 2014 Brisbane – Australia
- 2016 Québec – Canada
- 2018 Istanbul – Turkey
- 2020 Bangkok – Thailand (cancelled due to Covid-19)
- 2022 Angers – France
- Following new statutory requirements, as of 2023 annual meetings of ISHS Council are conducted online with an in-person Council meeting held right before the start of each IHC and optional in-person meetings in between of two IHC’s, circumstances allowing.
ISHS Divisions (established 2018 – ISHS Executive Committee consists of the Chairpersons of the Divisions + members of the Board)
Division Horticulture for Human Health (DHEA)
- Chair 2018-2022: Prof. Dr. Bhimanagou Patil (USA)
- Chair 2022-2026: Assoc. Prof. Tim O’Hare (Australia)
Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture (DURB)
- Chair 2018-2026: Dr. Francesco Orsini (Italy)
Division Physiology and Plant-Environment Interactions of Horticultural Crops in Field Systems (DPHY)
- Chair 2018-2026: Dr. Evelyne Costes (France)
Division Plant Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (DBIO)
- Chair 2018-2026: Prof. Dr. Jorge Canhoto (Portugal)
Division Temperate Tree Nuts (DNUT)
- Chair 2018-2022: Prof. Dr. Tiziano Caruso (Italy)
- Chair 2022-2026: Dr. Giulia Marino (USA)
Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts (DTRO)
- Chair 2018-2026: Dr. Karin Hannweg (South Africa)
Division Horticulture for Development (DDEV)
- Chair 2018-2022: Prof. Dr. Peter J. Batt (Australia)
- Chair 2022-2026: Dr. Melinda Knuth (USA)
Division Ornamental Plants (DORN)
- Chair 2018-2026: Dr. Margherita Beruto (Italy)
Division Protected Cultivation and Soilless Culture (DPRO)
- Chair 2018-2022: Prof. Dr. Stefania De Pascale (Italy)
- Chair 2022-2026: Assoc. Prof. Youssef Rouphael (Italy)
Division Temperate Tree Fruits (DFRU)
- Chair 2018-2022: Prof. Dr. Ted M. DeJong (USA)
- Chair 2022-2026: Prof. Luca Corelli Grappadelli (Italy)
Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering (DENG)
- Chair 2018-2022: Prof. Dr. Murat Kacira (USA)
- Chair 2022-2026: Prof. In-Bok Lee (South Korea)
Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers (DVEG)
- Chair 2018-2022: Prof. Dr. Daniel Leskovar (USA)
- Chair 2022-2026: Prof. Dr. Ferdinando Branca (Italy)
Division Vine and Berry Fruits (DVIN)
- Chair 2018-2022: Prof. Dr. Jorge B. Retamales (Chile)
- Chair 2022-2026: Prof. Dr. Bruno Mezzetti (Italy)
Division Postharvest and Quality Assurance (DPHQ)
- Chair 2018-2022: Prof. Dr. Christopher B. Watkins (USA)
- Chair 2022-2026: Prof. Giancarlo Colelli (Italy)
ISHS Commissions (established 2018 as ‘special ad-hoc commissions’)
Commission Agroecology and Organic Farming Systems
- Chair 2018-2022: Prof. Dr. Martine Dorais (Canada)
- Chair 2022-2026: Prof. Dr. Maria Claudia Dussi (Argentina)
Commission Cultivar Registration
- Chair: position vacant
Previous ISHS Sections and Commissions (re-organized into Divisions in 2018)
Fruit Section: Established in 1960
- Founding Chair Prof. Harold B. Tukey Sr. (USA)
- Chair 1963 – 1966: Prof. Dr. Szczepan A. Pieniazek (Poland)
- Chair 1966 – 1970: Prof. Dr. F.V. Nilson (Sweden)
- Chair 1970 – 1976: Dr. F.R. Tubbs (UK)
- Chair 1976 – 1986: Prof. G. Bünemann (Germany F.R.)
- Chair 1986 – 1994: Prof. Silviero Sansavini (Italy)
- Chair 1994 – 2000: Dr. Norman E. Looney (Canada)
- Chair 2000 – 2002: Dr. Anthony D. Webster (UK)
Since 2002: Section Pome and Stone Fruits
- Chair 2002 – 2010: Dr. Anthony D. Webster (UK)
- Chair 2010 – 2014: Prof. Guglielmo Costa (Italy)
- Chair 2014 – 2018: Prof. Dr. Ted M. DeJong (USA)
Since 2002: Section Nuts and Mediterranean Zone Fruits
- Chair 2002 – 2006: Prof. Dr. Carlo Fideghelli (Italy)
- Chair 2006 – 2014: Dr. Damiano Avanzato (Italy)
- Chair 2014 – 2018: Prof. Dr. Tiziano Caruso (Italy)
Section Viticulture: Established in 1992
- Chair 1992 – 2000: Dr. John V. Possingham (Australia)
- Chair 2000 – 2002: Prof. Dr. Ben Ami Bravdo (Israel)
Since 2002: Section Vine and Berry Fruits
- Chair 2002 – 2010: Prof. Dr. Ben Ami Bravdo (Israel)
- Chair 2010 – 2018: Prof. Dr. Bernadine C. Strik (USA)
Committee Tropical Plantation Crops: Established 1961 – in 1970 the Committee became a Commission
- Chair 1966 – 1967: Dr. D. Wyman (USA)
- Chair 1967 – 1970: Dr. Casseres (Mexico)
- Chair 1970 – 1992: Dr. H.D. Tindall (UK)
- Chair 1992 – 1998: Dr. P. Martin-Prével (France)
- Chair 1998 – 2002: Dr. Victor Galán-Saúco (Spain)
Since 2002: Section Tropical and Subtropical Fruits
- Chair 2002 – 2006: Dr. Victor. Galán Saúco (Spain)
- Chair 2006 – 2010: Dr. Jacky Ganry (France)
- Chair 2010 – 2018: Prof. Dr. Sisir Kumar Mitra (India)
Section Citrus: Established 2005 – Dissolved 2014
- Chair 2005 – 2010: Prof. L. Gene Albrigo (USA)
- Chair 2010 – 2014: Dr. Yair Erner (Israel)
Section Vegetables: Established 1960.
- Chair 1960 – 1962: Prof. Dr. W. Nicolaisen (Finland).
- Chair 1962 – 1966: Prof. J.E. Hårdh (Hungary)
- Chair 1966 – 1974: Prof. Dr. Dietrich Fritz (Germany)
- Chair 1974 – 1990: Ir. J. van Kampen (The Netherlands)
- Chair 1990 – 1998: Prof. Dr. Carlos Portas (Portugal)
- Chair 1998 – 2006: Prof. Dr. Daniel Cantliffe (USA)
- Chair 2006 – 2014: Dr. Silvana Nicola (Italy)
Since 2014 Section Vegetables, Quality Production Systems, Leafy Green and Non-Root Vegetables.
- Chair 2014 – 2018: Prof. Dr. Daniel Leskovar (USA)
Section Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Active since 1982, officially established in 1986
- Chair 1982 (officially appointed in 1986) – 1992: Prof. Dr. Peter Tétényi (Hungary)
- Chair 1992 – 1997: Prof. Arnaldo Bandoni (Argentina)
- Chair 1997 – 2006: Prof. Dr. Lyle Craker (USA)
- Chair 2006 – 2014: Prof. Dr. Akos Máthé (Hungary)
- Chair 2014 – 2018: Prof. Dr. Bhimanagouda Patil (USA)
Section Ornamental Plants: Established in 1960.
- Chair 1962 – 1964 Dr. A. Klougart (Denmark).
- Chair 1964 – 1970: Prof. Dr. J.G. Seeley (USA)
- Chair 1970 – 1974: Prof. Ir. J.G. Van Onsem (Belgium)
- Chair 1974 – 1978: Prof. E. Strømme (Norway)
- Chair 1978 – 1982: Prof. W.U. von Hentig (Germany F.R.)
- Chair 1982 – 1986: Prof. J.G. Seeley (USA)
- Chair 1986 – 1994: Dr. O.V. Christensen (Denmark)
- Chair 1994 – 2002: Dr. Robert Bogers (The Netherlands)
- Chair 2002 – 2010: Dr. Richard Criley (USA)
- Chair 2010 – 2018: Prof. Dr. Margrethe Serek (Germany)
Section Root and Tuber Crops: Established in 1990
- Chair 1990 – 1991: Dr. K. Caesar (Germany)
- Chair 1991 – 1998: Dr. S.K. Hahn (USA)
- Chair 1998 – 2002: Dr. Mike Nichols (New Zealand)
- Chair 2002 – 2006: Dr. Stanley Kays (USA)
- Chair 2006 – 2010: Dr. William Roca (Peru)
- Chair 2010 – 2014: Prof. Dr. Noureddine Benkeblia (Jamaica)
Since 2014 Section Vegetables, Roots, Tubers, Edible Bulbs, Brassica, Asparagus
- Chair 2014 – 2016: Prof. Dr. Umezuruike Linus Opara (South Africa)
- Co-Chairs 2016 – 2018: Prof. Dr. Ferdinando Branca (Italy) and Prof. Dr. Umezuruike Linus Opara (South Africa)
Section Banana and Plantain; in 2018 re-organized into Commission Banana; in 2023 converted to Working Group Banana under Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
- 2006 – 2010: Richard H. Markham (Australia)
- 2010 – 2015: Stephan Weise (France)
- 2015 – 2020: Inge Van den Bergh (Belgium)
- 2020 – 2020: Anne Vézina (France)
- 2020 – 2023: Nicolas Roux (France)
Commission Plant Protection: Established 1964.
- Chair 1964 – 1970: Dr. L. Broadbent (UK)
- Chair 1970 – 1973: Dr. J.G. ten Houten (The Netherlands)
- Chair 1973 – 1986: Dr. H. Rønde Kristensen(Denmark)
- Chair 1986 – 1990: Prof. G. Crüger (Germany F.R.)
- Chair 1990 – 1998: Prof. Cyriel Van Assche (Belgium)
- Chair 1998 – 2006: Dr. Alfons Vanachter (Belgium)
- Chair 2006 – 2014: Dr. Chris Hale (New Zealand)
- Chair 2014 – 2018: Dr. David Hunter (Canada)
The International Working Group for Horticultural Engineering: Established at the IHC in Nice in 1958, became the ISHS Committee on Engineering in 1960; later Commission Horticultural Engineering
- Chair 1958 – 1974: Dr. L.G. Morris
- Chair 1974 – 1986: Dr. A.E. Canham (UK)
- Chair 1986 – 1990: Dr. G.H. Germing (The Netherlands)
- Chair 1990 – 1994: Prof. Chr. Von Zabeltitz (Germany)
- Chair 1994 – 2002: Dr. B. Bailey (UK)
- Chair 2002 – 2004: Prof. Dr. Joachim Meyer (Germany)
- Chair 2004 – 2014: Dr. Sadanore Sase (Japan)
- Chair 2014 – 2018: Dr. Murat Kacira (USA)
Committee on Horticultural Economics: Established 1961; in 1962 the Committee became a Commission – now Commission Economics and Management
- Chair 1962 – 1968: Prof. Dr. W. Bush (Germany)
- Chair 1968 – 1969: Dr. L.G. Bennett (UK)
- Chair 1969 – 1975: Dr. R.R.W. Folley
- Chair 1975 – 1982: Dr. M. Carlsson (W. Germany)
- Chair 1982 – 1990: Prof. Dr. R. von Alvensleben (Germany F.R.)
- Chair 1990 – 1998: Prof. Dr. Urbain Avermaete (Belgium)
- Chair 1998 – 2006: Dr. N. De Groot (The Netherlands)
- Chair 2006 – 2014: Prof. Dr. Peter P. Oppenheim (Australia)
- Chair 2014 – 2018: Prof. Dr. Peter J. Batt (Australia)
Committee on Protected Cultivation: Established 1961; in 1962 the Committee became a Commission
- Chair 1962 – 1966(?): Prof. Dr. J.P. Hudson (UK)
- Chair 1966(?) – 1974: Prof. Dr. Adolphe Lecrenier (Belgium)
- Chair 1974 – 1986: Mad. Dr. D. Blanc (France)
- Chair 1986 – 1994: Prof. F. Tognoni (Italy)
- Chair 1994 – 1998: Ir. M.M.M. van Winden (The Netherlands)
- Chair 1998 – 2006: Prof. Dr. Ayman Abou-Hadid (Egypt)
- Chair 2006 – 2014: Dr. Ing. Agr. Nicolas Castilla (Spain)
- Chair 2014 – 2018: Prof. Dr. Stefania De Pascale (Italy)
Committee on Soilless Culture: Established 1961; in 1962 the Committee became a Commission. The Commission did not exist long.
Commission Plant Substrates: Established 1970 – Now Commission Plant Substrates and Soilless Culture
- Chair 1970 – 1982: Prof. Dr. Penningsfeld (Germany F.R.)
- Chair 1982 – 1994: Dr. Omer Verdonck (Belgium)
- Chair 1994 – 1999: Dr. F. Lemaire (France)
- Chair 1999 – 2006: Dr. Omer Verdonck (Belgium)
- Chair 2006 – 2010: Prof. Dr. Wilfried H. Schnitzler (Germany)
- Chair 2010 – 2014: Dr. William R. Carlile (Ireland)
- Chair 2014 – 2018: Prof. Dr. Michael Raviv (Israel)
Commission on Urban Horticulture: established 1982, re-named Commission Landscape and Urban Horticulture in 2002
- Chair 1982 – 1986: Dr. D.W. Robinson (Ireland)
- Chair 1986 – 1990: Dr. Nina L. Bassuk (USA)
- Chair 1990 – 1994: Prof. Dr. Harold B. Tukey Jr. (USA)
- Chair 1994 – 2006: Dr. William James Simpson (UK)
- Chair 2006 – 2014: Prof. Dr. Gert D. Groening (Germany)
- Chair 2014 – 2018: Prof. Dr. Giorgio Prosdocimi Gianquinto (Italy)
Commission Education and Training: Established 1984, re-named Commission Education, Research Training and Consultancy.
- Chair 1984 – 1998: Dr. M. Nichols (New Zealand)
- Chair 1998 – 2006: Prof. Dr. Geoffrey Dixon (UK)
- Chair 2006 – 2010: Prof. Dr. Errol W. Hewett (New Zealand)
- Chair 2010 – 2013: Associate Professor Dr. David Aldous (Australia – deceased while in office)
- Chair 2013 – 2014: Dr. Alan Hunter (Ireland – Acting Chair replacing Dr. David Aldous who passed away in 2013)
- Chair 2014 – 2018: Dr. Rémi Kahane (France)
Commission Biotechnology: Established 1992 – later Commission Molecular Biology and In Vitro Culture
- Chair 1992 – 1998: Dr. Richard H. Zimmerman (USA)
- Chair 1998 – 2002: Dr. Freddi Hammerschlag (USA)
- Chair 2002 – 2006: Dr. Carmine Damiano (Italy)
- Chair 2006 – 2010: Prof. Dr. Roderick A. Drew (Australia)
- Chair 2010 – 2018: Dr. Maurizio Lambardi (Italy)
Commission Postharvest: Established 1992, re-named Commission Quality and Postharvest Horticulture in 2002
- Chair 1992 – 1998: Dr. Marcel Herregods (Belgium)
- Chair 1998 – 2006: Prof. Dr. Errol W. Hewett (New Zealand)
- Chair 2006 – 2010: Prof. Dr. Pietro Tonutti (Italy)
- Chair 2010 – 2014: Dr. Sirichai Kanlayanarat (Thailand)
- Chair 2014 – 2018: Prof. Dr. Christopher B. Watkins (USA)
Commission Plant Genetic Resources: Established 1998
- Chair 1998 – 2002: Prof. Dr. Carlo Fideghelli (Italy)
- Chair 2002 – 2010: Dr. Kim Hummer (USA)
- Chair 2010 – 2014: Dr. Hannah Jaenicke (Germany)
- Chair 2014 – 2018: Dr. Damiano Avanzato (Italy)
Commission Sustainability in Integrated and Organic Horticulture: Established 2005 – re-named Commission Organic Horticulture in 2014
- Chair 2005 – 2014: Dr. Robert K. Prange (Canada)
- Chair 2014 – 2018: Dr. Martine Dorais (Canada)
Commission Nomenclature and Cultivar Registration – re-classified as a ‘Special Commission’ in 2014
- Chair 1963 – ?: Mr. J.S.L. Gilmour (UK)
- Chair 1971 – 1980: Dr. C. Walkof (Canada)
- Chair 1980 – 2000: Dr. Christopher D. Brickell (UK)
- Chair 2000 – 2005: Mr. Piers Trehane (UK)
- Chair 2005 – 2018: Dr. Janet Cubey (UK)
Commission Irrigation and Plant Water Relations: Established 2004
- Chair 2004 – 2010: Prof. Dr. Isabel. Ferreira (Portugal)
- Chair 2010 – 2014: Dr. Richard L. Snyder (USA)
- Chair 2014 – 2018: Prof. Dr. Manuela Zude-Sasse (Germany)
Commission Fruits and Vegetables for Health: Established 2006
- Chair 2006 – 2010: Prof. Dr. Yves Desjardins (Canada)
- Chair 2010 – 2014: Prof. Dr. Olaf Van Kooten (Netherlands)
- Chair 2014 – 2018: Prof. Dr. Julian Heyes (New Zealand)