Viscon joined the PlantGENE workshop on Automation in Plant Bioengineering

On 5 February, Viscon Group was pleased to take part in the workshop “Automation in Plant Bioengineering: Opportunities, Considerations, and Emerging Solutions”, hosted by PlantGENE. We greatly appreciated the opportunity to engage with industry experts and hear valuable feedback that highlights the importance of collaboration as automation continues to advance.

This online workshop explored the growing prospects of automation within plant biotechnology and tissue culture, offering participants the opportunity to learn, engage, and contribute to an active community discussion. Speakers presented perspectives on why automation is becoming increasingly essential, the practical considerations required to implement it successfully, and examples of emerging technologies that can be integrated into plant bioengineering workflows.

The event featured six expert speakers: Christopher Bagley, Veena Veena, PhD, MBA, Micah Stevens, Suzane Pols and Michael Henzler, representing Inari Agriculture, Sierra Gold Nurseries, Viscon Group, and Ball Horticultural Company. Each shared insights on the benefits of automation, real-world case studies, and the workflow standardization needed to achieve reliable and scalable automated systems.

As the Lead of Plant Science at Viscon Group, Suzane Pols contributed her expertise on how automation can support plant developmental processes, improve consistency in research and production environments, and create more efficient systems for propagating and evaluating plant material. Her perspective emphasized the importance of bridging biological with automation.

The two-hour workshop concluded with a 30minute roundtable discussion, giving attendees the opportunity to pose questions, exchange experiences, and help shape future directions in laboratory automation for plant bioengineering.

The NSFfunded Plant Genetic Engineering Network (PlantGENE) is a communitydriven initiative designed to meet the growing global demand for plant transformation and gene editing. Bringing together internationally recognized experts from academia, industry, and nonprofit research institutes, PlantGENE supports progress in the field through research collaboration, training opportunities, and active knowledge sharing.

As the organizing initiative behind this event, PlantGENE will continue building on this momentum by hosting additional workshops and discussions that strengthen the community’s engagement with automation in plant bioengineering. Its leadership remains committed to ongoing dialogue and deeply values input from across the field as this collaborative society continues to evolve.

Viscon Group is grateful to have been part of this event and to contribute to the shared mission of advancing automation in plant bioengineering.