The Polish Ecological Club in Gliwice and the Coalition Clean Baltic cordially invite you to the international conference “The Baltic without eutrophication – Is it possible?” GRASS 2026, which will take place on the 12th and 13th of October 2026.
The conference is a hybrid event; it will be streamed live online. The offline version of the event will be held in the biodynamic farm Juchowo in Juchowo 54 A 78-446 Silnowo, Poland.
The main theme of the conference is the key issue of eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. Over the course of the conference, we will explore whether it is possible to curb eutrophication, and identify the necessary political and agricultural measures. The conference will bring together representatives from the scientific community, the agricultural sector, environmental organizations, and public administration. The program includes presentations, discussions, workshops, and study visits to the Juchowo farm and nearby wetlands. Topics that will be addressed include: the role of peatlands and wetlands in reducing nutrient runoff, as well as the role of soil and appropriate farming practices in retaining water and nutrients. We will also examine existing and potential policy instruments aimed at mitigating eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. A joint discussion will address current challenges and proposed solutions, outlining potential actions at both the systemic and policy levels.
We cordially invite all interested parties—including farmers, representatives of non-governmental organizations, agricultural advisors, researchers, and public administration officials, as well as anyone interested in topics related to sustainable agriculture, the protection of natural resources, and the Baltic Sea.
The agenda of the conference can be found below:
Day I, 12.10.2026
Part I – Eutrophication of the Baltic Sea – Current Status, Current Actions
9:00 – 9:30 Registrations
9:30 – 9:45 Conference Opening – Mikhail Durkin, Executive Secretary of the Coalition Clean Baltic; Beata Jurga, Vice-Chair of WG Source to sea of HELCOM; Maria Staniszewska, Chairwoman of the Polish Ecological Club in Krakow, Gliwice Chapter
9:45 – 10:15 Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea – current state – Lotta Ruokanen, HELCOM Deputy Executive Secretary
10:15 – 10:35 The Role of Peatlands in the Context of Climate Change – dr hab. Wiktor Kotowski, University of Warsaw
10:35 – 10:55 Restructuring of peatlands at the Juchowo Farm – Julia Elisabeth Averkamp, Peatland Project Developer aeco GmbH
10:55 – 11:25 Coffee break
11:25 – 12:40 Study Visit to the Wetlands and Peatlands in Juchów
12:40 – 13:00 Presentation of the Juchów Peatland Restoration Plan – Scientific Comments
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
Part 2 – Agricultural pollution and countermeasures: soil management
14:00 – 14:30 Organic Recirculating Agriculture – prof. Artur Granstedt, founder of Stiftelsen Biodynamiska Produkter
14:30 – 15:00 Main Sources of Agricultural Pollution – Latest Research – dr hab. Inż. Jerzy Kupiec, Poznań University of Life Sciences
15:00 – 15:30 Soil structure and composition as the Foundation of the Agricultural Ecosystem – dr hab. Bartłomiej Glina, Poznań University of Life Sciences
15:30 – 16:00 The impact of mid-field tree belts on soil water and nutrient retention – Dr inż. Robert Borek, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation, State Research Institute in Puławy
16:00 – 16:15 Short Break
16:15 – 17:45 Workshop: How to Manage Nutrients – led by Marek Krysztoforski, Senior Specialist in Fertilizer Management and Agri-environmental Programmes, and Urszula Sołtysiak, current expert and past director of many years of AGRO BIO TEST – first independent organization certifying organic production in Poland.
19:00 Official dinner
Day II, 13.10.2026
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Breakfast
Part 3 – Impact of policies on the Baltic Sea and potential future actions
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Study trip in biodynamic farm in Juchowo
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 – 11:30 Common Agricultural Policy – support for sustainable agriculture – dr Wioletta Wrzaszcz, Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics – National Research Institute, Warsaw
11:30 – 11:50 Nutrient Recycling – The Potential of the Baltic States – Maria Staniszewska, chairwoman of the Polish Ecological Club Gliwice Chapter
11:50 – 12:05 Coalition Clean Baltic – a network organization working for the Baltic Sea – Paula Benders, project officer at CCB
12:05 – 12:20 CCB Actions for the Baltic Sea – Ewa Leś, Working Area Leader on Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea region
12:20 – 12:35 CCB position on improving the condition of the Baltic Sea – an appeal to politicians – Mikhail Durkin, Executive Secretary CCB
12:35 – 12:50 Conference Summary
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
The agenda is subject to change.
The agenda was last updated on: 08.10.2026
WARNING: Due to limited on-site accommodation at the Juchowo farm, the event organizer cannot guarantee accommodation reservations for registrations submitted on or after October 1, 2026. Individuals who have requested on-site accommodation and completed the registration form on or after October 1, 2026, will receive final confirmation regarding accommodation availability no later than October 5, 2026.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS GRASS 2026
- Conditions of participation
- In order to participate in the conference, one must complete and submit the participation form:
- For offline participation: https://forms.gle/npeZ4bnMRckiuftW7
deadline to submit the form: 7.10.2026 - For online participation: https://forms.gle/vQwmhNn8FfLej3p49
deadline to submit the form: 9.10.2026
- For offline participation: https://forms.gle/npeZ4bnMRckiuftW7
- The GRASS 2026 conference is a hybrid event. The link to the online version of the event is sent to the email address provided in the registration form.
- The number of places for the offline version of the conference is limited. Registrations for offline participation are accepted until all places are filled.
- Workshops and study trips are not included in the online version of the event.
- To participate in the study visits, participants should bring waterproof footwear and clothing that allow for comfortable movement in the field.
- In order to participate in the conference, one must complete and submit the participation form:
- Matters provided by the organizers
- Participation in the GRASS 2026 conference is free of charge.
- The event will be held in Polish and English. Simultaneous interpretation (PL-ENG and ENG-PL) is available.
- Meals are provided to participants for the duration of the conference (including dinner on October 11). The cost of these meals is covered by the organizers.
- The organizers do not cover the cost of meals a participant arranges on their own.
- Accommodation for participants can be provided for the nights of October 11/12 and/or October 12/13 at the Juchowo farm. The organizers will endeavor to provide single rooms whenever possible; however, there is no guarantee at the time of registration that the assigned accommodation will be a single room.
- To secure accommodation, the appropriate option must be selected on the registration form. The cost of this accommodation is covered by the organizers.
- The organizers do not cover the cost of accommodation a participant arranges on their own.
- The organizer does not cover travel costs.
- Cancellation of conference participation
If a participant registered for the offline version of the conference decides not to attend in person, we kindly request that a substitute be designated and that this information be communicated to biuro@pkegliwice.pl no later than 12:00 PM on October 9, 2026. Failure to provide such notification and/or designate a substitute will result in the registered individual being charged for the accommodation and meals provided during the conference, as indicated in the submitted registration form.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us via email.: biuro@pkegliwice.pl
Submitting the completed registration form constitutes acceptance of the GRASS 2026 conference regulations.
