October 26–28, 2026 · St. Louis, MO
The CAST Annual Meeting brings together leaders in agricultural science, science communication, and innovation for three days hosted by Bayer CropScience in St. Louis. Under the theme Science That Feeds Tomorrow, this gathering asks a defining question: as the world and agriculture undergo profound change, which researchers and research areas are building the foundation for a resilient and productive future?
CAST Student Members, Board of Directors, Workgroup, and Strategic Advisory Council members will take part in keynote presentations, panel discussions, and tours that showcase the latest in agricultural research. It's an opportunity to connect, share ideas, and help shape the future of CAST and the agricultural sciences community.
Dates
October 26–28, 2026
Location
St. Louis, Missouri
Host
Bayer CropScience
Theme
Science That Feeds Tomorrow
Keynote
Giles Oldroyd
President, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
An internationally recognized plant geneticist and an elected member of both the UK's Royal Society and the US National Academy of Sciences, known for pioneering research on the symbiotic relationships between plants and beneficial microbes that help crops take up nitrogen and phosphorus.
Featured Dialogue
Courtney Knupp
CEO, United Soybean Board
Nearly two decades of experience in agriculture, international trade, and public policy, including senior roles at the National Security Council and the National Pork Board. She grew up on her family's soybean farm in Iowa.
Also featuring a lunch presentation by Suraksha Baral, Ph.D. student at The Ohio State University and recipient of the CAST Science Communication Scholarship.
For Students
Present your research to leaders in agricultural science, industry, and policy. On opening night at Grant's Farm, students share their posters with CAST's Board of Directors, Strategic Advisory Council, and workgroup members.
No, if you're a student in the St. Louis region
Students at colleges and universities within about a 3.5-hour drive of St. Louis register free, with no membership required.
Don't see your school but it's within about 3.5 hours of St. Louis? Email communications@cast-science.org.
Yes, if you're from outside the region
Students from other areas register free as CAST Student Members. Student Explorer membership is free if your university is a CAST member institution, and $39 a year otherwise.
Share your work with the scientists, executives, and policy leaders who shape agricultural science in the U.S.
The top three posters earn a CAST Student Innovation Award, announced during the opening-night program.
Connect with professionals across the field at dinners, receptions, and tours over three days.
$1,000
First place
$500
Second place
$250
Third place
Registration closed
All 15 poster spots are full, and student registration is now closed.
Send your abstract
We'll email registered presenters to confirm their poster title, authors, and affiliation, along with a short abstract (up to 250 words).
Bring your poster
Bring your printed poster (paper or fabric), up to 36″ × 48″, portrait or landscape. CAST provides the easels.
Present
Share your research on Monday, October 26, at Grant's Farm. Winners are announced during the evening program.
Students are responsible for their own travel and lodging. See Lodging & Travel for hotel information.
CAST workgroup and board representatives score each poster out of 100 points across five categories. Be ready to talk judges through your work; your oral presentation counts for 20 points.
Clear research question, sound methods, accurate results, and conclusions supported by the data
Logical flow from introduction to conclusions, concise text, and professional, error-free language
Balanced layout, clear and labeled figures, and readability from 3–4 feet, including color-blind-friendly choices
Confident explanation, thoughtful answers to judges' questions, and a clear, concise delivery
A new idea or approach and relevance to real-world agricultural and scientific issues
Schedule
All registered participants are welcome at every event except the closed Board of Directors planning session on Wednesday morning.
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 4:00 PM |
Welcome Dinner & Student Innovation Competition (SIC)
Grant's Farm
Board of Directors · SAC Members · Workgroup Members · Student Members
|
| 5:15 PM |
Poster Presentations & Cocktail Hour
Grant's Farm
Board of Directors · SAC Members · Workgroup Members · Student Members
Student presenters share their research posters while judges score each one using the competition rubric. Full bar and appetizers, including soft pretzels with cheese sauce, a veggie tray and smoked gouda fried mac and cheese bites.
|
| 6:45 PM |
Dinner
Grant's Farm
Board of Directors · SAC Members · Workgroup Members · Student Members
Buffet catered by Grant's Farm: BBQ grilled chicken breast, pork tenderloin, beef brisket, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes with gravy, baked beans, garden salad and soft drinks. Vegan brats are available for attendees who listed dietary restrictions at registration.
|
| 7:00 PM |
Welcome Remarks
Grant's Farm
Board of Directors · SAC Members · Workgroup Members · Student Members
Chris Boomsma, CEO, CAST
|
| 7:15 PM |
Keynote, Featured Dialogue & Poster Awards
Grant's Farm
Board of Directors · SAC Members · Workgroup Members · Student Members
Keynote address and featured dialogue, followed by the presentation of the student poster awards and photos with the winners.
Giles Oldroyd
President, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center — Keynote Speaker
Giles Oldroyd is President of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center where he is dedicated to advancing the Center's mission to improve the human condition through plant science. A plant geneticist, Giles is internationally recognized for pioneering research to understand symbiotic interactions between plants and beneficial bacteria and fungi that aid in the uptake of nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus. He is among the top 1% of highly cited plant scientists across the globe, and one of only a few hundred scientists in the world who are elected members in both the UK's Royal Society and the US National Academy of Sciences. He was named one of the Top Agri-Food Pioneers by the World Food Prize Foundation in 2024. Prior to joining the Danforth Center in 2025, Giles served as Russell R. Geiger Professor of Crop Science and Director of the Crop Science Centre at the University of Cambridge, UK. He received his undergraduate degree in biology from the University of East Anglia and earned his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley.
Courtney Knupp
CEO, United Soybean Board — Featured Dialogue
Knupp brings nearly two decades of experience in agriculture, international trade, and public policy. She previously served as Director of Global Supply Chain at the National Security Council and as Vice President of International Market Development at the National Pork Board, where U.S. pork exports grew to $8.6 billion. She grew up on her family's soybean farm in Iowa.
|
| 8:30 PM |
Bus
Bus departs Grant's Farm for the hotel (about a 30-minute drive).
|
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 7:45 AM |
Bus
Board of Directors · SAC Members · Workgroup Members
Bus departs hotel for Bayer Chesterfield Campus (about a 10-minute drive). We recommend having breakfast at the hotel. Please dress for both a research campus and outdoor zoo activities.
Student Members: separate transportation from the hotel to the 10:15 AM Bayer campus tour will be provided. Details to follow.
|
| 8:00 AM |
Check-in & Coffee
Bayer Chesterfield Campus
Board of Directors · SAC Members · Workgroup Members
|
| 8:30 AM |
CAST Joint Business Meeting & Listening Session
Bayer Chesterfield Campus — Room AA1825-4
Board of Directors · Workgroup Members · SAC (observing)
|
| 10:15 AM |
Bayer Chesterfield Campus Tour
Bayer Chesterfield Campus
Board of Directors · SAC Members · Workgroup Members · Student Members
Pre-registration required: Bayer screens every visitor before the tour. Please complete the Bayer visitor form.
|
| 12:00 PM |
Lunch at Bayer Chesterfield Campus
Bayer Chesterfield Campus
Board of Directors · SAC Members · Workgroup Members · Student Members
Hosted by Bayer. Featured presentation by CAST Science Communication Scholarship Recipient Suraksha Baral.
Suraksha Baral
Ph.D. Student, Agricultural, Environmental & Development Economics, The Ohio State University — CAST Science Communication Scholarship Recipient
Baral's research focuses on circular economics — recycling, composting, and food waste — and how communication affects whether people actually participate in sustainability programs. Her Can Fairy program served Columbus, Ohio households with weekly curbside recycling pickup, prizes for clean collections, and creative content designed to make recycling specific, approachable, and personal. In her words: "People usually do not ignore science because they do not care. Often, they just cannot translate it into daily decisions."
|
| 1:05 PM |
Bus
Bus departs Bayer Chesterfield Campus for the St. Louis Zoo (about a 20-minute drive).
|
| 1:30 PM |
St. Louis Zoo Tours
St. Louis Zoo — Living World Building, North Entrance
Board of Directors · SAC Members · Workgroup Members · Student Members
Attendees split into two tours:
|
| 3:15 PM |
Bus
Bus departs the Zoo for the Anheuser-Busch Brewery (about a 15-minute drive).
|
| 3:30 PM |
Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tours
1200 Lynch St, St. Louis, MO 63118
Board of Directors · SAC Members · Workgroup Members · Student Members
Two groups of up to 30 people, starting at 3:30 PM and 4:00 PM (about 1.5 hours each).
|
| 6:45 PM |
Bus
Bus departs the brewery for Favazza's on The Hill (about a 10-minute drive).
|
| 7:00 PM |
CAST Dinner
Favazza's — The Hill, St. Louis
Board of Directors · SAC Members · Workgroup Members · Student Members
|
| 9:00 PM |
Bus
Bus departs Favazza's for the hotel (about a 25-minute drive).
|
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 7:45 AM |
Carpool
Board of Directors
Carpool from the hotel to Bayer Chesterfield Campus (about a 10-minute drive). No bus on Wednesday. We recommend having breakfast at the hotel.
|
| 8:30 AM |
Coffee & CAST Board of Directors Meeting — 2027 Planning
Bayer Chesterfield Campus — Room FF4104
Closed — Directors only
|
| 12:30 PM |
Box Lunch
CAST Staff · Board of Directors
Grab-and-go for departing attendees.
|
Join Us
Be part of three days of discussion, networking, and hands-on learning as we explore how agricultural science, technology, and innovation are shaping the future of food production.
CAST Student Members & students from the St. Louis region
Free
Student spots are full. Travel and lodging not included.
Board of Directors, Workgroup & Strategic Advisory Council members
$150
Includes meals and tours listed in the program.
Plan Your Trip
Hyatt Place St. Louis Chesterfield — $135/night
Group rate deadline: Monday, October 5, 2026. Room rates are subject to 15.98% state and local taxes.
Reservations: 636-536-6262 ext. 0
Booking by phone? The room block is listed under “Bayer,” not CAST. Please ask for the Bayer block when you call.
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
About 14 miles from downtown St. Louis. From the airport: MetroLink Light Rail (Red Line), rideshare, taxi and car services, or rental cars.
Getting around: A complimentary bus will transport participants between CAST-designated hotels and all official tours and event venues.
Thank You
Hosted by
Conference Supporters
Get Involved
Your gift helps bring students into the room and keeps this meeting accessible.
Meeting Supporter · $50+
Recognition on the donor wall and a digital thank-you.
Student Innovation Backer · $100+
Featured in the CAST student spotlight.
Tour Booster · $100+
Name or logo on tour itineraries and slides.
