Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) is a legume with remarkable potential. Exceptionally resilient to drought, poor soils, and extreme conditions, grass pea is emerging as a promising crop in the face of climate change. Its ability to thrive where other crops fail makes it a valuable ally for food security in vulnerable regions. However, its reputation remains clouded by the presence of ODAP, a neurotoxin that can cause health issues when consumed excessively as a staple food.
In today’s changing climate, researchers around the world are intensifying efforts to understand the mechanisms behind grass pea’s resilience and to develop safer, low-ODAP varieties that can be cultivated and consumed more widely.
Lathyrus Day is the first initiative dedicated exclusively to this unique legume and the global community studying it.
Organizers
Held every two years, Lathyrus Day is an initiative of the Fernand Lambein Fund, which honours the legacy of Prof. Fernand Lambein — a scientist who dedicated his career to the study and promotion of Lathyrus sativus. The Fund supports networking, knowledge exchange, and collaborative project development, with a special focus on empowering researchers from low- and middle-income countries.
Key partners in organizing Lathyrus Day include:
- Crop Trust – an international organization committed to conserving crop diversity for global food and nutrition security.
- VIB-IPBO – a non-profit scientific organization affiliated with the Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB), working to overcome barriers in transferring agro-biotechnological innovations to regions that need them most.
The Program
The second edition of Lathyrus Day will focus on scientific advancements in Lathyrus sativus and its perception among farmers.
- Location: Valamar Lacroma ★★★★ Hotel, Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Date: Monday, 8 June 2026
- Registration Fee: Covered by the Fernand Lambein Fund -registration is possible through the main event or as travel grant recipient.
| TIME | DURATION | AGENDA | KEY PERSON(S) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:30 – 09:00 | 30 min | Registration | |
| 09:00 – 09:15 | 15 min | Welcome and kick off: Introduction Fernand Lambein Fund, Reflections on the previous Lathyrus Day 2024, Goal of the current meeting | FLF Fund |
| 09:15 – 09:30 | 15min | Introduction to Prof. Dr. T.R. Sharma | Benjamin Kilian |
| 09:30 – 10:30 | 1 hour | Opening Keynote Speaker: Prof. Dr. T.R. Sharma | T.R. Sharma |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | 30 min | Health Break | |
| 11:00 – 12:20 | 1h 20 min | Session 1: In the Lab: molecular, genetic and physiological Research on grass pea | Chair: Maria Carlota Vaz Patto |
| 11:00 – 11:20 | 20 min | CRISPR/Cas-based manipulation of transcriptional reprogramming and stomatal immunity against pathogen invasion of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) and Grasspea (Lathyrus sativus). | Okung Unung |
| 11:20 – 11:40 | 20 min | Aphanomyces euteiches causes disease in Lathyrus sativus with a globally diverse, polygenic resistance landscape. | Sara Rodríguez Mena |
| 11:40 – 12:00 | 20 min | High-Throughput Phenotyping Reveals Genotypic Variation in Drought Response and Water-Use Strategies in Lathyrus spp. Under Progressive Soil Drying. | Kamal Hejjaoui |
| 12:00 – 12:20 | 20 min | From “Poor Man’s Meat” to Safe Climate-Smart Protein: Pioneering genome editing of Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) for improved yield in a changing climate. | Keya Akter |
| 12:20 – 13:20 | 1 hour | World Café (Speed Networking) | |
| 13:20 – 13:30 | 10 min | Group Photo | |
| 13:30 – 14:30 | 1 hour | Lunch | |
| 14:30 – 15:00 | 30 min | Quiz | |
| 15:00 – 16:30 | 1h 30 min | Session 2: Bridging the gap: grasspea from the lab to the field | Chair: Diego Rubiales |
| 15:00 – 15:10 | 10 min | Farmers video | Shivali Sharma, Petra Pajdakovic |
| 15:10 – 15:30 | 20 min | Bridging the Gaps in Ethiopia: Grasspea in the Field | Dagnachew Bekele |
| 15:30 – 15:50 | 20 min | Patterns and Determinants of Grass Pea (Lathyrus sativus) Consumption Among Rural Households in Major Cultivating Districts of Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study | Azeb Atnafu |
| 15:50 – 16:20 | 30 min | Plenary session | Maria Carlota Vaz Patto, Dr. Shivali Sharma |
| 16:20 – 16:30 | 10 min | Wrapping up the meeting: Closing remarks, Roadmap towards 2028 | Fernand Lambein Fund |
Travel Grants
Travel grants are available to support participation, with a strong emphasis on encouraging applications from scientists based in developing countries. The grant covers ILS conference registration, round-trip flight, indirect travel costs, and accommodation. In addition to financial support, recipients may be invited to present their work on Lathyrus in a 15-minute oral presentation, followed by a brief Q&A session. This is a unique opportunity to engage with the global Lathyrus research community and contribute to advancing the future of this underutilized yet promising crop.
Follow the link below and apply by 31 January 2026.