To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the soybean’s introduction to North America, the University of Georgia will host the 2017 World Soybean Research Conference X (WSRCX) in Savannah, Ga., filling nearly 10,000 room nights over the course of the five-day conference.

“Hosting this conference will help put Savannah on the world stage. In the past this event has been held in South Africa and China, and now we have the opportunity to showcase all that our city has to offer.  And we'll fill nearly 10,000 hotel rooms in the process,” said Jeff Hewitt, Visit Savannah’s vice president of business development.

The leading international event on soybean research, the WSRCX will be held at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center in September 2017. Thousands of participants from across the world convene at this conference each year, with high attendance expected in 2017 because of the significant 250th anniversary.

“From its first planting in Savannah almost 250 years ago, the soybean has become one of the most important crops in the U.S. and the world. To celebrate this event, the WSRCX will bring together the largest group of soybean researchers assembled in the U.S. during the past 20 years,” said Wayne Parrott, professor, UGA’s Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics & Genomics.

The WSRC features research programs promoting the exchange of scientific information regarding soybean research. The conference will include both a technical program and a trade show that showcases all aspects of the industry.

“Bringing the World Soybean Conference to Savannah is the result of a tremendous collaboration between our local hotel community, the Trade Center and the faculty at UGA.  Having this conference in our city will bring the eyes of the global agriculture research industry on Savannah, which hopefully will lead to similar types of events in the future,” said Joseph Marinelli, Visit Savannah president.

For more information, contact Taylor Griffin at 912.644.6429 or [email protected].