Meetings have always been an essential part of CORESTA. They are, for the tobacco scientific community, the opportunity for both high level communications and informal discussions, leading to fruitful exchanges and new initiatives.
CORESTA's dynamic global conferences give an international perspective on research undertaken by leading scientists worldwide. CORESTA’s conferences are the world’s leading annual conference on tobacco and related product science. They attract between 200-400 attendees from industry, suppliers, academia and government from over 40 countries worldwide. They are a unique opportunity to address current challenges and constantly reaffirm CORESTA's vision to be recognised as an authoritative source of publicly available credible robust science and best practices related to tobacco and its derived products. Participants present their latest research and listen to presentations on topics covering all aspects of agronomy, phytopathology, smoke and aerosol science and product technology. Scientific programmes are organised into sessions by areas of research and frequently include workshops encouraging enthusiastic discussions. In addition, CORESTA meetings provide a valuable framework for networking and exchange between peers at a truly global level.
Congresses are held in even years, a four-day major event where over 400 scientists meet and where, aside from the scientific presentations, posters and reports on the work undertaken within the CORESTA Sub-Groups and Task Forces, the General Assembly is held, together with elections for the renewal of the Board and the Scientific Commission. A CORESTA Prize is awarded to a senior scientist in recognition of a lifelong contribution to tobacco science.
In odd years, the Agronomy & Leaf Integrity and Phytopathology & Genetics Study Groups on the one hand, and Smoke Science and Product Technology Groups on the other hand, meet in two separate smaller scale Conferences.
Other meetings are held by CORESTA bodies for their internal work, as well as open workshops and seminars in various parts of the world (e.g. the Infestation Control Conference - ICC - organised regularly by the Sub-Group Pest and Sanitation Management in Stored Tobacco). They aim to address specific topics or to share information in a particular context, in order to meet people in their own geographical area where issues may occur.
Congresses and Conferences are open to all interested persons as attendees and presenters; however, CORESTA membership is required in order to participate fully in the working groups.