The International Grains Council’s 2026 Grains Conference will be held in London on June 9-10 under the theme “Charting the future drivers of global grains trade.” The event will bring together policymakers, traders, analysts, financiers, logistics providers, technology companies and industry leaders to discuss the forces reshaping global grain markets, from low prices and shifting importer strategies to logistics, trade finance, artificial intelligence, gene editing, pulses, and food security in Africa and the Middle East.

The International Grains Council (IGC) will hold its 2026 Grains Conference in London on June 9-10, bringing together leading representatives from across the global grains, oilseeds and pulses value chains as agricultural trade faces mounting market, policy and technology pressures. 

The conference will take place at IET London: Savoy Place as part of London Grains Week. Organised under the theme “Charting the future drivers of global grains trade,” the two-day event will examine the key factors expected to influence grain flows, supply chain resilience and trade strategies in the years ahead.

The programme will focus on the implications of a low-price market environment, risk management, logistics innovation, trade finance, new technologies and regional food security challenges. The agenda will also include a special focus on Southeast Asia, as well as the evolving role of Africa and the Middle East in global grain trade.

TRADE AND FOOD SECURITY HIGH ON THE AGENDA

The conference will open with the 4th High-Level Dialogue between producing and importing countries, which will examine the role of trade in national food security strategies.

The discussion comes after a strong global grains harvest in 2025/26 helped ease some of the supply concerns seen in recent years. However, the IGC notes that vulnerabilities remain. Low international prices continue to pressure producers in importing countries, while trade policy is playing a growing role in shaping the movement of goods.

The session will also give particular attention to the Middle East, a region where reliable access to exportable supplies remains central to food security planning.

LOW PRICES PUT PRODUCER MARGINS UNDER PRESSURE

One of the main market sessions will assess the impact of the current low-price environment. After a series of large harvests, global grains and oilseeds supplies are in an expansionary phase, while average export prices remain close to five-year lows. The session will examine whether this price environment is temporary or reflects a more structural shift in market fundamentals.

The discussion is expected to focus on the consequences for producer margins, investment decisions and long-term food security. For farmers and exporters, the issue is becoming increasingly important as strong supply availability has not necessarily translated into stronger profitability.

GENE EDITING ENTERS THE TRADE POLICY DEBATE

Innovation will also feature prominently in the programme. The session “Gene Editing and Grains Trade: Future-Proofing Policies for Global Markets” will explore how advances in gene editing could help improve crop resilience, raise yields and support adaptation to climate and food security challenges.

The debate will also address the trade-related questions created by these technologies, including policy alignment, market access, traceability, compliance and consumer acceptance. A key theme will be how science-based regulatory frameworks can support innovation while reducing the risk of trade disruption caused by divergent rules across markets.

LOGISTICS BECOMES A COMPETITIVE FACTOR

The conference will also examine how logistics is changing the economics of grain trade. The session “From storage facility to supply chain, how global logistics is reshaping the grains trade” will focus on the impact of port congestion, shipping bottlenecks, freight volatility and supply chain disruption.

In recent years, logistics has moved from being a back-office operational issue to a strategic factor in trade competitiveness. Discussions will look at how contract logistics, warehousing and integrated supply chain solutions can improve efficiency and resilience.

WHEAT IMPORTERS ADAPT TO A BUYER-FRIENDLY MARKET

The wheat session will focus on how importer behaviour is changing in a well-supplied market. With ample availability from major exporters, buyers have gained more flexibility. Importers are increasingly using short-term purchasing strategies, diversifying origins and applying more flexible quality specifications. At the same time, stronger exporter competition, freight dynamics and currency movements are reshaping trade flows.

The session will consider what these changes mean for exporters seeking to protect margins in a market where buyers have more choice.

TRADE FINANCE, AI AND MAIZE ON SECOND-DAY PROGRAMME

The second day will focus on trade finance, artificial intelligence and maize. The trade finance session will examine the short-term financing structures that support the physical movement of crops and agricultural inputs. Agricultural trade finance links producers, buyers and financiers in a triangular structure, but changing market conditions and regulatory developments are reshaping the sector.

Artificial intelligence will be addressed through the AI trade challenge session, which will look at how AI can support market forecasting, real-time decision-making, risk management and strategic planning.

The maize workshop will focus on trade challenges for the 2026/27 marketing year. International maize trade accounts for more than 15% of world consumption, with annual volumes approaching 200 million tonnes. Import demand is expected to rise further in 2026/27, while most exporters are projected to remain well supplied. This is expected to intensify competition between the United States, South America and Ukraine.

IGC INNOVATION CHALLENGE TO SHOWCASE DIGITAL SOLUTIONS

The conference will also provide a platform for the Smart Global Grains Trade Challenge 2026, an innovation initiative launched by the IGC together with the India Middle East Agri Alliance Ecosystem (IMEAA Ecosystem) and with support from Microsoft AI for Good.

The challenge aims to accelerate digital transformation in grain trade as supply chains face growing pressure from climate volatility, geopolitical tensions and operational complexity.

The competition is designed to identify digital, data-driven and AI-enabled solutions that can improve efficiency, transparency and resilience across grain trade. Target areas include market research, data analytics, weather intelligence, post-harvest management, logistics, traceability, contract execution, risk management and food waste reduction.

The initiative is open to start-ups, scale-ups and established companies. Winners will have the opportunity to present their solutions at the IGC Grains Conference on June 10, with finalists competing for a total prize pool of $150,000. The registration deadline is April 30, 2026.

For further details on the programme, speakers and registration, please visit.