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The 20th International Congress on Animal Reproduction

(ICAR 2026)

Obihiro, Hokaiddo - Japonia

Scientific innovation combined with japanese culture

That was an incredibly intense international congress ICAR 2026 in Japan.

The event brought together over 1130 participants from 55 countries, creating an incredible blend of multicultural energy and above all, a vast amount of specialized knowledge in the field of animal reproduction. I eagerly listened to the latest (and still fresh) reports on topics such as epigenetics, modern cryopreservation and assisted reproductive technology (ART) for small ruminants. I also had the opportunity to test AI solutions that are useful in daily work. I dare say that assisted animal reproduction - which has always required human involvement, is not at risk of being completely taken over by artificial (nomen-omen) intelligence, which - as it turns out, is not always effective or even reliable. Although this field of information technology is developing at an alarming pace, veterinary reproduction specialists certainly will not face unemployment in the coming… centuries ;)

This year’s event took place on Hokkaido, Japan’s second-largest island, in the Tokachi subprefecture, an agricultural and dairy powerhouse. The biblical description of a land flowing with milk and honey could undoubtedly apply to this Asian region. It's from there that the highest-quality, world-famed dairy products originate. The Tokachi region accounts for more than half (!) of Japan’s natural cheese production and its vast expanses of pristine forests, meadows and farmland provide ideal conditions for beekeeping.