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The Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting (ABIM) 2023 welcomed over 1800 participants from 58 countries highlighting the essential role biocontrol plays in providing better solutions for plant protection and securing the future of food and farming. Organised by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL and IBMA (International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association) in Basel, Switzerland, the 18th edition of ABIM, 23-25 October, was filled with inspiring discussions, insightful presentations, and innovative ideas. In addition, 115 exhibitors showcased a variety of nature-based solutions enabling farmers to grow food working with nature and enhancing on-farm resilience.
(Basel, 10.25.2023) Widely recognized as the premier meeting place for the biocontrol industry, ABIM gathered 1,800 delegates and 115 exhibitors from 58 countries to present research findings, discuss business opportunities and learn about the latest regulatory developments.
Jennifer Lewis, IBMA Executive Director: “We are on the brink of a watershed moment for biocontrol in Europe. The Sustainable Use Regulation (SUR) is a key piece of legislation providing an EU-wide definition of biocontrol and the power to accelerate the transition to greater sustainability in agriculture. It has the potential to give more and more farmers access to solutions enabling them, and future generations of farmers, to manage their crops productively while enhancing biodiversity and building resiliency on their farms. Here at ABIM we have seen the biocontrol industry is ready to deliver these solutions.”
Lucius Tamm, Managing Director of ABIM AG, further draws attention to the role of biocontrol when it comes to sustainability: “Agricultural systems and processes must become more sustainable in the future. Biocontrol delivers crucial solutions and can shape this transformation process to sustainable agriculture successfully. This is why this annual meeting for the biocontrol industry is so important – for the industry itself and for the whole of society.”
Industry Leaders and EU Regulators on Stage
Delegates joined sessions highlighting innovations and digital solutions as well as workshops on how to make biocontrol more accessible to growers and understanding how investors think. Moreover, there was the unique opportunity to engage with EU regulators and senior policy officers from DG SANTE (Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission) as well as representatives of CTGB (Dutch Board for the Authorisation of Plant Protection Products and Biocides) in a workshop on “registration best practice”. This was followed by a keynote speech from Christian Huyghe, Scientific Director of Agriculture at INRAE, who then joined Herman Van Mellaert, President of IBMA Global for a panel discussion chaired by Joanna Sullivan, Founder and CEO of Conscience Consulting. Topics touched on included the foresight study conducted by INRAE “European Pesticide-Free Agriculture in 2050” showing how the transition to a more resilient and productive agriculture is possible when it combines the wide use of biocontrol solutions with other agroecological practices.
Innovative Solutions Win Bernard Blum Award
Innovations have always been a driving force in the biocontrol industry. Initiated in 2015, the Bernard Blum Award is presented annually to innovative biocontrol products that provide solutions for the management of pests or diseases that are also better for people and the planet. Chosen from over 35 entries, the winner of the Bernard Blum Award for Novel Biocontrol Solutions is DCM for their product PEA-02, second place is Signs for their product NoReds and third place is Koppert for their product Nezapar. The winner of the category “Best Innovative product assisting biocontrol uptake” is BioBest for their product Trap-Eye. The organisers congratulate all winners and look forward to seeing more innovations in 2024.
ABIM demonstrates the increasing impact and pivotal role biocontrol solutions play in the transformation of plant protection and agricultural practices ultimately contributing to resilient agriculture and food security worldwide.
Save the date: The 19th edition of ABIM takes place 21-23 October 2024.
Contacts
- Lucius Tamm, Managing Director, ABIM and Corporate Strategy, Agroscope
Phone +41 58 462 72 69 - Jennifer Lewis, Executive Director, IBMA
Phone +44 7711115764 - Niamh Holland-Essoh, Communications Manager, IBMA
Phone +32 472 37 48 26 - Roberta Turoldo, Conference organiser ABIM, FiBL Switzerland
Phone +41 62 865 04 41
Links
About ABIM
The Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting ABIM is hosted by ABIM AG, a jointly owned venture of the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association IBMA and the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL. As an unrivalled meeting place for the biocontrol industry, ABIM is internationally recognised. It remains the best place to discover and unveil new products, to discuss market opportunities, to present new research and products, to learn about the latest regulatory situation and to liaise with fellow professionals. www.abim.ch
About FiBL
The Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL is one of the world’s leading research institutions in the field of organic agriculture. FiBL’s strengths are interdisciplinary research, joint innovations with farmers and the food industry as well as rapid knowledge transfer. The FiBL Group currently includes FiBL Switzerland (founded in 1973), FiBL Germany (2001), FiBL Austria (2004), ÖMKi (Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, 2011), FiBL France (2017) and FiBL Europe (2017), which is jointly supported by the five national institutes. Around 400 employees work at the various locations. www.fibl.org
About IBMA
International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA) is the voice of the Biocontrol technologies industry and represents all its members to promote them and bring to the market via proportionate regulation these innovative nature-based solutions and effective technologies for sustainable agriculture, allowing the farmers to grow healthy, productive and profitable crops. Our solutions are inspired by, harnessed or harvested from nature. These biocontrol solutions protect the crops, soil, biodiversity and environment of today and importantly tomorrow via a holistic Biology 1st approach of agriculture. For more information about IBMA, visit www.ibma-global.org