20 - 22 October 2025. ABIM 2025 - the Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting. For pictures see this page

The year 2025 marked significant anniversaries for the biocontrol industry: 30 years of IBMA, 20 years of ABIM, and 10 years of the Bernard Blum Award. 

It served as the world’s leading event for the biological crop protection industry, bringing together researchers, companies, regulators, and investors to showcase innovations in microbials, semiochemicals, natural substances, and invertebrate macrobials, discuss regulatory and market developments, and explore new business and research partnerships. With over 150 exhibitors, thematic sessions, and one-to-one networking opportunities, ABIM 2025 provided a key global platform to advance sustainable, science-based alternatives to chemical pesticides and strengthen the role of biologicals in transforming agri-food systems.

Extract of the programme

20/10 “Showcasing Innovations” session (microbials, semiochemicals, natural substances and
invertebrate macrobials)

 

 

The session on “Showcasing Innovations” highlighted the need to accelerate the integration of biological solutions—microbials, semiochemicals, natural substances, and invertebrate macrobials—into sustainable agricultural systems through stronger research–industry–policy collaboration. 

 

Participants recommended enhancing regulatory harmonization and data-sharing frameworks to reduce barriers to market entry, investing in regionally adapted research to validate efficacy under local conditions, and supporting farmer awareness and capacity building for effective adoption. 

The session also underscored the importance of multi-actor innovation platforms to connect startups, researchers, and investors, ensuring that biological innovations are not only scientifically sound but also commercially viable and environmentally responsible.

Biocontrol is scaling fast, but the system still lacks regulatory clarity, aligned policies and farmer-oriented advisory tools. Opportunities:

• launch a policy dialogue on biopesticides with EFSA, DG SANTE, CABI and the Regional Fora; 
• establish a Digital Agroecology Working Group to develop an AI-based advisory prototype for farmers;  
• prepare an evidence-based advocacy position on biologicals; 
• explore opportunities to anchor a Basel Innovation Hub on agroecology and biologicals.

Speakers

• Lucius Tamm (ABIM and Agroscope), there is a concrete opening for evidence-based advocacy and policy alignment. 
• Ulrich Kuhlmann (CABI) confirmed interest in collaborating with all Regional Fora and presented a regulatory-use data tool 

 

 

• EFSA representatives confirmed that the new EU biopesticide regulation is in its final phase
• Domenico Deserio (DG SANTE) presented risk assessment, agroecology, digital systems and new genomic techniques. 
• FiBL is ready to support joint innovation and science-based advocacy, 
• Ghent University and BCCM (Belgium) contribute microbial data and digital cataloguing for future advisory tools. 
• Industry actors such as Syngenta, Rovensa, Micropep and Moveo provide field data to strengthen adoption pathways and digital advisory models. 
• Canton of Basel announced a 500 million CHF research investment plan for 2026 and signalled openness to an initiative on agroecology or biologicals, offering a potential foothold for a Swiss-based innovation hub.

21/10 ABIM high-level panel

 

 

The 2025 ABIM high-level panel gathered policymakers, scientists, NGOs and industry leaders to address how to scale biocontrol for sustainable crop protection. The panel explored how regulatory innovation, behaviour change and multi-stakeholder collaboration can bridge the gap between potential and practice, with a shared sense of urgency and pragmatic optimism.

• Biocontrol is now essential for resilient, sustainable production, but regulatory and behavioural bottlenecks still prevent scale 
• Farmers adopt when risk and cost are manageable and results are visible in their own fields
• Policy alignment, fast-track pathways and advisory capacity are the foundations for growth 
• Regenerative agriculture and certification markets offer a unique window for mainstreaming. “Biocontrol has moved from alternative to essential. 
• The next step is making it accessible, scalable and trusted.

 

Speakers

 

 

• Klaus Berend (DG SANTE) outlined EU progress toward a faster, clearer and innovation-friendly framework. Key initiatives: • Simplified dossiers for pheromones • Revised microorganism data requirements based on “need to know” • Species reviews and targeted AMR/sensitisation studies • Problem-formulation approaches enabling data waivers • Funding and training for EFSA and Member States. “We have legal deadlines — three years — but capacity and alignment remain the bottleneck.” Planned December 2025 amendments will include: biocontrol definition, provisional authorisations, unlimited approvals for low-risk substances, priority handling and more EFSA resources to ensure faster access at lower cost while maintaining safety.

• Gabriele Huwiler (FOAG) presented Switzerland’s National Strategy for Sustainable Crop Protection and its target to reduce pesticide risks 60% by 2027. Core measures: • National Observation Platform • Competence Network linking public and private R&D • Demonstration Network of pilot farms • Target Agreements in value chains (e.g., 25% resistant potato varieties by 2028). “Data exist everywhere but are not connected.” Structural constraint: dependence on EU authorisation pace. “Unless we join the system, we will remain slower.”

• Lydia O’Donnell (New Zealand) showed a coordinated national shift across 13 sector groups and 30+ crops. Three drivers of adoption: 1) Demonstration — “Seeing is believing” 2) Collaboration — overcoming crop silos 3) Extension — trained advisors and grower-champions. “You can have the best products and rules; without growers on board, biocontrol will not scale.”

• Juliana Jaramillo (Rainforest Alliance) highlighted biocontrol as either the bottleneck or the unlock for regeneration. Strategy: strict pesticide rules + field-level IPM. Barriers: regulation, misinformation, trust gaps, fear of yield loss. “Changing a product may mean not eating for two months.” Regenerative finance offers unprecedented opportunity: “There is finally money for regeneration. Biocontrol must tap into it.”

• Karel Bolckmans (Biofirst group) stressed economic reality: “Farmers change only through pain or profit.” The Almeria case showed that crisis + retail pressure triggered mass adoption: 35,000 ha shifted in one season. “If it’s twice the price or half as effective, it will never scale.”

21/10 Session 2: Biocontrol in Action

The Biocontrol in Action session at the ABIM 2025 conference showcased international perspectives on
scaling biological pest management and advancing the regulatory, behavioral, and market conditions needed for wider adoption. Presentations and panel discussions featured experts from Africa, New Zealand, the Rainforest Alliance, BioFirst (Belgium), and the European Commission, among others.

 

 

• Sylvia Kuria (picture) is a Kenyan organic farmer and entrepreneur on a mission to make organic produce accessible. She connects 30+ small-scale farmers to markets, aggregating and selling over 5 tonnes of organic produce monthly to bulk buyers. Passionate about training and empowering farmers, she champions safe, sustainable farming. When she’s not in the fields, she’s documenting her journey through writing.

 

Farmer Behavior and Demonstration-Based Adoption:

 

• New Zealand’s A Lighter Touch program emphasized that effective biocontrol scaling depends on changing farmer behavior through demonstration, collaboration, and extension. 
• Demonstration farms showing successfulpesticide-free production significantly increased grower trust and adoption. 
• Collaboration across 13 agricultural sectors fostered knowledge sharing and coordinated resistance management, while structured grower-to-grower extension proved vital for uptake.

 

Certification and Regenerative Agriculture:

 

 

• The Rainforest Alliance highlighted the role of biocontrol and IPM as enablers of regenerative agriculture. 
• Its new regenerative certification standard integrates stricter pesticide management and promotes biocontrol solutions to replace highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs). 
• Biocontrol was identified as a “bottleneck or a solution” in the transition to sustainable farming, with a call for increased visibility, demonstration, and investment to build producer confidence and access new funding streams for regenerative agriculture.

 

Economic and Market Drivers for Change:

• BioFirst illustrated that economic incentives and supply-chain pressure are often stronger catalysts for transition than awareness alone. 
• The Spanish greenhouse sector’s rapid conversion to IPM followed retailer pressure linked to chemical residue concerns, demonstrating that farmer adoption occurs when biocontrol is both cost-effective andmarket-demanded.

 

Policy and Regulatory Advances:

• The European Commission outlined ongoing reforms to streamline regulatory pathways for biocontrol, including simplified data requirements, faster approvals, enhanced training for national authorities, and proposals for a unified EU definition of biocontrol. 

• Upcoming reforms will prioritize low-risk biocontrol applications and provide financial and technical support to member states to reduce approval delays.

 

Cross-Cutting Needs:

• Panelists underscored the importance of communication, farmer training, advisory service reform, andregulatory harmonization across regions. 
• Stronger stakeholder collaboration and societal awareness wererecognized as critical to achieving large-scale transition from chemical to biological crop protection.

 

21/10 Session 3: The Latest on Policies to Accelerate Biocontrol

 

 

• This high-level policy session brought together regulators, industry leaders, and researchorganizations from the EU, Latin America, and global institutions to discuss current and forthcoming policy measures to accelerate the approval,commercialization, and adoption of biocontrol and bio-input technologies. 

• Panelists included representatives fromthe European Commission (DG SANTE), the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Danish Industry,CABI/FAO, and INPI-Bio Brazil.

 

European Union Policy Reforms and Regulatory Acceleration

 

 

• The European Commission outlined its ongoing efforts to unlock the potential of biocontrol within the framework ofRegulation 1107/2009. Key reforms include:
• Faster authorization processes through “tacit recognition” (mutual recognition by default among EUzones).
• Implementation of a “need-to-know” data approach and problem formulation framework to reduceunnecessary studies and focus assessments on relevant risk parameters.
• Expanded application of low-risk provisions and the creation of a database for species-specificmicroorganisms to accelerate evaluation.
• Forthcoming Omnibus Simplification Package (expected December 2025) to align low-risk classification,extend approval periods, and simplify data requirements for biocontrol active substances.

 

National and Regional Initiatives in Europe

 

• The Netherlands presented its Plant Protection Action Plan 2030, which targets resilient cropping systems, near-zero emissions, and integration of biocontrol as a central pillar of national pest management. 
• The country emphasized cooperation among EU member states, greater assessor capacity at EFSA, and knowledge exchange to accelerate product evaluation and access to markets.
• The Danish Industry of Biosolutions stressed the need for regulatory certainty and predictability to attract investment and ensure startups can bring products to market. Industry called for a common European single market for biocontrol approvals and warned that farmers risk losing effective tools without new alternatives.

 

Global Perspectives and Lessons

• CABI and FAO shared results from a global evidence-mapping study identifying key barriers and enablers to biopesticide uptake: knowledge gaps, variable efficacy perception, complex regulation, and limited extension services. 
• They emphasized that success requires coherent interaction between regulation, extension, and market demand.
• Brazil showcased a successful policy model, where proactive regulation and emergency registration during pestcrises (2013) led to rapid market growth. The country’s 2024 Bio-Input Law now enables biotechnology-based products, unified registration, tax incentives, and regulated on-farm production, positioning Brazil as a global leader in biocontrol adoption.

 

Overarching Takeaways

• Speakers agreed that accelerating biocontrol requires a fit-for-purpose regulatory environment, bettercommunication between assessors and industry, investment in capacity building, and strong political andsocietal support. 
• The EU’s upcoming legislative reforms and international cooperation were viewed as pivotal toachieving sustainable crop protection transitions globally

 

21/10 Workshop: Peptide Regulation

The Peptide Regulation session examined the emerging role of peptide-based biocontrols in sustainable agricultureand the evolving regulatory frameworks governing their development and commercialization. The session featured key presentations, one focusing on innovation platforms and the other on regulatory and safety considerations.

 

• Kevin Leiner (picture), Chief Project Officer & VP of Regulatory, Micropep Technologies, introduced a shift from single-product development to a platform-based approach, enabling solutions across multiple insect species. Fieldtrials demonstrated over 85% equivalence to chemical standards at low application rates, confirming both efficacy and sustainability. These peptides, derived from insect-specific compounds, showed no expected toxicity to humans or beneficial organisms. 

• Regulatory progress includes a biochemical-like classification by the U.S.EPA, with initial registration underway. The peptides feature novel, non-protein modes of action that reduce the likelihood of resistance development and are rationally designed for safety and specificity.He discussed the broader need for harmonized regulations, predictability, and societal acceptance to advance peptide adoption. Citing lessons from GMOs, the speaker emphasized the importance of transparent communication to build public trust. MicroPep’s Chrysalis Discovery Platform was showcased as a model for targeted peptide design, integrating biological efficacy, field stability, cost efficiency, IP protection, and regulatory compliance.

• MicroPep’s first candidate, MPD01, is an antimicrobial peptide validated in over 200 field trials across three continents, demonstrating broad-spectrum efficacy, low dose requirements, and an excellent safety profile. The company applies a problem formulation approach to risk assessment, streamlining data needs and avoiding unnecessary testing. 

• Across jurisdictions, the U.S., Brazil, and EU, regulatory systems are adapting, though at varying speeds. The session concluded that fit-for-purpose, harmonized regulatory frameworks and sustained stakeholder engagement are essential for realizing the full potential of peptide-based biocontrols in global sustainable agriculture

22/10 Session 5 – How AI is Shaping the Future of Biocontrol

The session explored how AI is transforming biological crop protection—from microbial discovery to regulatory intelligence and real-time field application. Johannes Jehle emphasized that AI is now a practical catalyst reshaping research, regulation, and decision-making.

22/10 Session 6 – Actions to Accelerate Biocontrol

• Moderator: José Carvalho, EMEA Regulatory Lead, Certis Biologicals
• Helena Rey de Assis (UNEP / GEF – FARM), 
• Juliana Jaramillo (Rainforest Alliance), 
• Geoffrey Ongoya (IBMA Kenya), 
• Peter Wren-Hilton (Wharf42), 
• Rajendra Thapar (HIL India Limited)

The closing session focused on turning ambition into action, identifying concrete measures to mainstream biologicals in global crop protection. Speakers agreed that efficacy is proven; the challenge lies in regulation, finance, standards, and capacity building evolving together.

Highlights:

 

 

• Integration, not isolation: Biocontrol must be embedded in certification and sourcing frameworks.
• Finance as an enabler: Blended finance and partnerships can de-risk innovation.
• Knowledge and equity: Regional manufacturing, open data, and inclusion are vital for accessibility.
• Notable contributions:
• UNEP/GEF FARM: $37 million programme reducing hazardous pesticide use across 40+ countries, protecting 3.8 million people and 3 million hectares.
• Rainforest Alliance: Integrating biocontrol into certification for commodities like coffee and cocoa—“real regenerative agriculture will not be achieved without biocontrol at scale.”
• IBMA Kenya: Called for regional registration harmonisation and local production.
• Wharf42: Showed how innovation ecosystems attract investment to scalable biologicals.
• HIL India: Demonstrated government-backed production of non-POP alternatives to DDT through UN programmes.