Aims & background
Introduction
The 7th Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting (ABIM 2012) will be held on October 22th–24th 2012. ABIM provides an annual meeting place specifically adapted to the needs of the biocontrol industry, their distributors and major users.
The aims of the meeting are to:
- discuss issues of common interest, such as regulations, promotion policies etc.,
- learn about new developments in the field of applied biocontrol and related diseases, weeds and pest control methods,
- discuss business opportunities, meet each other,
- encourage interaction between all biocontrol stakeholders: industry, distributors, majors users, public / private funded research organisations and administration,
- provide a convenient venue for meetings of national and regional biocontrol industry associations.
Who should attend the meeting
- Biocontrol manufacturers and distributors
- Consultants
- Regulators
- Researchers
Themes and rationale
Biocontrol companies are in general small to medium size enterprises. Research and development (R&D) of novel products and technologies, registration and introduction to a market consume massive financial resources. To make such products a profitable business, substantial volumes are needed. Market volume can be achieved by generating synergies amongst biocontrol companies, and networking dedicated distributors worldwide.
Furthermore the biocontrol industry has common issues (e.g. registration) which have to be discussed regularly. ABIM has been established as an international “meeting point” where biocontrol producers, distributors, consultants as well as opinion leaders meet.
In addition ABIM provides an excellent opportunity for organisations to convene meetings (e.g. General Assembly of IBMA, meetings of national biocontrol industry organisations).
Keynote themes and meeting programme
- Programme
- Plenary sessions on new developments in regulation and policy and market developments
- Presentations of research and development (R & D) results on macrobials, microbials, botanicals, natural substances and semiochemicals
- Exhibition during the meeting
- General Assembly Meeting of IBMA
- Meetings of IBMA professional groups and task forces
Presentations
The plenary sessions provide a platform for industry representatives and researchers to present novel products and results from applied R&D activities. Abstracts are to be submitted to the programme committee by 20th of June 2012. The programme committee will select presentations of high practical relevance and/or that are of particular interest for the biocontrol industry.
E-mail to programme committee
Location
Lucerne is a beautiful town in the middle of Europe which offers excellent infrastructure and good and reasonably priced accommodation. Lucerne is also within easy reach of Zurich, but also Basel or Geneva airports by train.
