2nd Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting (ABIM) Lucerne, Switzerland October 22nd-23rd, 2007

At the ABIM-Lucerne Conference, the prime international meeting of the biocontrol industry, a southern German biocontrol company presented a natural antagonist for the dreaded fireblight. It is an alternative to the controversial antibiotic streptomycin.

(Lucerne, 22.10.2007) The 2^nd Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting in Lucerne (ABIM-Lucerne Conference) witnessed the presentation of a natural antagonist of fireblight. It is a fungal preparation (Aureobasidium pullulans). In Germany, the new product, «Blossom-Protect» produced by the company «Bio-Protect», was found to be highly effective against fireblight and considerably more environmentally friendly than the controversial antibiotic streptomycin. «Bio-Protect», based in the Lake Constance region, is characteristic of a rapidly growing industry, developing innovative and ecologically sound, organic alternatives to synthetic pesticides.

The biological pest and disease control industry held its second meeting in Lucerne. Plant protection with natural and biological systems allows for the sustainable production of healthy foods while refraining from the use of chemical pesticides. The biocontrol industry is based on many years of research and development.

In cooperation with the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association IBMA, the umbrella association of the biocontrol industry, held its 2nd Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting on 22–23 October at the KKL Culture and Convention Centre Lucerne. More than 300 participants from all over the globe exchanged experience and obtained information on the latest products and developments on the world market.

Questions concerning the licensing of biocontrol products were discussed and the US, South-East Asian, Indian and European markets analysed.

ABIM-Lucerne is sponsored by EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel (DG-Agri), the EU Enterprise Commissioner (DG-Enterprise), the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) and the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) as well as by the city of Lucerne.

22nd of October 2007

From - To	Programme
09.00 - 13.00 Congress Foyer Auditorium Foyer	Setting up stands and posters
13.00 - 13.10 Auditorium	Welcome (Chair: Lucius Tamm) Denise Munday (President IBMA): Objectives of IBMA and ABIM 2007 Lucius Tamm (FiBL): Welcome on behalf of the organising committee
13.10 - 14.00 Auditorium	Plenary session 1 (Chair: Michel Guillon) New developments in regulation and policy Ralf-Udo Ehlers (University Kiel): The outcome of REBECA Jeroen Meeussen(CTB): OECD-Biopesticides Steering Group: past, present and future Lisa Moakes (PSD): The UK biopesticide scheme Thomas Jaekel (GTZ): Harmonisation of registration requirements in South East Asia
Coffee break Congress Foyer
14.30 - 16.00 Auditorium	Plenary session 2 (Chair: Bernard Blum) Market developments for biocontrol Bernhard Blum (Vice president IBMA): How to fill the gap? Roberto Kron-Morelli: Biocontrol in Italy: present reality and hopes Melvyn Fidgett (Syngenta Bioline): It started here. Where we are now? The UK biocontrol market Richard Ward (Biobest Canada): Invertebrate IBCAs: market and opportunities in North America Michael Braverman (Rudgers University): Biopesticides market and opportunities in North America
16.00 - 17.00 Auditorium	Plenary session 3 (Chair: Karel Bolckmans) Macrobials Sami A. Elawad (Hamraniah Agri. Res. Stat.): Novel Preparation and Application Method of Entomopathogenic Nematodes to Control Insect Pests Bernhard Blum(Agrometrix): Development of EPNs against the hazelnut borer Guido Sterk (Biobest) and Veerle Mommaerts (University Brussels): Effect of microbial control agents on the beneficial pollinator Bombus terrestris Karel Bolckmans (Koppert): Biological Control in Southern Europe, a breakthrough Guido Sterk (Biobest): Film on Amblyseius swirskii
17.30 - 19.30 Radisson SAS Hotel Conference rooms	Meetings of National IBMA Associations IBMA Italy (Chair: Roberto Kron Morelli) IBMA UK (Chair: NN) IBMA France (Chair: NN) IBMA/IVB Germany, Switzerland, Austria (Chair: Hubertus Kleeberg) Further National IBMA Associations (Chair: NN)
19.30 - 21.00 Apéritif at the lake's waterfront on board of „MS Europa“	Apéritif, offered by IBMA

23rd of October 2007

From - To	Programme
08.30 - 10.30 Auditorium	Plenary session 4 (Chair: Willem Ravensberg) Microbials Sean Moore (River Bioscience): Microbial and biorational control of moth pests and fruit flies on fruit crops Philip Kessler (Andermatt Biocontrol): New baculovirus products tested in the field Bruce Kirkpatrick (Valent BioSciences): Cost benefit of using Bt-based products in IPM programs Edith Ladurner (Intrachem Bio Italia): NATURALIS (Beauveria bassiana): an effective bioinsecticide for the control of a wide range of arthropod pests Massimo Benuzzi (Intrachem Bio Italia): AQ 10, biofungicide based on Ampelomyces quisqualis isolate M-10: a valuable tool for powdery mildew control Manuele Ricci (AgraQuest): SERENADE: pre-harvest applications for post-harvest disease control in fruit crops Stefan Kunz (Bio-Protect): BoniProtect forte (Aureobasidium pullulans) – a new biocontrol agent for use in stone fruit Mordechai Keren-Zur (AgroGreen): Effective Biopesticides addressing market needs Olivier Besnard (Biophytech): Trichoderma atroviride application in grapevine nursery
Coffee break Congress Foyer
11.00 - 12.00 Auditorium	Plenary session 5 (Chair: Owen Jones) Botanicals, natural substances and semiochemicals Frank Lehnhof (Biofa). Milsana – a Reynoutria sachalinensis based plant extract for preventive control of powdery mildew Hubertus Kleeberg (Trifolio-M): NeemAzal against chestnut leafminer Walter Leipold (Proagro): ProNet-Alfa, a wetting and bonding agent based on milk protein Vittorio Veronelli (CBC Europe): Application and development of pheromones in modern IPM
Lunch Break
13.30 - 17.00 Auditorium	IBMA Annual General Assembly Meeting

Poster presented at ABIM

Control of codling moth Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) by use of the virus product Madex in Bulgaria, Kristina KUTINKOVA, J. SAMIETZ, V. DZHUVINOV, P-J. CHARMILLOT, D. ZINGG, P. KESSLER