Speakers ABIM 2026
Gal Admati - CEO & Founder, Omerna Biosolutions Ltd.
With over 17 years of experience in the life sciences industry, I lead Omerna as Founder & CEO, driving innovation in agritech to enhance food security through tailored biocontrol solutions. My expertise encompasses startups, innovation development, and venture creation, with a focus on building impactful solutions in the agrifood and medical technology sectors.
Sandrine M. Bayendi Loudit - Senior Scientific Officer, Inter-African Phytosanitary Council of the African Union
Dr Sandrine M. Bayendi Loudit Epse Essono is an experienced agronomist and entomologist with more than two decades of expertise in crop protection. She currently serves as a Senior Scientific Officer in Entomology at the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council of the African Union (AU-IAPSC). In this regard, she plays a key role in coordinating activities related to entomology, pests, and pesticides, while promoting good agricultural practices concerning pesticide regulation in African Union member states. Prior to her position at AU-IAPSC, Dr Bayendi Loudit worked at the Institute of Agronomic and Forestry Research (IRAF) in Gabon, where she managed programs and projects focused on entomology and pesticide management. She is fluent in both French and English. Dr Bayendi Loudit earned her PhD in agronomic sciences and biological engineering, as well as her master's degree in the protection of tropical and subtropical crops, both from the University of Liège-Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech in Belgium.
Jérémy Belzunces - Technical & Regulatory Director, IBMA Global
Jeremy demonstrates nine years' experience in the diplomatic and agro-food consultancy areas. Jeremy worked for six years as a Policy Advisor in EU Agricultural Affairs for the Agricultural Department of the diplomatic Mission of Israel to the EU. He advised the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture and a range of governmental and industry bodies on the development of EU agro-policies and the EU sanitary and phytosanitary framework. Jeremy acted for six years as national Delegate to the OECD Committee for Agriculture and two associated OECD working parties: the joint working party on agriculture and trade (JWPAT), and the working party on agricultural policies and markets (APM). This experience gave him a good understanding of international and national agricultural policy matters. Before joining IBMA, he ran an independent consultancy for three years advising companies and consultancies on EU agro-food policies and EU import requirements. Prior to his assignments in the diplomatic and business area, Jeremy participated to an EU research program on plant protection products operated by the French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE). He holds a master degree in International Business, a master degree in Business management and The Prince2 project management certification. Jeremy speaks French, English and has notions of Italian.
Antonio Bernal Soro - Chief R&D Officer, Agronova Biotech
Antonio Bernal Soro is a biologist and pharmacist and serves as Chief R&D Officer at Agronova Biotech, an integrated platform of agricultural biologicals companies that includes Probelte, Asfertglobal and other companies of the sector. He leads the group's consolidated R&D, directing innovation across biostimulants — including microalgae-based technologies — microbial biocontrol and advanced, sustainable crop-nutrition solutions, aligning applied research with long-term corporate objectives. His profile combines scientific depth with business administration and project management, connecting innovation to commercial competitiveness. Across the platform he has held a broad range of leadership responsibilities — from R&D direction in biofertilizers, biopesticides and next-generation agricultural technologies, to operational, technical and quality leadership of analytical and phytopathological diagnostics services.
Karel Bolckmans - President, IBMA Global
As a representative of Biobest Karel was one of the founding members of the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA) back in 1995 where he held different positions until 2014 and represented the industry towards the EPPO, OECD, FAO and GlobalGap. He serves as the President of IBMA, which comprises more than 200 members, between manufacturers of biological control solutions and associate members (research companies, consultants, among others).
Emmanuelle Bonneris - EMEA Regulatory Manager Biocontrols, BAYER SAS
Emmanuelle Bonneris is an experienced regulatory scientist in plant protection products and biopesticides. She is graduated in chemistry, biological sciences with a specialty in environmental toxicology (PhD). She has been working for Bayer for more than 20 years in the R&D and regulatory arenas with experience at country and global level of the Bayer Crop Protection Organization as ecotoxicologist dealing ecotoxicological risk assessments and risk management activities as well biodiversity topics. Emmanuelle is currently regional regulatory manager on biopesticides for Europe, Middle East, and Africa with a portfolio of biocontrol products (plant extracts, semiochemicals, microbials). After 3 years as an active member of the regulatory subgroup of the IBMA NSPG, member of the NSPG Steering Committee, and member of the IBMA Advisory Regulatory Working Group (ARWG), Emmanuelle is Chair of the IBMA NSPG since last ABIM 2023 to succeed Lara Ramaekers in this role.
Marisé Borja - Global Regulatory Affairs Director, SynTech Research Group
Dr. Marisé Borja is the Director of Global Regulatory Affairs at SynTech Research Group, bringing expertise in regulatory science and business development within the agricultural sector. She is also the President of IBMA Spain, actively advocating for the development and implementation of biocontrol solutions. Throughout her professional journey, Dr. Borja has been instrumental in advancing biosolutions, including biopesticides and biostimulants, across Spain, Europe, and globally. Dr. Borja's leadership and vision continue to drive the development and regulatory approval of sustainable agricultural technologies, contributing significantly to the global advancement of environmentally friendly farming practices.
José Carvalho - Director of Regulatory Affairs at Bioworks Europe/Biotrop (BioFirst Group) and Chair of the Microbial Professional Group at IBMA
José holds a PhD in Environmental Chemistry from the Humboldt University in Berlin and a Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Porto University, with a focus on microbiology, antibiotics resistance and immunology. Before joining the industry, Jose worked for the Portuguese Water Institute, the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) and the German Federal Institute for Material Science and Testing (BAM) in analytical methods, publishing 11 peer-reviewed articles and 3 book chapters. Since June 2026, José is the Director of Regulatory Affairs at Bioworks Europe/Biotrop Europe, within the BioFirst Group, prior to that in several regulatory positions within the industry. He is currently the Chair of the Microbial Professional Group at IBMA (International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association), the biocontrol industry's expert group dealing with microorganism registrability issues for microorganism-based technologies in agriculture. He is part of the OECD Expert Group on Biopesticides and participates in the EU Commission Biopesticides Expert Working Group as industry representative.
David Daude - CEO, Gene&GreenTK
Dr. David Daudé is CEO and CSO of Gene&GreenTK, a deeptech start-up specializing in the development of sustainable alternatives to conventional antibacterial treatments through innovative enzymatic solutions. He graduated as an engineer from the National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA) Toulouse in 2009, and earned a PhD in microbial and enzymatic engineering from the Toulouse Biotechnology Institute (TBI). He obtained his French habilitation to supervise research (HDR) in 2019. David joined Gene&GreenTK at its inception as a researcher, and his role quickly evolved; he has been serving as CEO/CSO since 2020, overseeing company management, guiding innovation, and leading fundraising efforts, including a successful financing round with a major French industrial group, to accelerate the industrialization and commercialization of the start-up's technologies. At 40, he has authored 39 scientific publications, contributed to the filing of 3 patents, supervised 8 PhD theses, and coordinated many research projects. His work bridges cutting-edge research and practical application, driving sustainable solutions in agriculture and biotechnology.
Alejandro del Barrio Duque - Lead Scientist, Evologic Technologies GmbH
Alejandro del Barrio leads research and manufacturing initiatives focused on advancing microbial solutions for sustainable agriculture. He holds degrees in Forest and Agricultural Engineering from Spain and a Master's in Biotechnology from Denmark. He earned his PhD at the Austrian Institute of Technology, where his research focused on plant–microbe interactions, particularly tripartite relationships that enhance the biocontrol efficacy of beneficial microorganisms.
In his current role, Alejandro leads multidisciplinary projects to develop, scale, and implement robust fermentation and formulation processes, ensuring the production of high-quality, reproducible, and high-performance microbial products. His work is centered on unlocking the potential of difficult-to-culture microorganisms and translating cutting-edge scientific discoveries into scalable, commercially viable agricultural solutions.
Domenico Deserio - Policy Officer, European Commission - DG SANTE
Domenico Deserio is a Policy Officer at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE). He is responsible for policies on biocontrol, particularly micro-organisms, and he is currently involved in work on the Food and Feed Simplification Package. He chairs the EU Biopesticides Working Group and serves as an EU delegate to the OECD Expert Group on Biopesticides. He was responsible for amending EU regulations on data requirements, evaluation principles, and the authorisation and approval of micro-organisms and products containing them, as well as for related activities such as Commission guidance documents and communications. Previously, he worked as a Scientific Officer at EFSA in the area of biological hazards. He holds a Master's degree in Biotechnology from the University of Bari, Italy, where he completed a thesis in food microbiology. In addition, he obtained an advanced postgraduate Master by Research in Agricultural Science from the University of Adelaide, Australia, where his research focused on plant genomics and plant pathology.
Gorka Erice - Global Technical Director, ATENS
Doctor in Biology specializing in plant responses to environmental challenges. My early research focused on the effects of climate change on alfalfa symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, including acclimation to drought and efficiency of Sinorhizobium strains combined with arbuscular mycorrhizae. At the University of Illinois' Institute for Genomic Biology, I worked on ozone-related tolerance genes. Later, at the Zaidín Experimental Station (EEZ-CSIC) in Granada, I investigated maize and mycorrhizal symbiosis, exploring how fungi regulate root hydraulic conductivity through aquaporins. Since 2018, as Global Technical Director at Atens, I apply this expertise to develop microorganism-based solutions for sustainable agriculture, enhancing productivity and fruit quality.
Bruno Folchi - President, AgroVentures
Bruno Folchi is an agronomist, entrepreneur, and crop protection executive with more than 35 years of international experience in agrochemicals, biologicals, product development, and regulatory affairs. He holds an MBA from MIT–Stoà and has held global leadership positions with multinational crop protection companies, including Uniroyal Chemical and Chemtura, where he directed international business development, product registration, manufacturing projects, strategic alliances, and market expansion across Europe, the Americas, and other key agricultural markets. Mr. Folchi is the founder and Managing Director of AgroVentures.
Peter Fröhlich - President of the board of Trustees, AgriPurpose Foundation
Peter Fröhlich is a farmer, agronomist, and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience driving agricultural innovation. A founding member of EARA and a leading voice in European regenerative farming, Peter has spent the past decade advancing data interoperability, precision agriculture, and digital agronomy. His work now converges in AgriPurpose, a leading approval framework for Regenerative Agriculture.
Carlo Gamper Cardinali - Leader of the Group Inputs, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL
My career focuses on advancing sustainable crop production, with expertise in plant protection, plant nutrition and the evaluation of agricultural inputs for organic production. My experience spans tropical broad-acre agriculture, European and Swiss production, industry and applied research, giving me a broad understanding of the scientific, regulatory and practical aspects of agricultural production.
Since 2025, I have led the Inputs Group at the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) in Switzerland. I contribute to technical and regulatory discussions across several European countries. I am particularly interested in the role of biocontrol products, fertilisers and other biosolutions in improving the sustainability and resilience of organic agriculture.
Carlos Goulart - Secretary of Agricultural Defense, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
Carlos Goulart holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the Federal University of São Carlos, São Paulo, and a Master's degree in Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture, with an emphasis on Plant Health, from the Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC), São Paulo. He currently serves as Secretary of Agricultural Defense at SDA/MAPA.
Tom Hargreaves - Co-CEO, Blue Frog Scientific
Tom Hargreaves is a regulatory scientist and consultant with nearly 30 years' experience in crop protection, ecotoxicology and regulatory risk assessment. He has extensive experience supporting the development and registration of plant protection products, including microorganisms, botanicals, peptides and other biopesticides. Tom has led EU active substance and product submissions and has substantial experience in regulatory strategy, advocacy and scientific rebuttal at Member State and EU level. He believes that effective risk assessment combines robust science and mathematics with regulatory understanding, lateral thinking and creativity. Tom co-founded Blue Frog Scientific in 2010 and sits on its Board of Directors.
Judie Henry - Head of R&D and Regulatory, INCERES
Judie Henry is R&D and Regulatory Director at INCérès, a biotechnology company developing essential oil-based bioinsecticides as sustainable alternatives to synthetic pesticides. She holds a Master's degree in Toxicology and Ecotoxicology from the University of Angers and has built her entire career in the field of biocontrol. Her experience spans regulatory approval, field trial supervision, scientific project coordination and product development. At INCérès, she leads research and innovation strategy and supervises a multidisciplinary team of scientists working across three laboratory platforms dedicated to formulation development, entomology and controlled plant bioassays. She coordinates experimental design and mode-of-action investigations, ensuring scientific robustness from laboratory validation to pre-field development stages. In parallel, she directs regulatory strategy and approval processes under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, overseeing dossier preparation and compliance.
Marlynne Hopper - Acting Head, Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF)
Marlynne Hopper is Acting Head of the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), a global partnership hosted by the WTO to promote safe and inclusive trade. Since joining in 2008, she has held various leadership roles spanning strategy, monitoring and evaluation, communications and resource mobilization, while leading innovative projects across Africa, Asia and Latin America, and contributing to knowledge on public–private partnerships, good regulatory practice, and evidence-based investment prioritization. Prior to the STDF, she worked with GIZ, FAO and the World Bank. She holds a Master's degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.
Ulli Kuhlmann - Chief Scientist, CABI
I lead CABI's science strategy and CABI's team of international scientific and technical experts behind CABI's research and global development work. As Chief Scientist, I am responsible for fostering science-based collaborations between CABI and its Member Countries and international partners; while identifying new opportunities for CABI to enhance agricultural production, alleviate poverty and enhance food safety and food security worldwide. My role includes shaping the scientific direction of CABI's major initiatives, notably PlantwisePlus – CABI's flagship food security programme. I also represent CABI at high-level international fora, including the Meetings of Agricultural Chief Scientists of G20 States.
Sylvia Kuria - Organic Farmer, Sylvia's Basket
Sylvia Kuria is a Kenyan organic farmer, entrepreneur and founder of Sylvia's Basket on a mission to make organic produce accessible. She started growing food for her family in a kitchen garden and soon realized that there are many mothers just like her who also wanted safe nutritious food for their families. 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.
Kevin Leiner - VP / Regulatory Affairs, Micropep Technologies
Dr. Kevin Leiner is an expert in regulatory science, toxicology, and risk assessment, with over 25 years of experience working in regulated industries, including pharmaceutical biotechnology, agricultural biotechnology, agricultural chemical, and contract research organizations. He holds a Ph.D. in Zoology (Comparative Animal Physiology) from Texas A&M University and a B.S. in Marine Science from Long Island University. Dr. Leiner has extensive experience managing complex regulatory programs and leading teams in the regulatory sciences to secure market authorizations of conventional and biological pesticide active ingredients and products, including genetically modified crops, biochemicals, and microbials. Before joining Micropep, Kevin held leadership roles at Syngenta, including Global Project Lead in Product Safety, Head of Human Safety for North America, and Head of Toxicology for North America. Dr. Leiner develops the global regulatory strategy for Micropep Technologies to support the development and registration of new peptide-based active ingredients and plant protection products, focusing on securing registrations in key markets including the U.S., the E.U., and Brazil, and leads all regulatory science activities.
Ené Leppik - CTO and Founder, Agriodor
Ené Leppik is the Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Agriodor, a French AgriTech company developing next-generation crop protection solutions based on allelochemicals. She leads the company's scientific strategy and the development of Agriodor's high-throughput discovery platform, integrating chemical ecology, analytical chemistry, behavioural biology, artificial intelligence and formulation sciences to accelerate the discovery of innovative biocontrol and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solutions. She holds a PhD in Chemical Ecology and has more than 15 years of experience in insect olfaction, allelochemicals and crop protection innovation. Passionate about bridging fundamental science and industrial innovation, she is dedicated to transforming discoveries in chemical ecology into sustainable crop protection solutions for agriculture.
Michelle Lesur - Chief Executive Officer, Andermatt Madumbi
Michelle Lesur is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Andermatt Madumbi, a leading Southern African company specialising in biological crop protection and sustainable agricultural solutions, and part of the global Andermatt Group. She is widely recognised for her contribution to the growth of the biologicals sector, with a strong focus on advancing the commercialisation, scalability, and adoption of environmentally responsible and economically viable farming solutions across South Africa and the broader Southern African region. As a Board Member of the South African Bioproducts Organisation (SABO), Michelle plays an active role in shaping the regulatory and policy landscape for biologicals. Her work focuses on addressing regulatory barriers, improving market access, and supporting the development of fit-for-purpose frameworks that enable the growth of Africa's emerging bioeconomy.
Jennifer Lewis - Executive Director, IBMA Global
Jennifer Lewis was appointed as IBMA Executive Director in 2019. Jennifer is passionate about IPM, reducing the reliance on traditional pesticides through the uptake of these integrated programmes of pest and disease control in crop production throughout Europe.
Prior to IBMA, for 10 years Jennifer Lewis was a member of the Certis Europe Management Board as Head of Innovation and Development and during this period was Vice Chair of IBMA UK.
Earlier Jennifer was General Manager of BCP, a beneficial insect production company selling beneficial insects for pest control, which was purchased by Certis Europe.
Jennifer has worked in crop protection for 35 years in various marketing, regulatory and stewardship roles in the US, Brazil and Europe. Jennifer is an agronomy graduate with a Masters in Business Administration and a Diploma in Sustainable Business Development.
Annerie Liebenberg - Managing Consultant - Agriculture Regulatory & Scientific Affairs, Ramboll
Annerie Liebenberg holds a PhD in Biology from Heidelberg University, with a specialisation in horticultural pathogens. She joined Ramboll (formerly SCC GmbH) in 2014 as a Regulatory Manager, focusing on the preparation of registration dossiers for biopesticides, biostimulants, and fertilisers. Annerie has extensive expertise in the registration of microorganisms, botanicals, minerals, and related materials, including basic substances and low-risk active substances. Her experience covers both active substance and product dossiers, supporting clients across a wide range of regulatory pathways. With more than a decade of experience in regulatory affairs consulting, she helps clients successfully navigate complex regulatory frameworks by aligning scientific and technical requirements with applicable legislation. She develops tailored registration and testing strategies and provides strategic guidance for the registration of biocontrol products, enabling efficient and successful market entry. Annerie enjoys partnering with clients to develop sustainable regulatory roadmaps and guiding them through every stage of the product lifecycle, from R&D to post-approval. Ramboll provides strategic guidance and regulatory support for the global approval, compliance, and stewardship of biorationals, agrochemicals, and fertilisers.
Eric Liégeois - Head of Sector Pesticide Legislation, DG SANTE
Eric Liégeois was graduated Chemical Engineer for Agricultural Industries, from the University of Gembloux (Belgium) in 1990. After first experiences as researcher, civil servant and manager in various positions in the Belgian Federal Administration, he joined the European Commission in 2002 working successively at DG ENV, DG GROW and since April 2018 at DG SANTE. He is today the Head-of-Sector Pesticides Legislation in SANTE E.4 Unit where he managed the implementation of both Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 and the Sustainable Use Directive (2009/128/EC). He also involved in the ongoing negotiations of the Food and Feed Safety Simplification Package with the European Council and Parliament.
Monica Locatelli - Managing Director, TEAM mastery S.r.l.
Monica Locatelli is the Founder and Director of TEAM Mastery and brings over 20 years of experience in project and training management within the regulatory toxicology field. She has extensive expertise in commissioning, contracting, and monitoring toxicological studies supporting the registration of hundreds of chemical substances under the REACH Regulation, as well as the assessment of biocidal and plant protection active substances and products. Driven by a strong interest in innovative and alternative approaches in toxicology, she has developed several QSAR models tailored to structurally diverse and complex substances. She is currently focusing on emerging frontiers in toxicology, including metabolomics and in vitro genotoxicity approaches based on Mode of Action (MoA) frameworks.
Suzanne Lommen - Researcher resilient cropping and biocontrol, Louis Bolk Institute/Leiden University
Dr. Suzanne Lommen has worked over 20 years in biocontrol research, bridging the academic and the practical world. She obtained her PhD from Leiden University on a flightless, native, ladybird beetle for aphid control. She then continued research on biological pest control in the primary production of flower bulbs, nursery stock, greenhouse crops, and open field crops. She worked some years in R&D for the biocontrol industry, and also investigated biological weed control. At present, she holds a position as program coordinator/researcher resilient cropping systems at the Louis Bolk Institute, and as University Teacher at Leiden University.
Thomas Lopes - Manager: Research and Innovation Brokerage, COLEAD
Dr. Thomas Lopes is Research and Innovation Brokerage Manager at COLEAD. He holds a PhD in Agricultural Sciences from Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, specialising in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and sustainable crop protection strategies. At COLEAD, he coordinates research and innovation activities related to sustainable crop production, with a particular focus on plant health, crop protection, pesticide regulation and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) compliance across horticultural value chains in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP). His work includes the coordination of field trials, support to registration processes for plant protection products, assessment of regulatory requirements for international markets, and the identification, validation and scaling of sustainable agricultural innovations, including biocontrol approaches. He regularly contributes to scientific publications, technical guidance materials and knowledge-sharing initiatives aimed at strengthening evidence-based decision-making in sustainable horticultural production.
Vanya Loroch - CEO, Novochizol SA
Vanya Loroch is biotechnology researcher and educator, with an extensive experience delivering science education programs aimed at all professionals- scientists and non-scientists - active in medical and agricultural biotechnology. In 2020, Vanya Loroch co-founded Novochizol SA, a Swiss start-up company that researches and develops applications of its proprietary chitosan cross-linking technology that significantly improves the characteristics of ordinary chitosans. Vanya Loroch holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Genetics of symbiotic nitrogen fixation from the University of California at Santa Cruz, USA and has carried out postdoctoral research on photosynthesis at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Peter Maes - Director Sustainability, Koppert
Peter Maes has been in the international field of biological control for agriculture and horticulture for the past 30 years. 'It's part of my DNA,' he explains. An Agricultural Engineering graduate from the University of Leuven and the University of Brussels from which he has a master's degree in Human Ecology, he joined Koppert in Belgium in 1998 working his way up through Sales, Logistics, Corporate Marketing to Strategy. 'All the answers for safe cultivation and food security can be found in nature itself,' Peter Maes pronounces. 'The power to influence change lies with civil society and consumers themselves.'
Tomasz Magacz - Head of Department Physical Chemistry and Analytical Methods, SynTech Research Group
Dr. Tomasz Magacz heads the Physical Chemistry and Analytical Methods Department at SynTech Research Group. He supports the development and registration of plant protection products, with expertise in product characterisation, analytical methods, biologicals and semiochemicals. Tomasz is also Chair of the Semiochemicals Professional Group at IBMA, where he works with experts from across the industry on practical, proportionate, and science-based approaches to Regulation. He enjoys connecting scientific detail with regulatory requirements and turning complex questions into clear, workable solutions.
Veronika Maurer - Senior Researcher Animal Health, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL
Veronika Maurer is an animal scientist (Dipl. Ing.-Agr. ETH) holding a PhD in Parasitology, with a research focus on the biocontrol of a poultry parasite. She has worked at the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) in Switzerland since 1995, where she currently serves as a Senior Researcher and Co-Leader of the Animal Health group. Her expertise centers on animal husbandry, with a particular emphasis on parasite biocontrol through various approaches. Throughout her career, Veronika has led numerous industry-funded and publicly funded projects. Most recently, she serves as the Scientific Coordinator of SCALE-it, a Horizon Europe innovation action.
Ryan McDonald - Applications Team Leader, Croda
Ryan is an experienced chemist with a successful track record of developing innovative products and formulations across the chemical industry. His R&D career spans Industrial Chemicals, Consumer Care, Pharmaceuticals, and Agrochemicals, providing him with extensive expertise in solving complex technical, performance, and regulatory challenges across diverse markets. Working closely with agrochemical customers, Ryan helps develop high-performance plant protection products that meet evolving regulatory requirements without compromising efficacy. He also led the development of Croda's innovative rainfastness additive, supporting formulators and growers in maintaining product performance under challenging environmental conditions.
Alessandra Moccia - Sr Director, Global Regulatory Affairs, Suterra / Vice President, IBMA Global
Alessandra Moccia is Senior Director of Global Regulatory Affairs at Suterra, where she leads international registrations for semiochemical products and has worked across R&D, registration, and commercialization since 2012. She serves as Vice President of the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA) and, since early 2025, as a member of the Board of Directors of ABIM. Previously, she chaired the IBMA Semiochemical Professional Group, building strong credibility with regulators worldwide. With a background in ecological risk assessment, consultancy, and regulatory training in Europe and Latin America, Alessandra brings more than a decade of experience at the intersection of science, regulation, and strategy to advancing biocontrol as a key tool for sustainable agriculture.
Geoffrey Ongoya - Executive Director, IBMA Kenya
Dr. Geoffrey Ongoya is a highly qualified and experienced plant health and crop protection expert with over 16 years of extensive expertise in crop protection, project management, nature-based solutions and regulatory affairs. He has a solid academic background including a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology and postgraduate degree in Crop Protection. He has hands-on experience, having worked with both public and private organizations mainly in the field of nature-based solutions in agriculture.
Christian Pereira - Agribusiness & Chemicals Strategist, Bizup Strategy
Christian Pereira is an agribusiness executive and strategist with 25+ years of experience across crop protection, fertilizers, biologicals, and food sectors, having led Marketing, Sales, and Innovation functions at major industry players. He is now an Agribusiness & Chemicals Strategist at Bizup Strategy, a boutique consultancy focused on Growth Strategy and M&A, helping agri-inputs companies unlock value and navigate strategic transactions. A sought-after keynote speaker and startup mentor, he authors Campo de Visão, a biweekly newsletter on agribusiness strategy and innovation.
Stephen Pearce - Managing Partner, Chemovateq AG
Stephen is currently the Managing Partner of Chemovateq AG, which is a specialist and privately owned Ag Tech investment firm and Partner in Natural Ventures an Ag & Water Tech investment company focussed on Food and Water Security overseeing the respective funds' Ag &Food investments. Sitting on several portfolio company boards Stephen actively helps and guides portfolio companies helping them navigate strategy development and execution and operational excellence. Stephen is co-Founder and Chairman of Accumont Advisors which is a specialist Ag Tech consulting group focused on deep Technical, Commercial and investment readiness due diligence for tech companies, investment companies and value chain partners. Accumont supports M&A, In and Out Licensing, Fund-Raising strategy and facilitation for AgTech start-ups and portfolio scouting for value chain clients.
Bruna Pietracci - Membership & Events Manager, IBMA Global
Accustomed to a multicultural setting, Bruna has an extensive experience on Event and Project Management across the EU. She has a background in international relations, and she has been managing, coordinating, and delivering international events and business missions for European and International organisations.
Nicolette Quaedvlieg - Program Manager Food safety, Fresh Produce Centre
Nicolette Quaedvlieg holds a PhD in Biology from Utrecht University. After a research career at both a university and a private company, she made the transition to regulatory affairs and policy development for the Dutch horticultural sector in 2001, working for the Product Board. Since 2014 she has been employed by the Fresh Produce Centre. Fresh Produce Centre is the Dutch trade association representing the interests of fruit and vegetable trading companies and fresh produce growers' associations in the Netherlands. Its members represent a large majority (over 80%) of the total fruit and vegetable turnover in the Netherlands. Over the years, she has worked on a wide range of topics, many of which are related to the implementation, revision and development of EU legislation. These include the Official Controls Regulation, phytosanitary and food safety requirements for fresh produce, food labelling, packaging and marketing standards. Currently, she is responsible for food safety from various perspectives. Controlling food safety throughout the fresh produce supply chain means managing and preventing risks for fresh fruits and vegetables, from farm to fork.
Franz Reitbauer - Founder & Managing Director, Lithos Crop Protect
Franz Reitbauer is the Founder and Managing Director of Lithos Crop Protect, an Austrian agricultural innovation company dedicated to developing natural and sustainable solutions for modern crop production. He studied Social and Economic Sciences at Johannes Kepler University Linz and Emory Business School in Atlanta. After several decades in senior management positions within international corporations, he founded the Lithos group of companies and successfully built several innovative start-ups. Today, he leads Lithos Crop Protect with a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and practical solutions for agriculture. The company develops natural biostimulants that enhance plant resilience and productivity, as well as pioneering crop protection technologies, including sprayable mating disruption and biological plant protection solutions. Driven by the conviction that agriculture must become more sustainable without compromising productivity, Franz Reitbauer is committed to bringing science-based, nature-inspired innovations to market. His work contributes to healthier crops, reduced reliance on conventional crop protection products, and a more resilient and sustainable agricultural future.
Vipin Saini - Chief Executive Officer, Biological Agri Solutions Association of India
Mr. Vipin Saini, is a Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Paralegal, Educationalist, Environmentalist, Toxicologist, Data analyst, Writer & Publisher, Historian, Philanthropist and Humanitarian, with a combined experience of >30 years in the field of biosciences and related regulatory aspects related to National and International norms, Policy framing, Market Research, Business Intelligence, and Corporate Social Responsibility. Published >100 books/Booklets & Workbooks. He is a M.Sc. Zoology (Entomology), and LLM (Pro) in Intellectual Property from National Law University, New Delhi. Mr. Saini is currently the CEO - Biological Agri Solutions Association of India (BASAI). A member of various government department committees/ sub-committees and Industry Associations, including being a part of the Doubling Farmers Income Inter-Ministerial Committee.
Jan Scherrer - CEO, ABIM AG
With over 20 years' management and leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry – including roles at Pfizer, Aspen Pharma, Otsuka and Vifor Pharma – Jan Scherrer recently joined ABIM AG as CEO. He brings in-depth expertise in the areas of strategic and tactical planning, financial and people management, and organisational development. As an 'Executive Enabler', his focus is on translating scientific visions into operational reality and scalable structures. Thanks to his academic background in biochemistry at ETH Zurich and his long-standing involvement in committees on environmental protection, he is able to navigate confidently at the interface between science, governance, politics and operational work in the field of biological pest control.
Jurgen Tack - Secretary general, European Landowners' Organization
Jurgen Tack has been the Secretary General – CEO of the European Landowners' Organization since June 2023. He previously held the role of Scientific Director at ELO and served as CEO of Landelijk Vlaanderen and CEO of the Aanspreekpunt Privaat Beheer Natuur en Bos in 2016. Earlier positions included Coordinator Belgian Biodiversity Platform and General Director of the Research Institute of Nature and Forest (INBO). He earned his PhD in Sciences after studying biology (marine ecology) at Brussels Free University.
Lucius Tamm - Research Programmes & International Collaborations, Agroscope
Dr. Lucius Tamm holds a degree in agricultural engineering from ETH Zurich and has more than 25 years plant pathology R&D experience working on cereals, potatoes, grapevine and horticultural crops. Lucius has published > 100 papers and book chapters and been a partner or coordinated in EU projects since 2001. He is also guest lecturer at several universities. Until May 2023, he was Head of Department of Crop Sciences at the Swiss Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL). He led FiBL's R&D activities for the development of crop protection solutions and has also been involved in the development of improved registration procedures for novel plant protection products. Since 2023, he has joined Agroscope, the leading agricultural research organization in Switzerland and coordinates its research programmes & international collaborations. Lucius was a co-founder of ABIM in 2006 and was its CEO until the end of March 2026.
Hiroshi Tanabe - Bioproduct Senior Technical Manager, SDS biotech K.K.
Hiroshi Tanabe, Ph.D., is Senior Technical Manager for Bioproducts in the Overseas Division of SDS Biotech K.K. He received his M.S. in Agriculture from Saga University in 1991 and earned his Ph.D. in Agriculture from Kyoto University in 2012. Since joining SDS Biotech in 1991, he has dedicated his career to biopesticides, with work spanning research and development, in-licensing, product development, technical support, and market development in Japan, and, more recently, bioproduct marketing for the European market. Working within the distinctive regulatory and commercial environment of Japan's pesticide industry, he has spent more than three decades helping bring biological crop protection into practical use, with close attention to farmers' needs and field realities. His experience bridges science, product development, commercialization, and on-farm implementation, particularly in areas where biologicals face practical and market barriers. His professional interests include biopesticides and entomopathology, especially the deployment of entomopathogenic nematodes and other biological control agents.
Mark Trimmer - President & Founding Partner, DunhamTrimmer
Mark Trimmer has more than 35 years in research, product development, registration, technical service, and technology licensing in the crop protection industry. Mark led international product development at American Cyanamid, directed new agricultural technology acquisitions at BASF, and led R&D efforts at a biological start-up company, NutraPark. In 2011, Mark co-founded DunhamTrimmer LLC with William Dunham. DunhamTrimmer is the premier market research / strategic consulting firm focused exclusively on the global biological/natural product plant protection and plant health markets. DunhamTrimmer provides market research and strategic consulting to many of the lead companies and investors involved in the agricultural biological industries.
Santiago Valdes Eulufi - Global Technical Manager Biocontrol, Syngenta
Santiago Valdes is Global Technical Manager Biocontrol, within Syngenta's Global Product Biology Seedcare and Biologicals organization in Switzerland. He provides global technical leadership for disease biocontrol portfolio, connecting research biology, development priorities and market needs to advance evidence-based biofungicide innovations. An agronomic engineer from the University of Chile, Santiago brings more than 20 years of experience in agriculture, crop protection and biological solutions. Since joining Syngenta in 2009, he has held technical and development leadership roles spanning field crops, fruit, vegetables and seed treatment, both in Chile and globally. His work has included several development including fungicide resistance-baseline programs, post-harvest initiatives and the technical development and positioning of crop-protection solutions in different type of crop systems including integrated disease management solutions. Santiago holds a Master's degree in Marketing Management from Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez. Combining scientific expertise with a commercial perspective, he works across R&D, Regulatory, Marketing and commercial teams to translate robust technical evidence into practical value for growers.
Marcel van der Heijden - University of Zurich and Agroscope
Marcel van der Heijden is professor for Agro-ecology and Plant-Microbiome Interactions at the University of Zurich (Switzerland) and he is associated with Agroscope, the Swiss Centre of Excellence for Agriculture. He is also extra-ordinary professor for mycorrhizal ecology at Utrecht University the Netherlands. He is a highly cited research in Microbiology and Ecology/Environment.
With our team we explore agroecosystems, specifically studying plant-microbe interactions, soil biodiversity, disease resistance and sustainable crop production. In recent years we have performed field inoculation trials with beneficial mycorrhizal fungi in over 100 agricultural fields in Switzerland with a range of crops (maize, sunflower, soybean, grapes, potatoes, herbs). Key questions we investigate are:
I. Investigate the impact of beneficial microbes on plant yield, soil health and sustainable crop production.
II. Explore the role of soil biodiversity in determining plant growth and ecosystem functioning in agroecosystems.
III. Is it possible to improve the sustainability and productivity of agro-ecosystems by inoculation with beneficial microbes.
Eva Van Hende - Head of Regulatory, BIOTALYS NV
Eva Van Hende holds a PhD in organic chemistry from Ghent University and an MBA from Vlerick Business School, combining scientific depth with strategic business insight. She began her career at Eastman, where she held several leadership roles in crop protection and ultimately led the global regulatory affairs team for chemical active ingredients. In that capacity, she shaped regulatory strategy, managed international registration work, and represented the company within the European Crop Protection Association (ECPA). Since joining Biotalys in 2022 as Head of Product Development & Regulatory, Eva has led the company's global regulatory strategy, field development, and sustainability activities. She plays a central role in advancing Biotalys' protein-based crop protection solutions from development to market, bridging science, regulation, and business strategy to support innovation in sustainable agriculture. In parallel, Eva is actively engaged in shaping the future regulatory framework for novel biologicals in Europe. She is a member of the Protein and Peptide Working Party at IBMA, where she contributes to industry dialogue on the advancement of next-generation biocontrol solutions.
Beny Varon - Global Business Development Manager, Humintech GmbH
With over nine years at HUMINTECH GmbH and 25+ years in business and strategy development, I focus on driving growth and expanding global sales operations. As a senior manager, I coordinate commercial activities globally. I specialize in strategy development and sales management, pricing strategy, and fostering partnerships to navigate regional market dynamics. My expertise in consultative sales, strategic planning, and client relations enables me to deliver tailored solutions for industrial manufacturers and partners across 81 countries globally in the fertilizer, biostimulant and biologicals sectors. Dedicated to optimizing product value and building impactful relationships, I contribute to HUMINTECH's leadership in the biotech industry with innovative, client-focused strategies.
Amit Vasavada - Chief Science Officer, Invasive Species Corporation
Dr. Amit Vasavada is the Chief Science Officer at Invasive Species Corporation in Davis, California. He received his doctorate degree in Applied Microbiology from University of California, Davis. Since then, his professional experience has included Translational R&D, Process and Product Development and Manufacturing of Bio-based products for Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Animal Health and Biopharmaceutical sectors. Most recently, he served as the SVP of R&D and CTO at Marrone Bio Innovations since 2014. He led Marrone Bio Innovations' R&D efforts to deliver smart, natural and sustainable biological pesticides and plant health products in addition to supporting Technology Scouting, Manufacturing and supply chain operations. He is currently involved in discovery, development and deployment of biological solutions for invasive species in agricultural soil, water and forestry resulting from climate change and human activities. This includes bioherbicide and molluscicide development for agricultural and aquatic invasive species using natural microbes and secondary metabolites.
Helma Verberkt - Director, Artemis
Helma Verberkt has been working in the agricultural sector in the Netherlands for over 40 years. She is the director of Artemis (IBMA NL). She is also programme director of the Green Growing Centre of Expertise, where she works with knowledge partners and growers to make the sector more sustainable through the '100% Green Growing' concept. Prior to this, Helma spent around 10 years as Plant Health team leader at the growers' association Glastuinbouw Nederland and was also programme manager of the Plant Health innovation programme. Over a period of 10 years, she gained extensive experience as Research Manager at the international consultancy Delphy. At the start of her career, she spent around 15 years in agricultural research at Wageningen University & Research (WUR), initially as a researcher and later as a team leader at various research stations. In this role, she was also involved, as a product manager, in the development of the LetsGrow.com web application.
Sarah Wambugu - Principal Pesticide Registration Officer, Pest Control Biocontrol Board
Sarah Wambugu is a Principal Pesticide Registration Officer at the Pest Control Biocontrol Board in Kenya, bringing expertise in the regulation of pest control products including biopesticides. Her background reflects a strong focus on agricultural practices and regulatory compliance. In her role, Sarah is responsible for regulation and registration of pest control products, ensuring compliance and quality of pesticides within the market. She applies principles of risk assessment in evaluation of pesticides and contributes to maintaining compliance standards whilst also supporting the Board's commitment to facilitate trade and protect human health and environment. Prior to this, Sarah worked at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of Kenya, focusing on enhancing food security and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Her activities involved supporting farmers through innovative programs and capacity development initiatives. Sarah holds a Master of Science in Crop protection and a Bachelor of Science in agriculture from the University of Nairobi. She recently completed a Strategic leadership development program at the Kenya School of Government.
Martin Wohlfarter - Global Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Koppert
Martin Wohlfarter is an experienced agriculturist with more than fifteen years of international expertise in sustainable agricultural pest management, specializing in Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Since late 2020, he has serves as a Global Regulatory Affairs Specialist at Koppert B.V.'s headquarters in the Netherlands, where he is responsible for macro product registrations and actively contributes to global macro regulatory policy. His advisory work includes supporting the Inter‑American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) on macro regulatory frameworks in Central America. Martin currently holds leadership positions as Chair of the Macro Professional Group and Rotating Chair of the Pollinators Group within the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA). He serves as Chair of the Policy and Regulatory Working Group and board member of Artemis Netherlands for Beneficials and Pollinators and is a stakeholder board member of the Horizon Europe project, EUFAWREADY, on fall army worm.
Dmytro Yakovenko - Head of International Development, BTU Biotech company
Dmytro Yakovenko is Head of International Development at BTU. Biotech company, a developer and manufacturer of microbial solutions for agriculture. He holds a PhD in Agronomy, a BS in Biotechnologies, and an MS in Economics. Since 2017, he has led BTU's international expansion, developing partnerships, registrations, and commercial projects in more than 25 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. He currently leads a 20+ person team responsible for international business development, regulatory affairs, technical support, marketing, and export operations. Dmytro has coordinated the analysis of more than 3,150 field trials of biological products, generating practical insights into biocontrol, soil health, nutrient-use efficiency, crop resilience, and the integration of microbial solutions into conventional and regenerative farming systems.
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