Collaborative Roadmap for IBMA and IFOAM EU for Organic Farming 2019-2024

IFOAM EU (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements – EU Regional group), the European umbrella organisation for organic food and farming and IBMA have signed a collaborative roadmap aiming at proportionate regulation for biological plant protection products, the promotion of research and development on biological plant protection products and increased knowledge sharing among stakeholders in the organic plant protection.

IBMA DEFINITION - Bioprotection as the global term for all biocontrol technologies

Discover this document encompassing the definition of technologies - namely Invertebrate Biocontrol Agents, Microbials, Semiochemicals and Natural Substances - covered by IBMA, – the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association –.

2 Weeks to go - Register now for Biocontrol Asia !

Biocontrol Asia takes palce from 23 - 25 September 2019 at Chengdu Century City International Convention Center http://www.ibma-global.org/en/events-1-1

Call for nominations - Bernard Blum Award 2019 !

PROLONGED DEADLINE UNTIL 19TH JULY - IBMA is very proud to announce a unique opportunity to call for nominations from the industry for novel biocontrol solutions that will make an impact on this rapidly growing market.

First International Congress on Biological and Integrated Control in Algeria (CILBIA1)

4 - 6 February, 2019 in Batna, Algeria. Jointly organized by the University of Batna, the Scientific Association 'Biology, Biodiversity and Sustainability' '(BBD, Algeria) and the IOBC-WPRS Commission for IP & Biocontrol in North-African countries ".

BET -Biocontrol E-training- Erasmus + Project

The objective of the BET project is to create a new biocontrol distance training tool aimed at a broad audience of trainers (training organizations, Universities, Schools, Chambers of Agriculture, technical Institutes…) in different European countries.

IBMA White Paper: IBMA Vision on how to improve regulation in the European Union - a New EU Regulatory Framework for Bioprotection Agents

IBMA proposes the EU develops a new appropriate legislative framework and streamlined provisions with a dedicated centralized regulatory body, presumption of safe use, tiered assessment and tailored data requirements.

New prolonged Copa-Cogeca – IBMA Roadmap for collaboration in 2018- 2025

Since 2009, EU farmers have been deprived of solutions to tackle pests and diseases. Meanwhile, Biocontrol manufacturers have come up against obstacles when trying to introduce biocontrol solutions onto the market. That is why, in 2014, IBMA and Copa-Cogeca decided to sign a first Roadmap and to prolonge it now.

Bernard Blum Award 2018 - List of nominees announced !

The list of nominations for the Bernard Blum Award is finally available - and the 15 highly qualified products listed show that our industry is thriving in finding effective solutions in pest and disease management with a low impact on human health and the environment!

List of minor uses needs and priorities

The minor uses needs and priorities of 24 out of 28 Member States are now available, plus data from Norway and Switzerland. In total, data from 26 European countries are available.

Vacancy at bio-ferm: Business Development Manager

IBMA member bio-ferm is looking for a person to fill its vacant position of Business Development Manager.

IBMA Biocontrol Survey Report

The survey clearly shows we have a growing business, all sectors are growing at double digit growth rates. The European market is diverse and the sales of biocontrol products reflect the diversity of our membership and the promoted goal of IPM using a multitude of different tools.

Bernard Blum Award 2018 for Novel Biocontrol Solutions - Call for Nominations

IBMA is very proud to announce a unique opportunity to call for nominations from the industry for novel biocontrol solutions that will make an impact on this rapidly growing market.

International Fresenius BIOCONTROL Conference: Biopesticides – Biofertilisers – Biostimulants in Mainz, Germany

The conference will focus on regulatory issues, on issues relating to human health and on environmental risk assessment of biopesticides. It will especially offer information to those, who are dealing with the complex topic of microbial pesticides.

Brexit impact on Plant Protection Products rules in the UK

EU rules in the field of PPPs will no longer apply to the United Kingdom after the withdrawal date. In particular, business operators should consider that, according to Union law, third countries cannot act as rapporteur Member States, zonal rapporteur Member States or evaluating Member States for MRLs.

The SIP Early Career Award

The Council of the Society of Invertebrate Pathology has created an Early Career Scientist award to recognize outstanding contributions from invertebrate pathologists who are in the early stage of their scientific/academic career.

Publication of Two OECD Pesticides Reports

REFIT procedure for Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 and Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 - Online Consultations open

Online consultations for public and for stakeholders are open and IBMA guidance to the questionnaire for stakeholders is now available on the Regulatory Affairs page in the Members only section.

FAO/WHO Guidelines on Registration of Microbial, Botanical and Semiochemical Pest Control Agents for Plant Protection and Public Health

These guidelines serve to provide further guidance on the implementation of specific aspects of the Code of Conduct.

Save the date: The Organic Farmers Fair to be held in June 2018

The Organic Farmers Fair (TOFF) opens its doors for the first time in June 2018 as part of the international horticulture trade show GreenTech in Amsterdam. It focuses primarily on organic agricultural production technology.

Workshop on Dissemination of the Prakas on Imposing Usage of Sample Documents for Commercial Biological Control Agents (BCA)

You are welcome to participate to this workshop taking place in Tonle Bassac Restaurant ll, Phnom Penh Cambodia, on the 21st December 2017. The main objectives of this event are to raise awareness on registration form as key element to make BCA officially available in Cambodia as well as share and discuss the experiences, activities, and lessons learned by BCA application.

Submit your abstract for a SETAC Europe Annual Meeting in May 2018

Elizabeth Collison (TSGE Consulting) and Jacobijn van Etten (Ctgb) are chairing a session at the SETAC Europe Annual Meeting in May 2018. The session will focus on “Developments in the ecological and human health risk assessment of biopesticides: microorganisms, semiochemicals and botanicals”. You are invited to submit your abstract by Wednesday 29th November.

XV Meeting of the IOBC-WPRS of the Working Group Biological and integrated control of plant pathogens

Following the last IOBC-WPRS meeting of the Working Group “Biological and integrated control of plant pathogens” in Berlin in September 2016, IOBC will organize a meeting from the 23rd to the 26th April in Lleida (Catalonia). The theme of the workshop will be: “Biocontrol products: From lab testing to product development”.

Updated French list of authorized biocontrol products

The updated French biocontrol plant protection products list was published in the Official Bulletin of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food on 18 October 2017. These products include secondary authorisations and import in parallel trade.

Vittorio Veronelli Honorary Member

Vittorio has served as IBMA Vice President from 2012-2017. His commitment to and input in IBMA has always been very valuable and we owe him a great deal of thanks for so many years of service. His long lasting and outstanding services to IBMA have been recognised with an Honorary Membership. Read more about Vittorios service to IBMA on our website.

Bernard Blum Award winner 2017

Winner of Bernard Blum Award 2017 is CBC Europe for the product TREMOS, a digital electronic system used to disrupt location and mating of leafhopper species.

Biocontrol Africa Kenya 19th-20th March 2018

This is the first Africa-wide Biocontrol Industry meeting organized by NewAg International and 2BMonthly in conjunction with IBMA and local organizers. Registration opens on 5th September

Save the Date 31st January 2018

SUD Symposium on Arable Farming European Parliament 15:00 to 19:00

Master in Plant Health in Sustainable Cropping Systems (Plant Health)

The European Master degree in Plant Health in Sustainable Cropping Systems (PlantHealth) is a fully integrated and globally competitive Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree, designed by leading European universities in the field of Crop Protection which provides top-level and up-to-date education, qualifying graduates to cope with the challenges in contemporary and future plant health management related to global food safety issues. The next call for student applications is end of October 2017.

Special feature on Biocontrol in International Pest Control September/October issue

A special five page feature titled “The Biocontrol world meets at ABIM” has been published in the September/October issue of International Pest Control. The article gives information on the exhibition and details some programme highlights to look forward to. A full exhibitor reference guide is also included

Note to economic operators and related Q&A document for Brexit published on the SANTE webpage

Following discussions on Brexit earlier this year a note to economic operators and the related Q&A document for Brexit has been published on the SANTE webpage.

Foundation of IBMA Kenya

International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association of Kenya (IBMA Kenya) was launched on Friday 15th September 2017 at the Naivasha Hortifair. In the last 10 years biocontrol in Kenya has grown and this transition has occurred as a result of various driving forces including consumer demand, overcoming pesticide resistance and environmental concern. However, the wide spread adoption by Kenyan growers has only been achieved through locally available biological control agents and service providers that provide affordable biological solutions.

ABIM 2017 Article

Article on ABIM 2017 was published in New Ag International (English version). This will also be published in the New Ag International Spanish and Chinese versions later in Nov-Dec 2017.

Early Career Award from the Society of Invertebrate Pathology

Vera Ros was awarded the Early Career Award from the Society of Invertebrate Pathology at the conference of this society in San Diego (USA) last month. This award recognizes outstanding contributions from invertebrate pathologists who are in the early stage of their scientific career. Vera Ros is Assistant Professor at the Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University and Research (The Netherlands). She is interested in the evolution of host-parasite interactions, with a strong focus on interactions between arthropods and micro-organisms.