Biography

Domenico Deserio is a Policy Officer at the European Commission (DG SANTE). He is responsible for policies on biological pesticides, micro-organisms in particular. He co-chairs the EU Biopesticides Working Group, and he is an EU delegate of the OECD Expert Group on Biopesticides. He was responsible for amending EU Regulations concerning data requirements, principles for evaluation, authorisation, and approval of micro-organisms and products containing them, and for other related activities (e.g., Guidance Documents and Communications from the Commission). Before that, he was a scientific officer at EFSA, in the area of biological hazards. He holds a Master of Biotechnology from the University of Bari (Italy) completing a thesis on food microbiology. Moreover, he achieved an advanced postgraduate Master by Research of Agricultural Science at the University of Adelaide (Australia), carrying out his research on plant genomics and plant pathology.

Abstract PPPHI Talk

Biological control in the EU under the framework of Reg (EC) 1107/2009

The European Commission’s Farm to Fork Strategy aims at reducing dependency on and use of chemical pesticides. Placing on the market biological control agents (e.g.  micro-organisms) that can be used in organic farming should be facilitated. As of today, about seventy micro-organisms strains or isolates are approved in EU, and the number of new strains pending for approval is increasing. The Regulations setting out data requirements and principles for assessment of micro-organisms were updated and are applicable since November 2022. They reflect the latest scientific developments and focus the risk assessment on the biology of micro-organisms. These new rules intend to facilitate the approval of micro-organisms for a faster access to the market.

To support the implementation of these new rules, the European Commission has also adopted specific guidance documents (i.e. on anti-microbial resistance, secondary metabolites). Explanatory notes complement the support to applicants and Member States in the implementation of these rules. Guidance documents relating to other biological control agents such as semiochemicals or botanicals have been or will be soon reviewed.

Biography

Dr. Lucius Tamm leads the development and coordination of the research agenda of Agroscope, the Swiss Confederation's center of excellence for agricultural research. Lucius is also CEO of the Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting (ABIM), the premier meeting place for the plant protection industry, regulators and academia.

He has more than 30 years R&D experience working on cereals, potatoes, grapevine and horticultural crops in organic and IPM farming systems in his long-term engagement as head of department of crop sciences at the research institute for organic farming (FiBL). In addition to close collaboration with farmers and industry, he has been involved in the development of improved registration procedures for novel plant protection products.

Abstract PPPHI Talk

Navigating farmers’ needs, industry reality, academic ambition and funding agency requirements in biocontrol research

The transformation of agriculture towards more sustainability depends to a large extent on the availability of safe pest control options including, but not limited to, biocontrol. Bringing economically viable biocontrol solutions to farmers is hugely demanding and necessitates substantial funding as well as coherent actions of academia, industry and regulators to overcome the manyfold technical, economical and regulatory hurdles. Here we will discuss the current bottlenecks and identify recommendations to accelerate the provision of sustainable plant protection solutions in Europe.

Biography

Christina Donat holds a Ph.D. in Agronomics from the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna. She started her professional career in the biocontrol industry at the Austrian company bio-ferm GmbH, being responsible for the worldwide registration of the microbial active substances (Aureobasidium pullulans) and corresponding plant protection products.

As technical director, Christina was also responsible for quality control, product development and research. Since 2020 Christina is working for the German company e-nema, responsible for product development and following up her long term engagement in the work of the international biocontrol industry association. Christina is also busy in her own business as an independent consultant for plant protection product registration.

Abstract PPPHI Talk

Research needs to support registration and market access for biocontrol products from an industry perspective

Biocontrol - everybodys darling? Theoretically, yes. But still there are biocontrol solutions missing in the product portfolio to be applied for plant protection in agriculture. During the last decades, a lot of scientific articles were published, documenting research progress and new developments in nearly all pathosystems. Nevertheless, comparably few products reach and, even more important, stay on the market. Very often it is not clear for scientists that registration and commerical production scale up are important steps on the way from the lab to the field – and on the other hand, industry is not able to use the full knowledege generated by scientists during a long period of research often funded by public grants. Better communication during research on and development of a new active substance could help research results to reach the farm level and getting more products in a short timeline through the registration process.

Biography

Dr. Jörg Wennmann heads the research group “Molecular Insect Pathology and Bioinformatics” at the Julius Kühn Institute, Institute for Biological Control, in Dossenheim, Germany. His research focuses on the sequence analysis of microorganisms and viruses, bioinformatic analysis of genome and transcriptome data, and the characterization and classification of insect viruses. He develops standardized bioinformatic workflows based on the latest sequencing technologies and contributes actively to the scientific community through numerous publications and international collaborations.

Abstract PPPHI Talk

Novel developments in whole genome sequencing of microorganisms

Research on microorganisms and viruses in the field of biological control has been influenced by advances in the development of sequencing technologies. Modern technologies and bioinformatic workflows for genome sequencing allow cost effective deciphering of genomes, but also have limitations and constraints that need to be discussed. How these advances of the sequencing technologies can be used to gain a better understanding of the molecular biology of microorganisms and viruses will be highlighted. A focus will be on how new developments can be integrated in the regulatory processes and specific data requirements. Current challenges will be discussed and how these might be overcome in the future to exploit the potential of sequencing technologies and bioinformatics methods.

Biography

Dr. Saraiva has an extensive expertise in environmental microbiology and bioinformatics with a strong interest in assessing the functional potential of microbes, their interactions and their impact on environmental and human health. This has been achieved by focusing on whole genome sequencing (WGS) which allows to garner genetic insight towards understanding microbial roles and dynamics within ecosystems namely in assessing the risks of resistance mechanisms (e.g. Antimicrobial resistance and transferability) of novel biopesticides, including bacteria and protists.

Abstract PPPHI Talk

Whole genome sequencing analyses and risk assessment

In the RATION project, we are developing a harmonious and streamlined process that takes WGS data from candidate biopesticides and performs risk assessment. This approach ensures that biopesticides can be introduced in a way that minimizes ecological disruption and maximizes their efficacy which is crucial for the safe and sustainable use of biopesticides in agriculture and environmental management.

Biography

Dr Stefano Torriani has a PhD in natural sciences from ETH Zurich and more than 15 years of experience in plant pathology, disease control, monitoring and evolution of plant pathogens. He currently heads the Department of Plant Sciences at the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), where he leads research on organic farming and sustainable agricultural practices. Previously, he worked in R&D at Syngenta as global lead for fungal disease profiling and disease management. He also chaired the FRAC Banana Working Group and contributed to the global FRAC Steering Committee. Stefano has also been active in defining new high throughput monitoring strategies, including environmental sampling and the latest sequencing technologies.

Abstract PPPHI Talk

Scientific innovation as driver for an organic plant protection transition

The transformation of agriculture towards sustainability depends on the availability of safe and effective pest control options, with biocontrol playing a key role. This presentation will explore the current landscape of biocontrol, emphasizing its role as an ecosystem-based strategy to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Key topics include the disease control pyramid, which integrates direct control measures, inundative or inoculative biocontrol, and preventive cultural and management practices. The presentation will highlight the importance of functional biodiversity, conservation measures and landscape diversification in enhancing natural enemies and reducing pests. Mixed cropping systems, flower strip optimization and the role of microbiomes in plant health will be discussed to present the benefits of these approaches in increasing biodiversity and yield. This presentation offers an overview of the current state and possible future directions of biocontrol, highlighting the critical role of interdisciplinary approaches and innovative strategies in promoting sustainable agriculture

Biography

Marieke van Hulten is a Scientific Assessor Efficacy at the Dutch Board for the Authorisation of Plant Protection Products and Biocides (Ctgb) since 2019. Within Ctgb she is a member of its “Green Team”. She is involved in the evaluation of (biopesticide) active substances and product dossiers with a focus on identity of micro-organisms, biological properties, and efficacy. She helped drafting a first version of the Explanatory Notes (EN) for micro-organisms in a joint effort of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and Ctgb’s Green Team, before these EN were finalized by the European Commission and experts of the Biopesticide Working Group (BPWG) and endorsed by SCoPAFF. In addition, she is involved as a tutor in the BTSF Training Programme on Risk Assessment of Microorganisms used as pesticides and biocides, and very recently she enrolled as a participant of the BPWG.

She holds a Master of Science from Wageningen University (the Netherlands) on the topic of plant breeding and crop protection and a PhD from the Plant-Microbe Interactions group of Utrecht University (the Netherlands) on the topic priming of plant defense. Before her current position, she worked subsequently as Post-doctoral researcher at KeyGene N.V, the laboratory of Genetics of Wageningen University and at the Molecular Plant pathology group of the Swammerdam Institute of Life Sciences (SILS), University of Amsterdam which altogether provided her with a solid basis in the area of phytopathology, molecular biology and plant genetics.

Abstract PPPHI Talk

Efficacy assessment of biological plant protection products: experiences from an evaluator

The talk will focus on the regulatory side of selectivity and effectiveness of biological control, with the emphasis on the efficacy assessment. It will further include a brief overview of different types of biological control (e.g. micro-organisms, semiochemicals, plant extracts, RNAi, invertebrate macro-organisms) and the scope of Reg. (EC) No 1107/2009.

It will be explained why and how efficacy is assessed for biological plant protection products (PPPs) and what is considered an acceptable level of effectiveness for biological PPPs. Considerations for trial set up and reasoning behind these will be discussed. For instance, the number of trials, different climate zones, EPPO low-risk standard: PP1/296 and other relevant EPPO standards, possibility of testing in an IPM system, possibilities for extrapolation based on mode of action etc.

The “selectivity dilemma” will be raised. We need highly specific PPPs, since they will have fewer possible negative effects on biodiversity. However, the more selective they are, the less attractive they may be as a business model. Hence, under the current approval process, there may be less motivation to register these products.

Last, an overview will be given of current initiatives in the Netherlands to accelerate the market access of biopesticides.

Biography

Heiri Wandeler is a distinguished expert in the field of biological control with extensive experience in the development and production of microbial biocontrol agents. After earning his PhD in Biology from the University of Bern, he joined Andermatt Biocontrol Suisse AG in 2007, where he has served since 2020 as the Director of the Production, Research & Development and Technics departments. He is also a member of the company’s management team. Heiri Wandeler specializes in the development of innovative biocontrol solutions, particularly focusing on baculoviruses. He has expertise in product development in international collaborations and is familiar with registration of plant protection products.

Abstract PPPHI Talk

Selective and effective biocontrol agents: an industry perspective

Modern plant protection is changing among other things due to the ban of many chemical active substances and the occurrence of new pests and diseases. Biologicals will significantly contribute to future solutions. However, the development of a new product is a major challenge, which starts with the identification of the most urgent farmer's need and the search for a potential antagonist. After a feasibility study, the development of an efficient and cost-effective product takes several years before the registration phase can be started. There are two determining factors during the process. First, identifying the host range is substantial during the screening of a new active substance as well as for the estimation of the market potential of the future product. Second, reliable efficacy as the key purpose will determine the market success of a new plant protection product.

Scientific research is indisputably one of the most important preconditions for a full product pipeline in a company. For both key factors, host range and efficacy, the existing gap between applied scientific research and applied research for companies is particularly relevant. More research concerning host range and effective impact in the field could lead to accelerated product development, a higher success rate and thus to more available biologicals.

Knowing each other's needs and a joint effort will pave the way to making more products available to satisfied farmers in the future.

Biography

Carlo Malavolta was born in Italy in 1960. After graduating in Agricultural Sciences at the University of Bologna, he was employed by the Regional Government of Emilia-Romagna, where he was responsible for the planning, organisation and coordination/management of research/experimental and technical support activities in the field of sustainable crop production. During his career he maintained connection with corporate body and scientific and administrative national and international Institutions for development common initiatives related with sustainable agriculture, including EU Commission, also for BTSF training activities in IPM. Since 1985 Carlo Malavolta has been a member of several IOBC WPRS working groups. He was elected to the IOBC (International Organisation for Organic and Integrated Pest Management) in 1996 as a member and convenor (from 2009-2013 and since 2019) of the Commission “Integrated Production Guidelines”; in this role he has participated in the institutional meetings held and edited the General principles and crop-specific guidelines for the integrated production of pome, stone and soft fruits, arable crops, open field vegetables, olives and grapes.

Abstract PPPHI Talk

IOBC/WPRS Integrated production guidelines: a tool for the formulation of regional or national IP/IPM guidelines
Carlo Malavolta (Emilia-Romagna Region – Bologna – Italy) and Aude Alaphilippe (INRAE – Valance- France)

The Commission “Integrated production Guidelines” of IOBC/WPRS form the ‘70s and particularly from  '90s regularly updates IP guidelines (General Technical & Crop Specific Guidelines for Integrated Production), that includes IPM concept and methods, in close collaboration with the IOBC/WPRS working groups or ad hoc expert panels. In recent years, the Commission provided EU Commission and other EU organisations and NGOs with technical expertise on IP concepts and their practical implementation. The interest of the IOBC/WPRS IP Guidelines increases after the approval of Directive 2009/128/EC on sustainable use of pesticides that require the application of IPM methods at national/regional level and can be inspired by IOBC/WPRS IP Guidelines.