Biopesticides – substances used for controlling pests made from natural products or micro-organisms – are environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and can be cheaper and more effective than chemical pesticides. They’re also big business, with the biopesticide market predicted to exceed USD 6 billion by 2020. Growth in this sector is reflected in the growing popularity of the free Greenwich Biopesticide Event, now in its fourth year, which brings together members of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and biopesticide technology community to share opinions, challenges and opportunities.
If you are involved in any aspect of IPM or biopesticide technology, this event will give you the opportunity to establish links with researchers, suppliers of current and new technologies, manufacturers, regulatory and government organisations, environmental organisations, and the farming and grower communities across Europe who are required to use IPM principles and methodologies.
Event participants will consider advances and perspectives on this year’s theme, ‘Minimising the environmental consequences of biopesticide use’, whilst making new contacts, exploring technical and commercial partnerships, and identifying opportunities for further collaboration.
As in previous years, the day will include a mixture of plenary presentations, several shorter ‘pitch’ presentations from researchers and technology companies, and a ‘brokerage’ session where participants can take part in 1:1 pre-planned meetings aimed at future collaborations.
This year, the keynote speakers offering insights into biopesticide use and the environment are:
- Kathryn Mitchell, LEAF – Linking Environment and Farming (UK)
- Marc Bardin, INRA – French National Institute for Agricultural Research
The event is organised by Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), the European Centre for Integrated Pest Management (EUCIPM), and the Agrisciences Group of SCI, who offer a wealth of experience and expertise ranging from business support and innovation, to IPM and biopesticides, to research and development. The team look forward to reuniting the IPM and biopesticide technology community and welcoming new members to the forum at the 4th Annual Event. Sign up today!
Register for the event | 2016 full programme | Further details: 2015 event
About the organisers
Enterprise Europe Network is an EU-funded initiative that helps small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) make the most of business opportunities across Europe and other network partner countries, boosting innovation and productivity through the application of new ideas and technologies, participation in research projects and through increased business-to-business collaboration.
EUCIPM: the European Centre for Integrated Pest Management is led by natural and social scientists of the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) of the University of Greenwich, in association with the Hutton IPM Centre at the James Hutton Institute, and in collaboration with universities, research institutes and industrial partners in the UK and abroad. They aim to provide concerted application of natural and social sciences to reduce the losses caused by pests and diseases. Visit the new-look website here.
Agrisciences Group of SCI. The agrisciences group of science and business forum, SCI, covers the production, protection and utilisation of crops for food and non-food products. The group is a unique multidisciplinary network involved in all aspects of food security and the bioeconomy. They aim to cover contemporary agricultural science and agribusiness interests.