ABIM 2025: direct access to emerging biocontrol technologies and meetings with manufacturers and partners

COLEAD participated in the Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting (ABIM), held from 20 to 22 October in Basel, Switzerland. Organised by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA), ABIM is widely recognised as the leading global event for the biocontrol sector. The 2025 edition brought together 170 exhibitors and more than 2,000 participants from 65 countries, providing a unique platform to exchange on innovation, market trends and regulatory developments in sustainable agriculture.

For COLEAD, participation in ABIM is strategically important. The event offers direct access to emerging biocontrol technologies and enables engagement with manufacturers whose solutions can address pest management challenges in EU partner countries. ABIM also provides an opportunity to build and strengthen partnerships supporting efficacy trials, residue studies, integrated pest management (IPM) approaches, regulatory processes and the registration of plant protection products (PPP) adapted to local contexts, ensuring farmers’ access to safe, effective and sustainable alternatives.

A key objective of COLEAD’s participation, through the FFM+ programme,  was to enhance its visibility and innovation brokerage role within the biocontrol community. This was achieved through the presentation of a poster entitled “Challenges for biopesticide registration on minor crops in ACP countries and COLEAD interventions”. The poster highlighted COLEAD’s research and innovation brokerage activities, regulatory challenges affecting minor crops, successful experiences such as the Minor Crop Technical Working Group (MCTWG) in Kenya, and COLEAD’s growing footprint on biopesticide registration in Africa since 2019.

COLEAD representatives also attended a wide range of conferences and technical sessions addressing the latest trends in biocontrol and sustainable agriculture. Topics included AI-based soil and disease diagnostics, micropeptide discovery for crop protection, digital integration of biological control solutions, large-scale release technologies, as well as national strategies to accelerate biocontrol adoption. These sessions helped identify promising innovations and reinforced COLEAD’s understanding of emerging sectoral trends.

In parallel, numerous one-to-one meetings were held with biocontrol companies and partners such as Andermatt, Koppert, Russell IPM, Elephant Vert, Seipasa, Fyteko, Savana, M2i, and international organisations including Rainforest Alliance, CABI and Bio Protection Global. These exchanges opened concrete opportunities for efficacy trials, PPP registration initiatives, biostimulant testing and digital solutions, with several follow-up actions agreed upon.

Overall, ABIM 2025 confirmed COLEAD’s role as a key facilitator of innovation and partnerships in sustainable crop protection. Through continued collaboration, knowledge integration and regulatory support, COLEAD aims to accelerate access to effective biocontrol solutions and contribute to more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.

This activity is supported by the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, implemented by COLEAD within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union. This publication receives financial support from the European Union and the OACPS. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of COLEAD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the OACPS.